Step 1: Choose a name Maryland will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.”, “LLC” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Maryland 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: $25, for 30 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Maryland 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 Maryland companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. The fee is $100. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. 4 to 6 weeks; 6 to 8 weeks for an online filing not expedited. Faster service: $50 for 7 to 10 business days; same day $325 online (by 2:30 p.m.) or $425 on paper. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Maryland doesn't require one (Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 4A-402(a)), 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 Maryland 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 Maryland has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Maryland LLC annual report
Fee: $300 (Annual Report / Personal Property Return of a Maryland LLC, except a family farm ($100)) (Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-203). Due: April 15 each year. (Source: Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-203, mgaleg.maryland.gov.)
| After formation | Maryland |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $300 annual report each year (due April 15) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Status (good standing), $20 |
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 Maryland certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Maryland
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $100 |
| First year, state fees | $100 |
| Each year after | $300 |
Over five years, Maryland's state fees come to $1,300. 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
Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-203, mgaleg.maryland.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-502, mgaleg.maryland.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-503, mgaleg.maryland.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-504, mgaleg.maryland.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-505, mgaleg.maryland.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Fees (PDF), dat.maryland.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Instructions for the 2026 Business Entity Annual Report (Form 1) (PDF), dat.maryland.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Maryland
- Choose a name Maryland will accept and check it against the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Maryland.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation ($100).
- 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 Maryland?
$100 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $100 in the first year and $300 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Maryland?
The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation gives 4 to 6 weeks; 6 to 8 weeks for an online filing not expedited. Faster service: $50 for 7 to 10 business days; same day $325 online (by 2:30 p.m.) or $425 on paper.
Do I need an operating agreement in Maryland?
Maryland doesn't require one (Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 4A-402(a)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Maryland online?
Yes. The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation takes the Articles of Organization online, for $100.
When is the Maryland LLC annual report due?
April 15 each year.
Does Maryland require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Maryland's recurring filing: $300 annual report each year (due April 15).