Last updated
A Maryland LLC starts with Articles of Organization. You file them with SDAT, and the fee schedule lists the fee at $100 for a domestic LLC. The yearly cost is higher than in most states: the Annual Report and Personal Property Return, Form 1, is $300 for an LLC.
Our Maryland business search guide explains how to look up records. This page is for forming one.
Who do I file with in Maryland?
Not the Secretary of State. Charter documents go to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. You can file through Maryland Business Express, by mail, or by hand or dropbox.
Business Express adds a 3% service and convenience fee on payments.
What name can a Maryland LLC use?
The ending can be limited liability company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC. The name must be distinguishable upon the records of the Department under Corporations and Associations 1-504. SDAT says availability is not guaranteed over the phone, so rely on the record search and then on the filing.
You can reserve a name for 30 days. The application fee is $25, and the form adds $20 for expedited service. See name reservation for how reservations work. Our name check guide covers the search side.
How long does it take, and what does a rush cost?
SDAT sets different speeds by route:
| Route | What SDAT says |
|---|---|
| Paper, standard | May take 4 to 6 weeks |
| Online, standard | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Paper or dropbox, expedited | $50 fee, reviewed in 7 to 10 business days |
| Online, expedited | Reviewed in 7 to 10 business days |
| Same-day, paper | $425 |
| Same-day, online | $325, submit by 2:30 PM |
Not every document qualifies for same-day service online. If SDAT rejects a filing, you have sixty days to fix and resubmit it. After that you pay a second filing fee.
What do I need to decide before filing?
Choose the name and a resident agent. Maryland says the resident agent is a Maryland resident age 18 or older, a Maryland corporation or a Maryland LLC. Read our Maryland registered agent guide for the full picture.
Then complete the Articles of Organization on Business Express or on paper, pay $100, and wait for the review.
What comes after the approval?
Write an operating agreement. We found no sign that SDAT asks for it, so it stays with your records. Our operating agreement guide has a free generic template that is not legal advice.
Next is an EIN, which is free from the IRS. Follow the steps in our EIN guide. Then open the bank account in the LLC's name.
What is Form 1, and why is it $300?
Form 1 combines the annual report with the personal property return. It is due on or before April 15 each year, and a 60 day extension can be requested online. The fee is $300 for LLCs and stock corporations. Non-stock corporations pay no report fee.
SDAT's home page also advertises a waiver of the $300 fee for employers who enroll in the MarylandSaves program. Read the terms on the SDAT site before you count on it.
Skipping Form 1 is the most common route to trouble. A missing Form 1 or a late penalty makes the entity Not in Good Standing. Forfeited means the entity has lost the right to conduct business in Maryland and the right to use its name. That is the status to avoid. See annual report deadlines for dates in other states.
How do the neighbours compare?
Compare our guides for Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia. When you are ready, use the start an LLC form.
After approval, check the rules in our Maryland business license guide.