By StartBusinessByStatePublisher: Robert SmithResearch process
Make your Maryland business official. Have your LLC paperwork prepared and filed so you can focus on getting your business off the ground.
- Your business name checked before filing.
- Your formation paperwork prepared and submitted.
- Your formation documents together in an online account.
$0 service fee + $100 state filing fee
Filing service by ZenBusiness. Choose Starter for the $0 service fee. State follow-up charges and optional services and renewals are separate.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Get the paperwork handled and your company underway
With ZenBusiness, you provide the details and its team handles the Maryland formation filing. You get electronic documents and customer support by phone, chat and email.
Use your approved LLC records to open a company bank account, organize your ownership agreement and do business under the company name. The state-specific costs and next steps below help you plan what comes after approval.
What it costs to start a Maryland LLC
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.
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.
| Expense | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (Certificate fee) | $100 | Required when forming the LLC |
| Minimum formation total | $100 | Excludes expedite, certified copies, and Form 1 |
| Expedited review | +$50 | Optional (~7–10 business days vs ~6–8 weeks standard) |
| Same-day expedited | +$325 online / +$425 drop box | Optional; confirm cutoffs |
| Certified copy / Certificate of Status | $20 + $1/page / $20 | Optional |
| Form 1 Annual Report fee (LLC) | $300 | Due April 15 each year; first year after start |
| Personal property schedules | N/A (assessment/tax separate) | Complete if MD personal property original cost ≥ $20,000 |
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.
Choose the services you want with your filing
Starter’s base formation service does not renew. Registered-agent service, an EIN service, an operating agreement and faster preparation are optional purchases.
The preselected website-builder trial renews at $15/month after 30 days; you can remove it at checkout. Optional Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year and renews at $199/year. Registered-agent service is listed separately at $199/year; first-year promotions may differ.
Review the services and renewal terms in your order. Provider details checked October 14, 2026 against ZenBusiness’s formation plans.
How to start your Maryland LLC
Use your company details to get the formation paperwork prepared and submitted. Here is how the filing service works:
- Enter your business details. Choose Maryland, your company name and the information requested for the filing.
- Review your services and order. Select Starter for the $0 base service fee. ZenBusiness prepares and submits the formation document from your answers.
- Save your approved company records. Once the filing office accepts the paperwork, use the documents to finish your banking and business setup.
Your Maryland filing checklist and required next steps
- 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.
- 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.
- Decide who manages the company. Agree on ownership and management before banking. Ask your bank what ownership records it needs for an account.
- 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.
- 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.
Check your proposed name in the Maryland business search.
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; SDAT review follows the service’s preparation.
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.
Can I file directly with Maryland?
Yes. You can prepare and submit the filing yourself through the Maryland official LLC filing service. A formation service handles preparation and submission from the information you provide. The government charges and required follow-up steps above still apply.
Choose your Maryland resident agent
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.
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.
Get your Maryland LLC filing underway
Put the formation paperwork in ZenBusiness’s hands. Starter has a $0 service fee plus the applicable Maryland charges detailed above.
Continue to ZenBusiness to enter your details and review your order. Optional services and renewal details.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Put your approved LLC to work
- 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.Use the basic LLC operating agreement tool as a starting point.
- Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. A paid EIN service handles the application for you. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
- Open your business bank account. 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.
- Complete taxes and operating approvals. 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 for the current rule.
Insurance guidance for your Maryland business
Match coverage to your services, employees, equipment and client contracts. Start with the relevant guide:
Continue with the Maryland business guide for the broader startup process.
Maryland LLC questions before you start
What is the cheapest way to form a Maryland LLC?
Articles of Organization cost $100 with SDAT (Certificate of Organization fee). You can file directly or use ZenBusiness Starter, which offers 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?
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.
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.
Page updated October 14, 2026. State-source review: September 14, 2026. ZenBusiness package terms checked October 14, 2026.