Maryland LLC Cost: $100 to File Articles (2026)

Fact-checked and updated September 14, 2026.

A Maryland LLC costs $100 to file Articles of Organization with SDAT. Separately, LLCs file Form 1 (Annual Report / Business Personal Property Return) with a $300 annual report fee due April 15 (online extension available). The first Form 1 is due the year after you start. Do not confuse the $300 fee with local personal property tax or with the $20,000 original-cost threshold for full personal property schedules. File on Maryland Business Express or use ZenBusiness Starter for a $0 formation service fee plus the same $100 Articles fee. Optional services cost extra.

This guide is for creating a new Maryland LLC. If you already have an LLC formed in another state, check Maryland’s foreign qualification rules before creating a second company.

Maryland LLC costs: required fees and optional extras

Start with the SDAT Articles of Organization instructions and the 2026 Form 1. SDAT filing fees are separate from local personal property tax and from anything a formation company bills you.

Budget example: $100 Articles + $300 first Form 1 annual report fee equals $400 in those SDAT charges for a typical formation-plus-next-year cycle—before expedite, local personal property tax (if assessed), licenses, insurance, or professional help.

No separate SDAT “franchise tax” line was researched for LLCs; the recurring SDAT cost is the $300 Form 1 Annual Report fee. Local personal property tax, if any, is assessed from reported property and is not the same as the $300 fee.

Should you file on Maryland Business Express or use ZenBusiness?

Choose DIY if you are comfortable completing typed Articles, obtaining resident-agent signature, and calendaring Form 1 for April 15 the year after start. Choose a filing service if you prefer a guided questionnaire. Either way, verify that Form 1 (and any personal property schedules) were actually filed.

ZenBusiness lists Starter at $0 without a base-plan renewal. Its optional first year of Worry-Free Compliance renews at $199/year; registered-agent service is listed at $199/year (intro pricing may show about $99 for the first year—confirm at checkout). EIN and operating-agreement services are separate Starter purchases. Check the current package terms and checkout selections.

Before paying for optional services, review renewal amounts and cancellation terms. A reminder is not confirmation that Form 1 was filed, and Maryland’s $300 annual report fee remains separate.

Can you be your own Maryland resident agent?

Yes. SDAT uses resident agent terminology. The agent may be any Maryland citizen over 18, a Maryland corporation, or a Maryland LLC, and must sign the Articles. The address cannot be a P.O. box. A member may serve if they are a Maryland citizen 18+ with a Maryland street address. Keep an active resident agent to stay in good standing. See the Articles instructions.

Consider whether you can reliably receive legal documents at that Maryland street address during business hours. If not, a commercial agent may be more practical. Compare delivery procedures and renewal costs before choosing.

Plan your address use before filing. SDAT records are public. Principal and resident-agent addresses are separate fields. Hiring an agent does not privatize every address. Articles must be typed/printed—not handwritten.

How to file your Maryland LLC: a practical checklist

1. Check the name. Search Maryland Business Express and confirm the name includes Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., or L C, and is not misleadingly similar to another entity or trade name on file. Filing acceptance is not a trademark clearance.
2. Gather addresses and resident-agent signature. Have the Maryland principal street address (no P.O. box), resident-agent name and Maryland street address with the agent’s signature, purpose description, and return address ready.
3. Decide who manages the company. Agree on ownership and management before banking. Ask your bank what ownership records it needs for an account.
4. File Articles of Organization. Prefer Maryland Business Express online and pay $100. Standard non-expedited review is roughly 6–8 weeks; expedite +$50 (~7–10 business days) or same-day +$325 online / +$425 drop box when available.
5. Confirm acceptance, then calendar Form 1. Save the filed Articles and certificate. Put Form 1 ($300) on the calendar for April 15 of the year after you start, and note any personal property schedule needs.

How long does approval take?

SDAT’s Articles PDF describes standard non-expedited review at about 6–8 weeks, expedited review about 7–10 business days (+$50), and same-day options at higher premiums. A service’s preparation time is separate from Maryland’s review. ZenBusiness lists standard preparation at 7–10 business days before state processing; faster service preparation does not guarantee immediate SDAT approval.

If a lease or opening date depends on the LLC, leave room for the multi-week standard queue—or budget expedite. Completing a questionnaire is not the moment the company is approved.

Maryland Form 1 annual report and personal property

Maryland’s ongoing SDAT compliance centers on Form 1 (Annual Report / Business Personal Property Return). It is not an income-tax return.

Annual Report fee. Domestic and foreign LLCs pay $300 on Form 1. Due April 15 each year (2026 Form 1 due April 15, 2026). An online 60-day extension is available (2026 extended due date Monday, June 15). The first filing is due the year after you start the business (Maryland Business Express good-standing guidance).

Personal property schedules vs. the $300 fee. For filing years 2023+, complete personal property schedules if Maryland personal property (excluding licensed vehicles) has total original cost ≥ $20,000. If under $20,000, still file the Annual Report portion and attest to that amount. Any later personal property tax is a local assessment—not another $300 SDAT fee. Prefer Form 1 / Business Express over older Articles PDF wording that suggested every entity files a full PP return.

Failure to file can result in forfeiture. Keep the resident agent current. Multi-member LLCs should follow Form 1 instructions on any Corporate Diversity Addendum (SMLLC carve-outs exist).

Example: an LLC formed anytime in 2026 should calendar Form 1 for April 15, 2027 (unless Business Express shows a different first-year prompt on your record). Set reminders, verify contact information, and save the confirmation. If you buy compliance assistance, check that Form 1 was actually submitted.

Starting near year-end? Late 2026 formation still generally points the first Form 1 to 2027, but non-expedited SDAT review can take many weeks—plan around real operations and the queue.

After filing: get the business ready to operate

• Document how the LLC works. An operating agreement can set ownership, contributions, decision-making, distributions, and exit arrangements. Maryland’s filing office generally does not require you to file the agreement with the formation paperwork—keep it with your company records. For multiple owners, resolve disagreements before money or contracts are committed.
• Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. An EIN service fee pays someone to assist; it is not an IRS charge. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
• Separate business finances. Ask the bank for its document checklist and establish a bookkeeping process. Use the correct legal business name on applications and contracts; keep any trade-name registrations consistent.
• Check taxes and operating permissions. LLC formation does not itself select S-corporation taxation or issue a professional license. The IRS explains LLC tax classifications. Identify the state and local requirements for your actual work before opening.
• Check the current BOI rule. As of this review, FinCEN exempts entities created in the United States from beneficial-ownership reporting. A newly created domestic LLC generally falls within that exemption. Consult FinCEN directly before buying a BOI filing add-on.

For a simple one-owner operation, organize these tasks into a short checklist. Where ownership, investors, or tax elections are complicated, formation paperwork alone will not resolve those decisions.

Match insurance to the work your LLC performs

Entity formation and insurance solve different problems. Ask the insurer to identify the correct business and operations; ask clients or landlords what coverage and certificate of insurance they require. Use the relevant guide to compare coverage:

• Maryland cleaning business insurance
• Maryland food truck insurance
• Maryland HVAC insurance
• Maryland landscaping insurance
• Maryland daycare insurance

Continue with the Maryland business guide for the broader startup process.

Maryland LLC questions before you file

What is the cheapest way to form a Maryland LLC?

Articles of Organization cost $100 with SDAT (Certificate of Organization fee). Filing directly avoids a third-party preparation charge; ZenBusiness Starter also advertises a $0 formation service fee plus the same $100 state fee. Budget the Form 1 annual report ($300) for the year after you start, plus optional expedite if you need faster review.

Is the Maryland Form 1 annual report due when I form the LLC?

No. Maryland Business Express guidance: the first combined Annual Report / Business Personal Property Return (Form 1) is due the year after you start your business (for example, form in 2026 → first Form 1 by April 15, 2027). The LLC filing fee on Form 1 is $300.

Is the $300 Form 1 fee the same as personal property tax?

No. The $300 is the SDAT Annual Report filing fee for LLCs. Personal property tax is assessed locally based on reported business personal property. For filing years 2023+, complete personal property schedules if Maryland personal property (excluding licensed vehicles) has total original cost of $20,000 or more; if under $20,000, still file the Annual Report portion and attest to the under-$20,000 amount.

Does forming an LLC give me a Maryland business license?

No. Formation creates the entity with SDAT. County/city licenses, sales tax accounts, professional licenses, and insurance requirements are separate steps before you open.

Can I get an EIN without buying a service?

Yes. The IRS issues EINs free. Form the LLC first, then check eligibility for the IRS online application or use its alternative application instructions.