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Forming an LLC in Maryland costs $100 in state filing fees through Maryland Business Express, run by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). The process takes 7 steps: pick an available name, appoint a Maryland resident agent, file your Articles of Organization, draft an Operating Agreement, get an EIN from the IRS, register for Maryland taxes, and secure any business licenses. After formation, your LLC files a $300 Annual Report every April 15. Foreign founders can form a Maryland LLC without an SSN or a US address. Below is the complete step-by-step breakdown with every fee and timeline verified for 2026.
Table of Contents
- Maryland LLC: Key Facts at a Glance
- How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC in Maryland?
- How Long Does It Take to Form a Maryland LLC?
- Step 1: Choose Your LLC Name
- Step 2: Appoint a Maryland Resident Agent
- Step 3: File Your Articles of Organization
- Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement
- Step 5: Get an EIN from the IRS
- Step 6: Register for Maryland State Taxes
- Step 7: Get Required Business Licenses
- Step 8: File the Annual Report and Personal Property Return
- Maryland LLCs for Non-US Founders
- DIY vs. Using a Formation Service
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Maryland LLC: Key Facts at a Glance
Maryland LLCs file Articles of Organization ($100) with the SDAT Charter Division — not a Secretary of State — online via Maryland Business Express. You need a Maryland “resident agent” (a state resident 18+ or a Maryland entity, with a real MD street address) and a principal office in the state. Every LLC files a $300 Annual Report (Form 1) by April 15 each year. No publication requirement, no franchise tax on LLCs, and no series LLC or PLLC option.
How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC in Maryland?
Maryland is cheap to form but pricey to maintain: the $300 annual report is on the high side, so budget for year two from day one. Expedited and rush tiers can change — confirm current options on Maryland Business Express before filing. The $100 base fee is fixed.
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (state filing) | $100 |
| Name reservation (optional, 30 days) | $25 |
| Expedited processing (optional) | +$50 for ~7–10 business days |
| Same-day rush (optional) | ~$325 online / ~$425 in person (check SDAT for current rush tiers) |
| Annual Report (Form 1, every April 15) | $300 |
| Trade name / DBA (optional) | $25 |
| Certificate of Status / Good Standing (optional) | $20 |
| Resident agent service (if hired) | Varies — check current pricing |
| EIN from the IRS | Free |
How Long Does It Take to Form a Maryland LLC?
| Filing method | Typical processing (approximate, Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Online via Maryland Business Express (standard) | ~1–2 weeks |
| Mail / paper filing (standard) | ~6–8 weeks |
| Expedited (+$50) | ~7–10 business days |
| Same-day rush | Available for a premium rush fee |
Paper filings take much longer than online ones. Timelines are approximate and shift with SDAT’s volume — check the current estimate on Maryland Business Express when you file.
Step 1: Choose Your LLC Name
Your name needs one of five endings: Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or L C. It must also be distinguishable from every other business name on file with SDAT. “Distinguishable” is the word that trips people up: “Baltimore Web Design LLC” and “Baltimore Web Designs L.L.C.” are too close, and SDAT will bounce the second filing.
Search SDAT’s business name database before you fall in love with a name. If your ideal name is available but you are not ready to file, SDAT will hold it for 30 days for $25 (name reservation) — skip this if you plan to file within a few days.
Avoid words implying a different entity type (Corporation, Inc.) or restricted financial terms unless you hold the relevant licenses. If you also trade under a brand name, register a trade name with SDAT for $25.
Step 2: Appoint a Maryland Resident Agent
Maryland calls the registered agent a “resident agent,” and the eligibility rules are stricter than in most states. Your resident agent must be a Maryland resident aged 18 or older, or a Maryland corporation, LLC, or limited partnership — a foreign company merely doing business in Maryland does not qualify. The agent needs a physical Maryland street address (no P.O. box) and must be available during business hours to accept legal documents and state correspondence.
Maryland also requires your LLC to maintain a principal office in the state, listed in the Articles alongside the resident agent’s address.
Non-US founders: you almost certainly do not have a Maryland address, which is why hiring a commercial resident agent service is the standard move. Registered Agents Inc includes one year of free resident agent service in its $100 + state fee formation bundle — which solves both the resident agent and principal-office listing in one step. (Standalone resident agent service runs $200/year after that — check current pricing.)
Step 3: File Your Articles of Organization
The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. You file with the SDAT Charter Division — the fastest path is online through Maryland Business Express (egov.maryland.gov).
Your Articles must include:
- LLC name — exactly as you want it, with the proper designator
- Purpose — a general “any lawful purpose” statement is standard practice
- Principal office address — a street address in Maryland
- Resident agent — name and Maryland street address
- Authorized person(s) — the organizer(s) signing the document
The filing fee is $100. Online filers complete the guided form on Maryland Business Express and pay by card or e-check. Paper filers use SDAT’s official Articles of Organization form. Double-check every address and the spelling of the name before submitting — a typo here costs you an amendment filing to fix.
Once SDAT approves your Articles, your LLC legally exists. Keep the approval document; banks, payment processors, and the IRS will ask for it.
Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement
Maryland does not require LLCs to adopt an Operating Agreement — but write one anyway. It is the private contract between members defining ownership percentages, profit and loss distribution, voting rights, and what happens if a member leaves or dies. Without one, Maryland’s default LLC statutes decide those questions for you, and the defaults rarely match what the founders want.
This is doubly important for non-US founders with multiple members across countries: put the profit-split, decision-making authority, and buyout terms in writing before money moves. Even a single-member LLC benefits — mostly to preserve the liability shield and document that the company is separate from its owner.
Step 5: Get an EIN from the IRS
Your Employer Identification Number is the LLC’s federal tax ID. You need one to open a US business bank account, hire employees, file taxes, and in practice to do business with most US platforms. The EIN is always free from the IRS — never pay a third party for it.
- US founders with an SSN or ITIN: apply online at irs.gov and receive the EIN immediately.
- Non-US founders without an SSN: you cannot use the online application. Complete IRS Form SS-4 and fax it to the IRS (the dedicated foreign-applicant fax number is in the SS-4 instructions; write “Foreign” in the responsible-party section as directed). Processing takes about a week by fax.
Step 6: Register for Maryland State Taxes
Maryland LLCs are pass-through entities by default: the LLC itself pays no state income tax, and profits flow to the members’ personal returns. But you still have state tax registrations to handle.
File the Combined Registration Application with the Maryland Comptroller of the Treasury to open the tax accounts your business needs:
- Sales and use tax license — required if you sell taxable goods or certain taxable services. Maryland’s sales tax rate is 6%, applied statewide with no county add-ons.
- Withholding account — required if you have Maryland employees.
- Unemployment insurance — register separately with the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance if you hire employees.
One 2026 development to watch: Maryland has expanded sales tax to certain data and information-technology services. If you sell SaaS or digital services, confirm with the Comptroller whether your services are taxable — this catches many foreign SaaS founders off guard. Register online through the Comptroller’s portal; account numbers typically arrive within days.
Step 7: Get Required Business Licenses
Maryland does not have a single general state business license, which simplifies things — but it does not mean you need nothing.
- Trader’s license: if you sell physical goods from a storefront, warehouse, or in many cases online into Maryland, you need a trader’s license from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where your business is located. Register with SDAT first, then visit the clerk’s office; fees vary by county and inventory. (Non-US founders with no Maryland physical presence typically do not need one.)
- Local licenses: cities and counties impose their own requirements — Baltimore City differs from Montgomery County. Always check where your business activity actually happens.
- Professional and industry licenses: contractors, food businesses, childcare, financial services, and other regulated fields need state occupational licenses.
Use the Maryland Licensing OneStop portal to search requirements by industry.
Step 8: File the Annual Report and Personal Property Return
This is the deadline that sinks Maryland LLC owners: every LLC must file Form 1 — the Annual Report and Personal Property Return — with SDAT by April 15 each year, with a $300 filing fee. The report confirms your LLC’s name, principal office, resident agent, and officers; the personal property section reports tangible business property in Maryland (equipment, furniture, inventory) — or states you have none, as most service businesses do.
Key facts:
- First report: due April 15 of the year after formation — form in October 2026 and your first report is due April 15, 2027. File online through Maryland Business Express, where you can also update company information.
- Personal property tax: if you report property in Maryland, SDAT assesses it and the county bills you at local rates, which vary by county and municipality. The $300 fee covers the report itself; property tax is separate.
- Miss the deadline and you face escalating late penalties, your LLC drops out of good standing, and continued non-compliance can end in forfeiture — SDAT ending your right to do business in Maryland and even your right to the company name. Calendar April 15 permanently.
Maryland LLCs for Non-US Founders
Maryland works well for foreign founders — no SSN required to form, no US address needed if you use a commercial resident agent, and foreign nationals can own 100% of a Maryland LLC. A few things specific to your situation:
EIN without an SSN: fax Form SS-4 to the IRS as described in Step 5 — allow extra time, since international fax processing is slower than the instant online route.
Banking: because Mercury restricts founders resident in roughly 48 countries (including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and the Philippines — check its published prohibited-country list), do not assume any single bank will take you. Wise Business is the default first pick for founders in blocked countries. Our Mercury vs Wise vs Relay comparison breaks down which option fits you.
Taxes: single-member LLCs owned by non-resident aliens are generally treated as disregarded entities for US federal tax, but information-return obligations can still apply — the classic one is IRS Form 5472 (reportable transactions between the LLC and its foreign owner), which carries severe penalties if missed. Get US tax advice before your first filing season.
BOI reporting — you are exempt. Under FinCEN’s final rule of August 11, 2026 (effective August 14, 2026), US-formed companies are permanently exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information reporting, even when owned by foreign nationals. Do not pay anyone to “file your BOI report” for a Maryland LLC — it is not required.
DIY vs. Using a Formation Service
You can absolutely form a Maryland LLC yourself: file on Maryland Business Express, pay the $100 state fee, and you are done with formation for exactly $100. The catch for foreign founders is the resident agent and principal office requirement — you need a real Maryland street address and someone available there during business hours, which you do not have from abroad.
This is where a formation service earns its fee. Registered Agents Inc forms your Maryland LLC for $100 + state fee: the bundle covers the state filing itself, a domain name, a website, and one year of free registered agent service — satisfying Maryland’s resident agent and principal-office requirements at once. Buying an address service and a registered agent separately usually costs more. For non-US founders especially, the bundle is the practical path — see our Virginia LLC guide for a neighboring-state cost comparison.
FAQ
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maryland in 2026?
The state filing fee for Maryland Articles of Organization is $100, filed with SDAT online through Maryland Business Express or by mail. Your ongoing cost is the $300 Annual Report due every April 15. Budget at least $400 for the first year of state fees alone, plus any resident agent or formation service you hire.
How long does it take to get an LLC approved in Maryland?
Online filings through Maryland Business Express are typically approved in about one to two weeks; mailed paper filings take roughly six to eight weeks. Paying SDAT’s $50 expedite fee cuts that to about seven to ten business days, and same-day rush service is available for a premium. Timelines are approximate and vary with SDAT’s filing volume.
Does Maryland require a registered agent for an LLC?
Yes. Maryland calls it a “resident agent,” and it must be a Maryland resident aged 18 or older, or a Maryland corporation, LLC, or limited partnership — a foreign company doing business in Maryland does not qualify. The agent needs a physical Maryland street address (no P.O. box) and must be available during business hours. Your LLC must also list a principal office in the state.
Can a non-US citizen form an LLC in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland has no citizenship or residency requirement for LLC members — a foreign national can own 100% of a Maryland LLC, and no SSN is needed to file the Articles of Organization. You will need an EIN from the IRS (Form SS-4 by fax without an SSN), a Maryland resident agent, and you should understand US tax obligations such as Form 5472 before operating.
What happens if I miss Maryland’s April 15 annual report deadline?
SDAT imposes escalating late penalties and your LLC falls out of good standing, which blocks certificates of status and some contracts. If you keep ignoring it, the state can forfeit your LLC’s right to do business in Maryland — and your right to the company name. Treat April 15 as a hard deadline and file online through Maryland Business Express.
Is Maryland a good state for an LLC?
Maryland suits founders who actually do business there — proximity to the DC metro market, no state franchise tax on LLCs, no inventory tax (good for e-commerce), and a straightforward $100 formation. The $300 annual report is pricier than many states, so if you are choosing purely on cost with no Maryland connection, compare neighbors: our Virginia LLC guide breaks down the alternative.
Conclusion
Starting an LLC in Maryland comes down to seven steps: choose a distinguishable name, appoint a Maryland resident agent, file your $100 Articles of Organization with SDAT through Maryland Business Express, draft an Operating Agreement, get a free EIN from the IRS, register for Maryland taxes with the Comptroller, and get your licenses. Then guard one date — April 15 — when the $300 Annual Report and Personal Property Return are due every year.
Registered Agents Inc handles the whole formation for $100 + state fee — the filing, your domain name, a website, and a full year of free resident agent service, so your Maryland LLC is compliant from day one. Once your approved Articles and EIN arrive, open a business bank account and you are ready to operate. Need credentials for a bank or partner? Our certificate of good standing guide shows how to order one from SDAT for $20.