LLC service ratings · Maryland
3 Best LLC Services in Maryland (2026)
1. Mainstay Filing: best for formation, agent and annual report on a single line
$199 a year plus the state fee
Mainstay Filing is rated first: one $199 yearly line covers the Maryland formation, a year as resident agent and the annual report, with $199 on renewal.
Mainstay files the Business Entity Annual Report at each renewal. The state's line is $300 every year, due April 15, and Mainstay passes that fee on at cost.
On three-year sums Mainstay is $200 above Maryland Registered Agent.co; the wider coverage justifies that gap in the rating.
What you get
- The formation, prepared and filed for you
- A resident agent all year
- Annual report prepared and filed
- EIN application
Pros
- $199 on renewal with no extras
- Maryland's fee goes through at cost
- One $199 yearly line that includes the annual report
- EIN application is in the package
Trade-offs
- Agent renews $100 a year above Maryland Registered Agent.co
2. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for a Maryland LLC that will not expand
$199 to form, $99 a year for the agent, state fee extra
Maryland Registered Agent.co is rated second: Maryland formation at $199 beyond the state's amount, first agent year included, then $99 a year for the agent.
The plan lists an in-state street address as the registered office and scans papers served there into your account.
The Business Entity Annual Report sits outside its published prices; you file it with Maryland yourself every year.
What you get
- LLC filing done for you
- Resident agent service for year one
Pros
- $199 service fee and the filing fee
- $99 per year to keep the agent
- Includes year one as your resident agent
Trade-offs
- The Business Entity Annual Report is not on its price list
- EIN application billed at $99
3. MD Registered Agent.org: best for staying local in Maryland
$199 to form, $99 a year for the agent, state fee extra
MD Registered Agent.org is rated third: Maryland formation at $199 beyond the state's amount, first agent year included, then $99 a year for the agent.
The plan lists an in-state street address as the registered office and scans papers served there into your account.
The Business Entity Annual Report sits outside its published prices; you file it with Maryland yourself every year.
On amounts and features alone, Maryland Registered Agent.co and MD Registered Agent.org are the same, which makes the order between them a close call.
What you get
- LLC filing done for you
- A year of resident agent service at the start
Pros
- A $199 formation amount before the state fee
- Then $99 yearly for the agent
- The first resident agent year is covered
Trade-offs
- The Business Entity Annual Report is not on its price list
- EIN application billed at $99
The 3 ratings summarized
| Line | Service | Rating | Service fee | Year two | Best for | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | 9.5 | $199 | $199/yr | Formation, agent and annual report on one line | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Maryland Registered Agent.co | 9.0 | $199 | $99/yr | A Maryland-only LLC counting every dollar | Visit Maryland Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | MD Registered Agent.org | 8.7 | $199 | $99/yr | A Maryland-only LLC counting every dollar | Visit MD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Maryland LLC service amounts for 2026: year one, renewal and three-year sum
| Service | Year one | Year two | Year three | Three-year sum | Business Entity Annual Report filed by them |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199 | $199 | $597 | Yes |
| Maryland Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 | No |
| MD Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 | No |
How the lines were rated
Formation Rated puts 27% on cost over years one to three, 27% on inclusions per price and the other 46% on renewal price and terms, fit with state rules and price clarity. In Maryland the order came down to inclusions per price.
Maryland requires a report annually at $300. Mainstay's amount covers that filing while Maryland Registered Agent.co's does not, so coverage outweighed Maryland Registered Agent.co's lower three-year sum.
Each criterion and its weight is listed on How we rank.
Maryland LLC formation: official amount and form
Filing the Articles of Organization costs $100, paid to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). Each service here passes that amount through at cost, added to its own.
State processing time: Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.
Ongoing items for a Maryland LLC
Plan on the Business Entity Annual Report every year; the date is April 15. State amount: $300. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Maryland LLC service: your questions
What are the total costs to form an LLC in Maryland?
$100 to the state plus $199 to the service.
What is the formation document called?
It is the Articles of Organization, lodged with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT).
How long does Maryland take to process a new LLC?
The filing office reports: Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.
Is a resident agent a requirement for a Maryland LLC?
Yes. Maryland wants a resident agent on file at all times, with a physical street address in the state.
Which filings recur each year for a Maryland LLC?
One line item: the Business Entity Annual Report, every year, due April 15, fee $300.
Is the EIN application a separate charge?
Mainstay Filing includes it in the yearly price. Maryland Registered Agent.co and MD Registered Agent.org charge $99 separately. At the IRS the EIN itself costs nothing.
Which LLC service holds the top rating in Maryland?
Mainstay Filing, as $199 a year includes the formation filing, the resident agent and the annual report; renewal is $199.
Source lines
- Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (ledger date August 2026)
- Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (ledger date August 2026)
- Maryland report due date (ledger date August 2026)
- Md. Code, Corporations & Associations sec. 4A-202 (ledger date August 2026)
- Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source (ledger date October 2026)
- Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source (ledger date October 2026)
- Maryland registered agent statute) (ledger date October 2026)
- Processing, official source (ledger date October 2026)
- Mainstay Filing, Maryland service page: amounts read November 12, 2026
- Maryland Registered Agent.co, pricing and service pages: amounts read November 12, 2026
- MD Registered Agent.org, pricing and service pages: amounts read November 12, 2026