Step 1: Choose a name Maine will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company”, “L.L.C.” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Maine Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Maine against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $20, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Certificate of Formation names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Maine who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Maine companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Certificate of Formation
File it with the Maine Secretary of State. The fee is $175. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. 40 to 55 business days. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Maine doesn't require one (31 M.R.S. §§ 1502(14), 1521(1)-(2)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Maine LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Maine has accepted the Certificate of Formation.
Step 6: File the Maine LLC annual report
Fee: $85 (domestic); $150 (foreign). Due: Between January 1 and June 1 each year, starting the year after formation (31 M.R.S. § 1665). (Source: Limited liability company forms, maine.gov.)
| After formation | Maine |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $85 each year (Jan 1 to Jun 1) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Existence, $30 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Maine certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Maine
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $175 |
| First year, state fees | $175 |
| Each year after | $85 |
Over five years, Maine's state fees come to $515. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Limited liability company forms, maine.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Miscellaneous service lists and bulk data, maine.gov, checked 2026-10-07
31 M.R.S. § 1508, legislature.maine.gov, checked 2026-10-09
31 M.R.S. § 1509, legislature.maine.gov, checked 2026-10-07
31 M.R.S. § 1665, legislature.maine.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Maine
- Choose a name Maine will accept and check it against the Maine Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Maine.
- File the Certificate of Formation with the Maine Secretary of State ($175).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Maine?
$175 to file the Certificate of Formation. The state's fees come to $175 in the first year and $85 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Maine?
The Maine Secretary of State gives 40 to 55 business days.
Do I need an operating agreement in Maine?
Maine doesn't require one (31 M.R.S. §§ 1502(14), 1521(1)-(2)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
When is the Maine LLC annual report due?
Between January 1 and June 1 each year, starting the year after formation (31 M.R.S. § 1665).
Does Maine require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Maine's recurring filing: $85 each year (Jan 1 to Jun 1).