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State reply · Maryland

3 Best LLC Services in Maryland (2026) and the Facts Behind Them

In Maryland for 2026, rank LLC formation services Mainstay Filing ($199), Maryland Registered Agent.co ($199) and MD Registered Agent.org ($199). State fee: $100. Services over three years: $397 to $597.

LLC Q and A editorial team ·

Quick answers

State filing fee
$100, one time
Then
$300 annually
Resident agent
Yes, the statute demands one
Pick
Mainstay Filing, Maryland Registered Agent.co then MD Registered Agent.org

Maryland: ranked picks

Order set by our five criteria, three-year cost first.
1#1 pick

1. Mainstay Filing: best for skipping the annual report

Annual price $199, renewal price $199, state fee extra

#1 in Maryland: Mainstay Filing, because the annual report is filed inside the $199 annual price, with formation and the resident agent.

Maryland Registered Agent.co saves $200 over three years; the difference pays for the extra jobs covered here.

The Business Entity Annual Report is filed for you; Maryland's $300 is billed at cost.

Price covers

  • Formation filed with the state
  • Resident agent all year
  • Annual report filed
  • EIN application
  • State fees passed through, no markup

For

  • $199 a year, all-in
  • Renews at $199
  • EIN handled at no extra charge

Against

  • Maryland Registered Agent.co renews $100 lower
Mainstay Filing sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Maryland only

2. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for a one-state LLC

Form for $199; renew at $99 a year

Second: Maryland Registered Agent.co, because $199 forms the LLC and the agent renews at $99.

The Business Entity Annual Report is excluded, so you file it.

Price covers

  • Maryland formation filing
  • Agent for year one

For

  • Agent renews at $99
  • First agent year comes with it
  • $199 plus state fee to form

Against

  • Business Entity Annual Report is on your list
  • EIN not included ($99)
Maryland Registered Agent.co sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Maryland only

3. MD Registered Agent.org: best for another local option

Form for $199; renew at $99 a year

Third: MD Registered Agent.org, because $199 forms the LLC and the agent renews at $99.

The Business Entity Annual Report is excluded, so you file it.

Same published prices as Maryland Registered Agent.co, so the order between them is close.

Price covers

  • Maryland formation filing
  • Agent for year one

For

  • Agent renews at $99
  • First agent year comes with it
  • $199 plus state fee to form

Against

  • Business Entity Annual Report is on your list
  • EIN not included ($99)
MD Registered Agent.org sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Comparison

#CompanyYear 1Renewal3-year costIncludes
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597formation filed with the state; resident agent all year; annual report filedMainstay Filing sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Maryland Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397maryland formation filing; agent for year oneMaryland Registered Agent.co sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3MD Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397maryland formation filing; agent for year oneMD Registered Agent.org sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Prices as of November 13, 2026. State fees are in the checklist below.

Questions and replies

How much to start an LLC in this state?

State fee $100; add $199 for first-year service.

With the recurring report, state fees total $700 over three years. egov.maryland.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

Which form, filed where?

Your filing is the Articles of Organization, and it is sent to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT).

State processing time: Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission. egov.maryland.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

A resident agent required?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

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

mgaleg.maryland.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

What is due after formation?

Business Entity Annual Report: every year, $300. For timing, the state's own calendar reads: April 15, so plan ahead of it.

dat.maryland.gov (August 2026) is the source of record

Can I do it myself?

Yes. Self-filing costs the state's fees only: $700 over three years.

Help costs $397 to $597 more across three years.

What decided #1?

Chores removed from your list (26%) goes to Mainstay Filing.

Two criteria dominate: three-year price (36%) and chores removed from your list (26%).

Maryland's Business Entity Annual Report is due every year; only the first pick files it.

The five criteria

What Maryland requires to form an LLC

ItemRule or amountOfficial page
Fee to form$100egov.maryland.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Resident agentYes, the statute demands onemgaleg.maryland.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Business Entity Annual Report$300 every yeardat.maryland.gov (August 2026) is the source of record
Three-year state total$700Sum of the rows above
The last row adds the filing, two reports and any minimum tax. Variable costs are explained in the text and left out of the sum.

More replies

Processing time?

Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.

EIN application included?

Mainstay Filing includes it. Others charge: Maryland Registered Agent.co $99; MD Registered Agent.org $99.

Three-year cost of each?

Mainstay Filing totals $597 and Maryland Registered Agent.co totals $397 and MD Registered Agent.org totals $397, with state fees on top.

Where do the numbers come from?

Official Maryland sources for the state side, published prices for the service side.

Is a service required?

No. Owners can file directly. A service saves time and can act as agent.

Which LLC service should I use in Maryland?

Mainstay Filing, because $199 a year covers three jobs: formation, the resident agent and the annual report. Then Maryland Registered Agent.co and MD Registered Agent.org.

Sources

  1. Reference line for Maryland State Department of Assessments, drawn from dat.maryland.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  2. Reference line for Maryland State Department of Assessments, drawn from dat.maryland.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  3. Reference line for Maryland report due date, drawn from dat.maryland.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  4. Reference line for Md, drawn from mgaleg.maryland.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  5. Reference line for Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, drawn from mgaleg.maryland.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  6. Reference line for Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, drawn from egov.maryland.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  7. Reference line for Maryland registered agent statute, drawn from mgaleg.maryland.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  8. Reference line for Processing, official source, drawn from egov.maryland.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  9. Mainstay Filing Maryland service page, read November 13, 2026
  10. Maryland Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026
  11. MD Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026