LLC by State Guide

LLC by State Guide › Maryland

The Maryland LLC guide (2026)

A Maryland LLC is formed by filing the Articles of Organization with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). The state filing fee is $100. Maryland LLCs file a Business Entity Annual Report every year, due April 15, for $300. Every Maryland LLC must keep a resident agent with a Maryland street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

Maryland LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$100
Formation document
Articles of Organization
Yearly filing
Business Entity Annual Report, every year, $300
Due
April 15
Registered agent
Required. A Maryland resident, or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership.
Agent address
The address has to be a Maryland address on file with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; P.O. boxes are not accepted. The LLC also keeps a principal office in Maryland.
Filing fee rank
17th lowest of 50 (16 states charge less, 24 charge more)

Maryland compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
Maryland$100$300 / yr
Delaware$110$400 tax
Pennsylvania$125$7 / yr
Virginia$100$50 fee
West Virginia$100$25 / yr

All 50 states

How to form an LLC in Maryland

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) business records.
  2. Name a resident agent: a Maryland resident, or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership.
  3. File the Articles of Organization with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) and pay $100.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. Maryland LLCs file a Business Entity Annual Report every year, due April 15, for $300.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus Maryland’s fees.

Best overall for a Maryland LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus Maryland’s $100 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

Maryland LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Maryland?

$100 to the state to file. Maryland LLCs file a Business Entity Annual Report every year, due April 15, for $300. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does Maryland require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. Maryland LLCs file a Business Entity Annual Report every year, due April 15, for $300.

Do I need a registered agent in Maryland?

Yes. A Maryland resident, or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership.

Can I form a Maryland LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization directly with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) and pay the $100 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources