What it means · Maryland
3 Best LLC Services in Maryland (2026), Compared
The essentials
- Cost at the state
- $100, charged once
- What recurs
- $300 yearly
- Resident agent
- Yes, required
- Our picks in order
- Maryland Registered Agent.co, MD Registered Agent.org then Mainstay Filing
Maryland: the ranked picks
Order and weights are explained on how we pick.1. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for a lean start
$199 up front, $99 annually after that
Why Maryland Registered Agent.co? It charges $199 to form the LLC, with the agent included in year one, then $99 a year.
On three-year cost it comes in under Mainstay Filing, and cost counts for the most in our ranking.
Plan to file the Business Entity Annual Report yourself.
Includes
- Your Maryland formation filing
- Year-one registered agent
Points in its favor
- $199 to get started
- The agent is free for the first year
- $99 annually after that
Where it falls short
- The Business Entity Annual Report is not covered
- Applying for an EIN costs $99 extra
2. MD Registered Agent.org: best for owners comfortable doing their own reports
$199 up front, $99 annually after that
Our second recommendation, MD Registered Agent.org, earns it since it charges $199 to form the LLC, with the agent included in year one, then $99 a year.
Plan to file the Business Entity Annual Report yourself.
It charges exactly what Maryland Registered Agent.co charges; either would serve you well.
Includes
- Your Maryland formation filing
- Year-one registered agent
Points in its favor
- $99 annually after that
- The agent is free for the first year
- $199 to get started
Where it falls short
- The Business Entity Annual Report is not covered
- Applying for an EIN costs $99 extra
3. Mainstay Filing: best for knowing the yearly bill in advance
$199 a year, with the $100 state fee on top
Mainstay Filing takes the third slot: one yearly price of $199 handles the filing, serves as the resident agent and files the annual report, and it renews at $199.
Across three years it is $200 pricier than Maryland Registered Agent.co.
Business Entity Annual Report filing is part of the service; the only addition is the state's $300.
Includes
- Formation, filed by Mainstay
- Resident agent for twelve months
- Annual report filed by Mainstay
- EIN request submitted for you
- No markup on the state fee
Points in its favor
- $199 annually for everything listed
- Renewal is $199
- Includes the EIN application
Where it falls short
- Carries a $100 annual premium over Maryland Registered Agent.co
How they stack up
| # | Provider | Year one | Each year after | Over three years | What you get | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Your Maryland formation filing; Year-one registered agent | Check Maryland Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | MD Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Your Maryland formation filing; Year-one registered agent | Check MD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Formation, filed by Mainstay; resident agent for twelve months; Annual report filed by Mainstay | Check Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
What owners want to know
What will forming an LLC cost me?
The state charges $100. A service adds $199 in the first year.
Counting the recurring report, the state collects $700 in the first three years. egov.maryland.gov, confirmed October 2026
Which form do I file, and with whom?
A single filing forms the LLC: the Articles of Organization, sent to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT).
The state's timeline: Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission. egov.maryland.gov, confirmed October 2026
Does the state insist on a resident agent?
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, confirmed October 2026
What is due in later years?
Plan on $300 every year for the Business Entity Annual Report. The state sets the deadline as April 15; put it in your calendar.
dat.maryland.gov, confirmed August 2026
Do I need a service at all?
Yes. Doing it yourself costs only the state's fees, $700 over three years.
The $397 to $597 a service charges across three years buys the paperwork and the agent role.
What decided the ranking?
What three years cost counts for 34%, and Maryland Registered Agent.co comes out ahead on it.
The two heaviest criteria are what three years cost (34%) and how much work the price handles (28%), with three lighter ones behind them.
Picking Maryland Registered Agent.co leaves $200 in your pocket after three years compared with Mainstay Filing.
Official Maryland requirements
| Requirement | Fee or rule | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Fee to file the LLC | $100 | egov.maryland.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| Resident agent | Yes, required | mgaleg.maryland.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| Business Entity Annual Report | $300 every year | dat.maryland.gov, confirmed August 2026 |
| What the state collects in three years | $700 | Added up from the rows above |
FAQ
How long does the state take?
Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.
Who takes care of the EIN?
It is part of the Mainstay Filing price, while Maryland Registered Agent.co bills $99 and MD Registered Agent.org bills $99.
What is the three-year price of each?
Maryland Registered Agent.co at $397, MD Registered Agent.org at $397, Mainstay Filing at $597, and state fees come extra.
What are your sources?
State fees come from Maryland's official sources, cited by each figure. Service prices come from each company's own pricing page.
Do I have to hire a service?
No law demands one. A service is a convenience.
Which LLC service do you recommend in Maryland?
Maryland Registered Agent.co, because forming costs $199, and the agent renews each year at $99. Then MD Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing.
Documents and pricing pages behind this page
- Maryland State Department of Assessments via dat.maryland.gov, as of August 2026
- Maryland State Department of Assessments via dat.maryland.gov, as of August 2026
- Maryland report due date via dat.maryland.gov, as of August 2026
- Md via mgaleg.maryland.gov, as of August 2026
- Maryland formation fee: Filing fee via mgaleg.maryland.gov, as of October 2026
- Maryland formation fee: Filing fee via egov.maryland.gov, as of October 2026
- Maryland registered agent statute via mgaleg.maryland.gov, as of October 2026
- Processing, official source via egov.maryland.gov, as of October 2026
- Prices taken from the Maryland Registered Agent.co pricing page on November 13, 2026
- Prices taken from the MD Registered Agent.org pricing page on November 13, 2026
- Prices taken from the Mainstay Filing Maryland service page on November 13, 2026