Step by step · Maryland
3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Maryland (2026) and Why
The essentials
- Registration fee at the state
- $100
- Certificate from your home state?
- Yes, it is required (60 days at the most)
- Follow-up
- $300, Business Entity Annual Report and Personal Property Return, Form 1
- Services we suggest
- Maryland Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing then MD Registered Agent.org
Who we recommend in Maryland
Prices come from each company's own pricing page. The ranking is explained on how we pick.1. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for registering in this state only
Year one costs $199; later years cost $99
Why Maryland Registered Agent.co? Three years of service fees come to $397.
Of the two, it has the lower three-year cost, and that is the first thing we weigh.
Includes
- State registration done for you
- Agent service during year one
Points in its favor
- First-year agent in the price
- $199 to register
- $99 annually after that
Where it falls short
- A one-state service
2. Mainstay Filing: best for a second, third or fourth state
Year one costs $199; later years cost $149
Mainstay Filing takes the second slot: the registration is $199 and there is no charge for the resident agent until year two.
Across three years it is $100 pricier than Maryland Registered Agent.co.
From the second year, $149 a year covers the resident agent anywhere.
Includes
- The registration filing
- Works in all fifty states
Points in its favor
- All fifty states are covered
- $199, with state fees extra
Where it falls short
- Renewal runs $50 over Maryland Registered Agent.co
3. MD Registered Agent.org: best for adding one more state
Year one costs $199; later years cost $99
Number 3 on the list is MD Registered Agent.org, where three years of service fees come to $397.
Its published prices are identical to Maryland Registered Agent.co, so choosing between them is a close call.
Includes
- State registration done for you
- Agent service during year one
Points in its favor
- $99 annually after that
- $199 to register
- First-year agent in the price
Where it falls short
- A one-state service
Comparison table
| # | Provider | First-year price | Renewal price | Total, 3 years | What you get | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | state registration done for you; agent service during year one | Go to Maryland Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | the registration filing; works in all fifty states | Go to Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | MD Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | state registration done for you; agent service during year one | Go to MD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
The questions, one by one
Do I need to register my out-of-state LLC?
If an LLC formed in another state wants to do business in Maryland, it registers beforehand.
The price of not registering includes it cannot sue as a plaintiff (4A-1007(a)).
mgaleg.maryland.gov, confirmed October 2026
What does a foreign registration cost?
Set aside $100 for the state and $199 for a service.
By the end of year three the state has collected $700. mgaleg.maryland.gov, confirmed October 2026
What is the application called?
Once the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Charter Division accepts the Limited Liability Company Registration (For non-Maryland Limited Liability Company), the LLC is registered.
Send written proof of existence from the home state, equivalent to a certificate of good standing dated at most 60 days.
What do I owe after registering?
You keep filing the Business Entity Annual Report and Personal Property Return, Form 1, at $300.
Filings come due April 15.
Why is the first pick first?
The deciding factor is what three years cost (34% of the weight), where Maryland Registered Agent.co is strongest.
Five criteria set the order: what three years cost (34%), how much work the price handles (28%), prices spelled out (16%), renewal terms (12%) and reach beyond one state (10%).
Over three years Maryland Registered Agent.co totals $397, which is $100 below Mainstay Filing.
Maryland requirements checklist
| Requirement | Fee or rule | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Fee to register | $100 | mgaleg.maryland.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| Document from home state | Yes, it is required, 60 days | mgaleg.maryland.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| Business Entity Annual Report and Personal Property Return, Form 1 | $300 | mgaleg.maryland.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| What the state collects in three years | $700 | The rows above, added |
Further questions
Will one agent cover both states?
Each state sets its own rules. Mainstay Filing works in both; a one-state service works in one.
What does each pick cost across three years?
Over three years: Maryland Registered Agent.co ($397), Mainstay Filing ($497), MD Registered Agent.org ($397), with state fees on top.
Where do the numbers come from?
Official schedules for state fees, company pricing for service fees, and every figure carries a date.
Could I skip the service?
No, you may file on your own if you meet the rules on this page.
Who does the filing?
The picks on this page all file it; state fees are identical.
Who would you hire first in Maryland?
Maryland Registered Agent.co, because you pay $199 above the state fee, and $99 every year after. Then Mainstay Filing and MD Registered Agent.org.
References
- August 2026 confirmation of Maryland State Department of Assessments at dat.maryland.gov
- August 2026 confirmation of Maryland State Department of Assessments at dat.maryland.gov
- August 2026 confirmation of Maryland report due date at dat.maryland.gov
- August 2026 confirmation of Md at mgaleg.maryland.gov
- October 2026 confirmation of Maryland formation fee: Filing fee at mgaleg.maryland.gov
- October 2026 confirmation of Maryland formation fee: Filing fee at egov.maryland.gov
- October 2026 confirmation of Maryland registered agent statute at mgaleg.maryland.gov
- October 2026 confirmation of Maryland Business Express at egov.maryland.gov
- October 2026 confirmation of Corporations and Associations § 4A-1002 at mgaleg.maryland.gov
- October 2026 confirmation of Corporations and Associations § 4A-1009 at mgaleg.maryland.gov
- October 2026 confirmation of Corporations and Associations § 4A-1007 at mgaleg.maryland.gov
- October 2026 confirmation of Tax-Property § 11-101, annual report at mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Maryland Registered Agent.co, pricing page, accessed November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing, Maryland service page, accessed November 13, 2026
- MD Registered Agent.org, pricing page, accessed November 13, 2026