The state filing fee to form an LLC in Maryland is $100. Annual maintenance costs include annual report ($300) plus a registered agent. Calculate your total first-year and ongoing costs below.
Maryland charges a $100 initial filing fee. However, the annual report fee is $300 — one of the highest annual report fees in the country. Maryland has no additional franchise tax. The $300/year annual report makes Maryland ongoing costs among the most expensive.
| Cost Item | Amount | When Due |
|---|---|---|
| State Filing Fee | $100 | One-time at formation |
| Annual report | $300 | Annually |
| Registered Agent Service | $49–$300/year | Annually (at renewal) |
| Operating Agreement | $0–$1,500 | One-time (recommended) |
| EIN (Federal Tax ID) | Free | One-time (IRS.gov) |
| Business Bank Account | $0–$50/month | Monthly or free |
| Period | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| First Year (state fees + $49 RA) | $449 |
| Ongoing Annual (state fees + $49 RA) | $349/year |
| 5-Year Total Cost (+ RA) | $1,845 |
Northwest Registered Agent provides registered agent service in Maryland for $49/year — the lowest price in the industry. They also include a free year of registered agent service when you use them to form your LLC. Vanderflip Financial's preferred partner for LLC formation.
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The Maryland state filing fee is $100. In the first year, total costs including a registered agent (~$49) and annual state fees ($300) amount to approximately $449. Ongoing annual costs are approximately $349/year.
Yes — Maryland requires all LLCs to maintain a registered agent with a physical Maryland address. You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a Maryland address, or hire a professional service. Professional services (~$49-$300/year) keep your personal address off public records and ensure you receive legal documents even when you're unavailable.
Annual report: $300. Plus registered agent service (~$49/year). Total ongoing: approximately $349/year.
For most small businesses that operate in Maryland, forming in Maryland is the right choice. If you form in Delaware or Wyoming and do business in Maryland, you'll likely need to register as a foreign LLC in Maryland — paying fees in both states. Delaware and Wyoming make sense for businesses seeking venture capital, planning complex ownership structures, or operating entirely online without a home state nexus.
Standard LLC formation in Maryland typically takes 5–15 business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee and can reduce processing to 1–3 business days in most states. Online filing through the Secretary of State's website is the fastest option. Using a registered agent service like Northwest can also expedite the process.