Fee to file with the state
$100
egov.maryland.gov (October 2026)
LLC cost guide · Maryland
Starting an LLC in Maryland (2026): Official Costs and the 3 Best Services
For forming an LLC in Maryland in 2026, we recommend Maryland Registered Agent.co ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and MD Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. To open an LLC in Maryland you pay the state $100 and, every year, $300 for the Business Entity Annual Report, a total that ranks 44th of 50.
What Maryland charges
44th
on the 50-state list, three-year basis
Rankings begin with the smallest bill. Fifty states in one table
Business Entity Annual Report
$300 / yr
The state sets the deadline as April 15. dat.maryland.gov (August 2026)
State charges, years one to three
$700
Only the state's own charges, across three years
Our Maryland shortlist
How the order came about: three-year service charges first, then coverage, renewal, Maryland fit and fee labeling (methodology).
1. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for a thrifty start
$199 in the first year, $99 afterward
First on the list is Maryland Registered Agent.co, since the Maryland filing for $199 with the first agent year free, then $99 each year for the agent.
The three-year service bill is smaller than Mainstay Filing's, which is our heaviest criterion.
The Business Entity Annual Report is outside the price.
What the price buys
- Articles drawn up and submitted
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- No separate agent bill during the first year
- A $199 formation charge
- $99 yearly after that
Against it
- The Business Entity Annual Report is not covered
- Help with the EIN costs $99
2. Mainstay Filing: best for less paperwork each year
$199 a year on top of the $100 state fee
Mainstay Filing comes next: one yearly $199 pays for the formation, the resident agent and the annual report, with renewal at $199.
That $200 difference against Maryland Registered Agent.co across three years is what keeps it from first place.
At renewal it handles the Business Entity Annual Report, and $300 goes to the state at cost.
What the price buys
- Your formation is prepared and filed
- Resident agent duties covered all year
- Your annual report is prepared and sent in
- Your EIN application goes in with the rest
- State charges come through at cost
In its favor
- $199 a year covers formation and the agent and the report
- Files the EIN application for you
- $199 at renewal, no increase
Against it
- $100 extra each year from year two
3. MD Registered Agent.org: best for Maryland-only LLCs
$199 in the first year, $99 afterward
MD Registered Agent.org follows: the Maryland filing for $199 with the first agent year free, then $99 each year for the agent.
The Business Entity Annual Report is outside the price.
Price for price, it equals Maryland Registered Agent.co.
What the price buys
- Articles drawn up and submitted
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- No separate agent bill during the first year
- $99 yearly after that
- A $199 formation charge
Against it
- The Business Entity Annual Report is not covered
- Help with the EIN costs $99
The picks in numbers
| No. | Service | First-year fee | From year two | Service charges, three years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Maryland Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | MD Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit MD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Prices come from each company's own pages and were copied on November 12, 2026. Add Maryland's $100 filing fee to each row.
Add it up
Pick a number of years and a service. The state portion follows the official schedule: $100 to form, then the Business Entity Annual Report from year two.
Maryland next to the states ranked around it
| Place | State | Three-year state fees |
|---|---|---|
| 42nd | North Carolina | $525 |
| 43rd | Kentucky | $595 |
| 44th | Maryland | $700 |
| 45th | Tennessee | $900 |
| 46th | Delaware | $910 |
The complete ranking applies one method to all fifty states.
The state's fee for a Maryland LLC
To create the LLC, submit the Articles of Organization to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) along with a $100 payment. It is billed at cost by every service below. Official processing time: Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.
Staying in good standing: the Business Entity Annual Report
The Business Entity Annual Report is due every year, by April 15 and costs $300.
The reasoning behind the order
Maryland Registered Agent.co won by scoring higher on three-year service charge, worth 34%, with Mainstay Filing close behind.
Choosing Maryland Registered Agent.co costs $397 in service fees across three years ($200 below Mainstay Filing).
Maryland FAQ
How much does the state charge to start an LLC in Maryland?
Maryland charges $100 to file. Our picks bill $199 over the state fee.
What fee goes with the Maryland Business Entity Annual Report?
$300 every year, filed April 15.
Where does Maryland stand on LLC fees?
Maryland is 44th of 50 for three-year state fees, at $700; the smallest bill ranks first.
How long does the state take to approve a new LLC?
The usual wait is Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.
Does Maryland require a resident agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which service should file my LLC?
Maryland Registered Agent.co first, then Mainstay Filing and MD Registered Agent.org. What separates Maryland Registered Agent.co is three-year service charge.
Sources for this chapter
- For Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, see dat.maryland.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, see dat.maryland.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Maryland report due date, see dat.maryland.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Md, see mgaleg.maryland.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see mgaleg.maryland.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see egov.maryland.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Maryland registered agent statute, see mgaleg.maryland.gov (opened October 2026)
- For N.C, see sosnc.gov (opened August 2026)
- For North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see sosnc.gov (opened October 2026)
- For North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see sosnc.gov (opened October 2026)
- For North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, see sosnc.gov (opened August 2026)
- For North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, see sosnc.gov (opened August 2026)
- For KRS 275.025, see apps.legislature.ky.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see sos.ky.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Kentucky Secretary of State, see sos.ky.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Kentucky Secretary of State, see sos.ky.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official, see revenue.ky.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Tennessee formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see sos.tn.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services, see tnbear.tn.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services, see sos.tn.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Tennessee yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source, see sos.tn.gov (opened October 2026)
- For 6 Del, see delcode.delaware.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Delaware formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see delcode.delaware.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source, see corp.delaware.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source, see corp.delaware.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source, see legis.delaware.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Processing, official source, see egov.maryland.gov (opened October 2026)
- Maryland Registered Agent.co, pricing page, on the company's page November 12, 2026
- Mainstay Filing, Maryland service page, on the company's page November 12, 2026
- MD Registered Agent.org, pricing page, on the company's page November 12, 2026