Quick guide
What you pay the state
$100, a single payment
Upkeep
$300 per year
Resident agent
You must
Recommended
Maryland Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing then MD Registered Agent.org
Our Maryland shortlist
The scoring is laid out on this page .
#1
Recommended first
1. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for holding three-year cost down
Year one $199; later years $99
Why Maryland Registered Agent.co first? Because its $99 renewal brings three years to $397.
Compare the three-year totals: it lands under Mainstay Filing, and cost is the check we weigh most.
The Business Entity Annual Report remains your responsibility.
Checklist: what is included
Formation handled Agent included in year one
What works
A modest renewal of $99 No agent charge in year one $199 to get started
Gaps
Not included: the Business Entity Annual Report They charge $99 to apply for your EIN
#2
Works in every state
2. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who want upkeep handled
$199 a year plus $100 for the state
In second place, Mainstay Filing, where $199 a year gets the formation, the resident agent and the annual report done.
Maryland Registered Agent.co is $200 lower across three years, which is enough to rank above it.
It files your Business Entity Annual Report and passes along the state's $300 at cost.
Checklist: what is included
State filing handled Resident agent for a full year Annual report filed on time EIN application submitted State fees passed through at cost
What works
You pay $199 again next year Takes care of the EIN step Single yearly fee: $199
Gaps
Maryland Registered Agent.co undercuts its renewal by $100
#3
Maryland specialist
3. MD Registered Agent.org: best for owners who do their own reports
Year one $199; later years $99
MD Registered Agent.org follows since its $99 renewal brings three years to $397.
The Business Entity Annual Report remains your responsibility.
Maryland Registered Agent.co charges the same, so this is nearly a tie.
Checklist: what is included
Formation handled Agent included in year one
What works
A modest renewal of $99 No agent charge in year one $199 to get started
Gaps
Not included: the Business Entity Annual Report They charge $99 to apply for your EIN
Price comparison
Each company's listed prices on November 13, 2026. State fees are extra and do not vary by pick.
Step by step
How much money do I need to set aside?
Set aside $100 for the filing and $199 for help.
Counting the recurring report, the state's own fees reach $700 by year three. egov.maryland.gov , confirmed October 2026, official source
What exactly do I submit?
One document does it: the Articles of Organization, sent to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT).
Expected wait: Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission. egov.maryland.gov , confirmed October 2026, official source
Can the LLC go without a resident agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A Maryland resident, or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership.
mgaleg.maryland.gov , confirmed October 2026, official source
What do I owe in later years?
Keep the Business Entity Annual Report current: you file it every year for $300. The due date, per the state, is April 15; do not miss it.
Am I allowed to skip the service?
It is allowed, and doing it yourself keeps the three-year cost at $700.
Choosing a service raises your three-year cost by $397 to $597.
What put the first pick on top?
Maryland Registered Agent.co wins on total for three years, a 37% check.
64% of the score comes from total for three years and filing jobs included.
Compare the totals: Maryland Registered Agent.co runs $397 for three years, $200 below Mainstay Filing.
How we rank
Maryland formation checklist
The final row is a sum that we calculated, not a figure printed by the state: filing, two reports and any minimum tax.
Key terms here
Registered agent Whoever you appoint to receive your LLC's legal papers, reachable at a street address inside the state.
Annual report The periodic update you send the state about your LLC's address, agent and managers.
Related questions
How long until the LLC exists?
Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.
Is the EIN application included?
Mainstay Filing includes the EIN application. The others charge extra: Maryland Registered Agent.co $99; MD Registered Agent.org $99.
How do the three-year costs compare?
Three-year costs: Maryland Registered Agent.co, $397; Mainstay Filing, $597; MD Registered Agent.org, $397, with state fees on top.
Are the fees official?
State-set fees come from Maryland's publications; what services charge comes from the prices they post.
Does the state require a service?
No. A service charges for labor and the agent role, not for anything the state demands.
Which LLC service should I start with in Maryland?
Maryland Registered Agent.co leads on total for three years, ahead of Mainstay Filing and MD Registered Agent.org.
Sources and price pages
Source for Maryland State Department of Assessments: dat.maryland.gov , August 2026
Source for Maryland State Department of Assessments: dat.maryland.gov , August 2026
Source for Maryland report due date: dat.maryland.gov , August 2026
Source for Md: mgaleg.maryland.gov , August 2026
Source for Maryland formation fee: Filing fee: mgaleg.maryland.gov , October 2026
Source for Maryland formation fee: Filing fee: egov.maryland.gov , October 2026
Source for Maryland registered agent statute: mgaleg.maryland.gov , October 2026
Source for Processing, official source: egov.maryland.gov , October 2026
Pricing from the Maryland Registered Agent.co pricing page, November 13, 2026
Pricing from the Mainstay Filing Maryland service page, November 13, 2026
Pricing from the MD Registered Agent.org pricing page, November 13, 2026