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Maine's register belongs to the Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions, part of the Department of the Secretary of State. Its online services sit under Interactive Corporate Services. The Corporate Search there lets you look up any company by name or charter number at no cost. Fees only apply when you download certificates or copies of filings.
Running a Maine LLC and corporation search
From the Interactive Corporate Services page, choose Corporate Search. It gives you two ways in: the entity name, or the charter number the state assigned when the company filed. The charter number is the surest match when two names look alike.
Reading a Maine record
Each result leads to an information summary. From there you can:
- check the entity's current status
- scroll to the bottom and pick "view list of filings" for its history
- download a Certificate of Existence or copies of filings, for a fee
The division also uses the search to answer a common question. Its business corporations page says that to find out whether your own filing has been processed, run a corporate name lookup. Filings take 15 to 20 business days to process. Expedited service costs $50 for 24 hours or $100 for immediate handling.
Maine uses two words for the agent role: clerk and registered agent. The state keeps a free list of commercial clerks and commercial registered agents in the same online services. Our registered agent lookup guide explains what to do with that information, and the LLC lookup guide covers search habits that work in any state.
LLC names under 31 MRSA 1508
Under 31 MRSA 1508, a Maine LLC name must contain "limited liability company" or "limited company", or the abbreviation "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C." or "LC". A low profit LLC uses "L3C". Section 1508 also requires the name to be distinguishable on the records of the office of the Secretary of State from:
- corporations, LLCs, limited liability partnerships and limited partnerships formed in or authorized to do business in Maine
- assumed, fictitious, reserved and registered names of every entity
- marks registered under Title 10, chapter 301-A
The Secretary of State may also refuse a name that is obscene, promotes unlawful activity or falsely suggests a link with public institutions. If your preferred name is too close to an existing one, the statute lets you apply to use it with the other holder's written consent.
You can reserve an LLC name for 120 days under section 1509. The fee is $20. The reservation cannot be renewed, though once it lapses the same name can be reserved again. Before you file, test the name with our name availability guide.
Annual reports and good standing in Maine
Every Maine entity files an annual report to stay in good standing, as the division's filing requirement reminders explain. The window runs from January 1 to June 1, and the first report is due in the calendar year after the company was formed or qualified. The fee is $85 for a domestic business entity, $150 for a foreign one and $35 for a nonprofit. Miss June 1 and a $50 late penalty is added to the report fee. If the penalty goes unpaid, the state moves to administrative dissolution or revocation.
Do not wait for a letter. The office does not mail reminders. It sends email reminders only to the address on file, from an InforME address that often lands in spam. A domestic company that is in good standing but not doing business can file an application for excuse instead, for $40, and skip reports until it resumes.
For formation, the fees are $175 for an LLC certificate of formation, $145 for business corporation articles, $40 for nonprofit articles and $250 for a foreign LLC's statement of foreign qualification. See LLC fees by state and annual report deadlines to compare.
The good standing document is the Certificate of Existence. It costs $30 for an LLC or business corporation and $10 for a nonprofit, and you can download it from the Corporate Search record.
Maine bulk data and entity lists
Maine sells its data rather than giving it away. The division sells set lists, such as every active LLC for $100 or a monthly list of new domestic LLCs for $10. Full database downloads come through InforME, the Maine.gov portal, starting at $600 a month for corporate and UCC records, with weekly corporate data updates at $300. Details are on the lists and bulk data page.
Starting a company here? Read our guide on how to start an LLC in Maine and the Maine registered agent rules.
Business license in Maine
Maine's own business pages say general licenses to operate a business are managed at the town or city level. Contact your town office to learn what applies. The Maine.gov Local Government portal lists town contacts and municipal websites. The state page points you to local offices and does not describe one state license for every business.
Corporations must register with the Maine Bureau of Corporations, and our Maine LLC guide covers the LLC filing. Some professions and types of business need extra permits and licenses. The state lists professional licensing by profession, eating and lodging inspections, liquor licensing, motor vehicle mechanics and inspection stations, and gaming licenses. Maine also lets you register online for sales and use tax and income tax withholding.
Maine's Department of Economic and Community Development runs a free Business Answers program. Its online Business Licensing Assistant asks questions about the business you plan to start and returns a list of the licenses, permits or qualifications you need. A searchable directory finds a specific license or permit by keyword, category or agency.
For general steps on checking a license, see our business license lookup page.