2025 Guide to Starting Your Maryland LLC
Starting a limited liability company in Maryland takes just a few steps. Maryland Resident Agent Inc’s guide walks you through the information you need to start and maintain your new Maryland LLC.
Before you file, you’ll need to:
Then, you’ll file your Articles of Organization with Maryland Department of Assessments & Taxation (SDAT). The filing fee costs $100 plus a 3% service charge for online payment.
After you’ve filed, there are a few more steps you’ll take to start doing business and maintain your good standing. This includes:
- Applying for an EIN
- Establishing Business Banking
- Setting Up Tax Accounts
- Getting Licenses or Permits
- Filing your Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return
If you have more questions, check out our FAQ section.
Maryland LLC Formation Service
$304
Hire us to form your Maryland LLC and we’ll include:
- A year of resident agent service
- An operating agreement template
- Secure account to view and manage your documents
- Forms library access for all your filing needs
- Renewal service enrollment—keep current with state filings
- Business Identity package—90-day free trial of domain, website, phone, & email
Before You File: Choose a Business Name, Appoint a Resident Agent, and Create Your Operating Agreement
How Do I Choose A Business Name for My LLC?
We recommend choosing a business name that makes sense for your business and is easy to recognize. Your name needs to reflect your brand, something that ties back to your work and your reputation. You’ll also need to make sure it works with Maryland’s rules for business names.
What are the rules for naming my LLC?
Maryland has a few rules for naming to keep in mind:
- Your business name must include an entity identifier.
That means you’ll need to include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” as part of the name. (If you’re forming a benefit LLC, you’ll need to include “benefit limited liability company” or “Benefit LLC.”) - Your business name must be unique in Maryland.
In other words, you can’t name your company something that’s the same or similar to the name of an existing company. - Your business name must not contain restricted language.
This includes profanity, but also includes words associated with highly regulated fields. “Bank” and “university” are typically rejected for general-purpose businesses, along with anything suggesting that your business represents a government entity. You also can’t use words that suggest your LLC is organized for a purpose not allowed by your Articles of Organization.
How do I find out if a business name is available in Maryland?
You can use the Maryland Business Entity Search to check whether someone else is already using the name you had in mind.
What other considerations should I keep in mind when naming my LLC?
Even if the name you want is available in the state, you’ll want to research just a couple more things.
- To start with, check whether the name has any trademarks associated with it.
Search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s trademark database for any potential conflicts. Better to find out now then commit to a name you’ll have to change at the end of an expensive lawsuit. - Next, check to see whether the name is in use across the internet.
Even if it isn’t formally registered as a business or trademarked, a name that’s in common use online might make it harder for you to establish your own brand identity on the internet—you’ll have competition for it right out of the gate. See whether a suitable domain name is available for your intended business name, and check the social media platforms you intend to use to reach your customer base for available usernames.
What’s a Maryland Resident Agent?
Your Maryland resident agent is a person or a business with a physical presence in Maryland who can accept legal reminders, notices, and service of process on behalf of your business. They’re called registered agents, statutory agents, or agents for service of process in other states.
Do I need a resident agent for my Maryland LLC?
Maryland Corporations and Associations Code § 4A-210 requires you to appoint a resident agent for your LLC. They must sign your Articles of Organization when you file with SDAT, so you’ll need to choose one before you file.
Can I be my own resident agent in Maryland?
Yes, you can be your own resident agent if you’re an adult residing in Maryland state. However, just because you can doesn’t mean you should! There are two major considerations for doing it yourself:
- Do you have a brick and mortar commercial location to list on your formation documents?
The name and office address of your resident agent are each made available to the public. If you’re a small business owner operating out of your home office, you may not want anyone with an internet connection able to discover your name and home address. - Are you available during standard business hours?
In the event that you’re served with a lawsuit, a process server will deliver notice to the address listed for your resident agent. That might mean getting served at home, or at your place of business in front of customers and employees—not a great look—or worse, missing service of process altogether if you’ve stepped out for an appointment or a vacation. You can’t respond to a suit you don’t know about!
Hiring a professional service can alleviate each of these concerns. At just $49 per year, we think our service is a solid investment in your company’s privacy and professionalism. Hire us before you file so we can provide you with our signature and address pre-filled on your formation documents.
Does My Maryland LLC Need an Operating Agreement?
Officially, your LLC is formed once your Articles of Organization are approved. Beyond the minimum requirements of the state—yes, we think your LLC needs an operating agreement.
An operating agreement is a critical business document outlines how your LLC is operated. It includes information like:
- names of members and their ownership percentages
- how decisions will be made and conflicts resolved
- the duties and responsibilities of members and/or managers
- how profits and losses are distributed and when
You’ll probably need to provide a copy to perform certain business duties, like opening a business banking account. And of course an operating agreement can come in handy if there are disagreements about how the LLC functions.
You can also use your operating agreement to prove ownership of the LLC. Since you don’t need to list the names of the members, or owners, of the LLC in the Articles of Organization, you can also use your operating agreement to clearly spell out who the members are.
When you hire us to form your LLC, we’ll build a template for your operating agreement. You can customize it with anything specific to your LLC.
What’s the difference between an operating agreement and the Articles of Organization?
Your Articles of Organization are submitted to SDAT; their approval and filing formally organizes your LLC as a unique legal entity. An operating agreement is an internal document describing the details of how your LLC will operate and typically only gets trotted out for specific business-to-business purposes, like banking.
Next, File Your Maryland Articles of Organization and Pay the Filing Fee
How Do I Fill Out the Articles of Organization?
Your company’s Articles of Organization provides Maryland state with specific information about your LLC. The form is brief, so we can be equally brief:
- Name
Your LLC’s complete business name, including its entity identifier, goes here. - Business purpose
This can be a specific purpose, like “to develop and manage outdoor recreation facilities,” or a generic purpose like “any lawful business purpose.” - Business address
This must be in Maryland and cannot be a P.O. box. - Resident agent name and address
The name of your agent and address to which service of process and other legal notices may be sent go here. This address can’t be a P.O. box. Your resident agent will also need to sign your Articles. - Name and signature of the person authorized to form the LLC
Sometimes called your organizer or simply “authorized individual,” this is name and signature of the person completing and filing the paperwork.
What’s the difference between a resident agent and an organizer?
These are different roles. Your resident agent is responsible for receiving service of process and communications from the Secretary of State about your business. Your organizer is the individual responsible for completing and filing your Articles of Organization.
You can use the same person or company for both if you’d like.
How Do I File the Articles of Organization?
Filing online through Maryland Business Express gives you the most user-friendly experience and fastest turnaround. If you’d like to file by mail, you can mail your filing with a check or money order made payable to State Department of Assessments and Taxation or SDAT:
State Department of Assessments and Taxation
Charter Division
700 East Pratt Street, Suite 2700
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
If you’re local, you can also hand-deliver your Articles of Organization. Look for the drop-boxes in the building lobby at 123 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202 and bring money to pay the $2.50/hour street parking fee. Schedule an appointment if you need in-person services for your same-day filing. Otherwise, you can use the rush services drop-box without an appointment as long as you’ve enclosed the additional $425 expedite fee and deliver it before 10 a.m.
Your LLC is official once your Articles of Organization are approved. SDAT will issue a unique Maryland state identifier for your business, called your SDAT Identification Number. This is different from your EIN, so be sure to write it down!
How much does it cost to file Maryland Articles of Organization?
Maryland’s base filing fee for an LLC’s Articles of Organization is $100. You’ll pay an additional 3% service fee to pay via credit card or Paypal when you file online.
How long does it take for my Articles to be approved?
The standard filing time is a whopping eight-week minimum, so we also recommend expedited filing for just $50 more. You can check turnaround times for filing on the state’s Registrations & Filings: Processing Times page.
Do Articles of Organization show ownership?
Not in Maryland! One of the things we like about the filing process here is that the state only requires the name and signature of the person filing the Articles, not the names of the LLC members (owners). This detail means that Maryland LLCs offer greater privacy than LLCs formed in other states that require public disclosure of LLC members and/or managers on these filing records. Having your resident agent act as your authorized agent for filing adds a layer of privacy here, and it’s one of the perks we offer when you hire us to start your LLC.
After You File: Apply for An EIN, Establish Bank and Tax Accounts, Get Licenses and Permits, and File Your Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return
Once your LLC is established, you’ll need to take action to operationalize and maintain it. This means taking a few more steps:
Do I Need an EIN for My LLC?
We recommend that you get an EIN for your LLC. This unique 9-digit number issued by the IRS acts as your company’s social security number. Also called a Federal Employer Identification Number or a Tax ID number, you’ll need an EIN to file and pay taxes and perform other business functions like opening a business banking account.
You might be tempted to use your own taxpayer identification number—usually your social security number for U.S. citizens—for your LLC, especially if you’re a sole member. However, doing so risks piercing the corporate veil, which means you could be held personally responsible for your LLC’s debts. Just get an EIN and save yourself the trouble!
Apply for your EIN online after your Maryland LLC has been approved to make sure the correct business name and formation date are associated with the EIN. The online application is quick, easy, and free.
Can I use my personal bank account for my LLC?
We recommend you maintain a separate business bank account for your LLC. Keeping your personal and business finances separate helps maintain your limited liability status, so open a business banking account for your LLC. Expect to provide copies of your Articles of Organization, operating agreement, SDAT ID, and EIN. Specific banks may have additional requirements.
Which tax accounts do I need to register?
Depending on what type of business you operate, you’ll need to register a couple different tax accounts with the Comptroller of Maryland. For example, almost everyone who makes sales will need to register for a sales and use tax. The Combined Registration Application is your starting point for this and more.
If you’ve already registered your business online through Maryland Business Express, you can complete the Combined Registration Application there, too.
You’ll get a Central Registration Number from the Comptroller once you’ve successfully registered. Make sure you don’t confuse this number for your SDAT ID or your EIN!
What business licenses are required in Maryland?
The licenses and permits you’ll need to operate your business vary depending on your industry, profession, zoning, and more. Conveniently, Maryland offers a OneStop portal for licenses, permits, certificates, and the like issued by various state agencies. Also check with your local Clerk of the Court—they provide some county-specific licenses (like traders licenses and auctioneer’s licenses)—or your county’s office of inspections, licenses, or permits.
What happens if you run a business without a license?
Running a business without the appropriate licenses is asking for trouble. You might just be looking at fines to begin with, especially if you’re a new business owner who made a good-faith mistake, but the penalties can get worse. For example, there are some occupational licenses that carry criminal charges for practicing without the appropriate licensure.
How do I file the Maryland Annual Report?
Your LLC will need to file a Maryland Annual Report (Form 1) no later than April 15th each calendar year. You can file by mail or drop-box, but the state prefers online filings through its Maryland Business Express website. It costs $300 to file, plus a 3% credit card or Paypal fee when you file online through Maryland Business Express. This is a state-required compliance document that confirms and maintains your company’s active status.
Maryland Resident Agent Inc has a guide to Maryland Annual Reports if you have questions or need help with your filing.
When you hire us to form your company or serve as your resident agent, you’re automatically enrolled in our no-upfront-cost Renewal Service. We’ll file your Annual Report for you for just $100 plus the state’s fee, due at the time of filing. (You can always cancel Renewal Service and choose to file yourself, of course, but we find that plenty of business owners would rather not worry about the filing.)
Do I need to file a Personal Property Tax Return?
If your business maintains a trader’s license or owns, leases, or uses personal property located in the state, you should expect to also pay a Personal Property Tax Return to the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation with your Annual Report. The total due is determined by the assessed value of your business’s property multiplied by the tax rate for the county in which the property is located.
Build Your Business Identity with Our Maryland LLC Formation Services
We make it easy to build your business identity. When you work with us, we’ll give you the tools you need to establish your brand. Not only will we help you form your LLC and serve as your resident agents—we can set you up with business phone lines, custom branded domain names to host your business website and professional email addresses. And because we’re local resident agents, we can provide these next-level service at affordable prices for Maryland businesses.
Here’s how our process works when you hire us to form your LLC:
- You tell us about yourself and your business needs.
You give us a little bit of information about your company, tell us which services you want, and we’re off to the races. - We file your paperwork.
Your Articles of Organization are expedited so you aren’t stuck in that 8-10 weeks of limbo with the state. - Maryland processes your filing.
Someone in the SDAT office reviews and approves your filing. - Your LLC documents are uploaded to your client account.
You’ll be able to view your Articles of Organization and other documents related to your LLC, including a template for your operating agreement. - We’ll serve as your resident agent for a year.
We receive legal notices, reminders, and service of process on your behalf. It all gets uploaded to your account for easy viewing and managing, and we’ll include up to three non-official pieces of business mail. (Don’t worry, we’ll filter out the junk mail first.) We hope you’ll keep us, but no hard feelings if switching is what’s best for business. - We’ll file your Annual Report.
Qualifying businesses are automatically enrolled in our set-it-and-forget-it Renewal Service, which means we’ll file your annual report with the state for just $100 plus state fees. Prefer to file yourself, or know you need to file a Personal Property Tax Return too? Opt out from within your client account. - We’ll set you up with everything you need to establish your Business Identity online.
Say goodbye to social media platforms controlling your brand, and hello to having total control with your own custom domain, business website, professional email addresses, and a phone line with a local Maryland area code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the business name of a dissolved Maryland LLC?
In Maryland, when an LLC is dissolved—whether voluntarily or forfeited due to noncompliance—it loses exclusive rights to a company name. Business names with a status of “dissolved” or “forfeited” are up for grabs! This is extra incentive to be vigilant about your own company’s annual reports and compliance, and a great reason to hire us to help you with that.
Can I get a trade name for my Maryland LLC?
Using a trade name is a great way to simplify your branding and allow for franchising opportunities! We offer a trade name service for just $125 plus state fees to our business formation and resident agent service clients. You can also file online through Maryland Business Express.
Is a DBA the same thing as an LLC?
These are two completely separate concepts. A DBA, or doing-business-as name, is the same as a trade name in Maryland—it’s a sort of nickname for your company you can use in place of its legal name. An LLC, or limited liability company, is a registered and unique legal entity in the state.
Does my business address listed on the Articles of Organization need to be in Maryland?
The only address that must be in Maryland is the resident agent address, so your business address does not have to be in Maryland. Clients who hire us as their resident agent can list our office address for their Maryland LLC and keep their address off the Maryland Business Express public record.
What does “member” or “member-managed” mean?
An LLC member is an LLC’s owner. Member-managed means the owner(s) make the managing decisions, versus “Manager-Managed” LLCs where a manager (who may or may not be an owner) makes all the managerial decisions for the LLC.
How will I know the status of my Maryland LLC filing?
If you’ve hire us to form your Maryland LLC and the articles are rejected, we’ll work with you and the state of Maryland to fix the issues and get your LLC formed as quickly as we can. If the name you chose is too close to another company, we’ll use your back up choices and file until something you like is accepted.
If you file the articles on your own, the state will notify you directly.
Approved articles will be returned however they were submitted. Paper filings are sent to the return address on the form and online filings are returned as digital documents to the person or company who filed.
Do I need membership certificates?
Maybe, maybe not. Membership certificates are pretty cool and might look great matted and framed on your wall, but it’s unlikely they will hold any information that’s not already outlined in your operating agreement. Either way, we provide certificates with the operating agreement template to every client who hires us to form their Maryland LLC.
Can you help register a foreign Maryland LLC?
We‘d love to help with your Foreign Maryland LLC! We can serve as the resident agent for any Maryland LLC, foreign or domestic. When you hire us to register your non-Maryland limited liability company, we’ll get your Certificate of Good Standing (or Certificate of Existence, if your domestic state calls it that) for you and file the necessary paperwork with SDAT.
I already have an LLC in another state. Can I move that LLC to be a Maryland LLC?
Unfortunately, Maryland doesn’t provide a pathway for domestication, the formal process of moving an existing LLC’s charter state to Maryland. You can apply for foreign qualification so your LLC can operate in Maryland, or you can dissolve your original LLC and spin up a new one in the Old Line State. You could also create a new LLC in Maryland and merge your old one into it.