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Formation Scorecard

LLC service scorecard · Maryland

3 Best LLC Services in Maryland (2026)

On the Formation Scorecard 2026 scorecard for LLC services in Maryland the order reads Mainstay Filing ($199), MD Registered Agent.org ($199) and Maryland Registered Agent.co ($199). Mainstay Filing posts the top score: one $199 charge each year bundles the Maryland formation, the resident agent and the annual report.
Researched and written by the Formation Scorecard editorial team
Rank #1 Our top pick in Maryland

1. Mainstay Filing: best for a bundle of formation, agent and annual report

9.4 Editor score out of 10
$199 a year plus the state's fee

Mainstay Filing leads the card: a $199 yearly price pays for the Maryland formation, a year of resident agent service and the annual report, then renews at $199.

Each renewal includes Mainstay's filing of the Business Entity Annual Report. Maryland bills $300 every year for it, due April 15; Mainstay passes the state's fee along at cost.

Mainstay's three-year total sits $200 above MD Registered Agent.org's, which the extra coverage earns back in our scoring.

What you get

  • Formation filing prepared and submitted
  • Your resident agent, all year long
  • The annual report, filed for you each time
  • EIN application included

Strengths

  • Renews at $199 with nothing added
  • EIN application bundled in
  • One $199 yearly price that also files the annual report
  • Maryland's state fee is added at cost

Watch for

  • Its agent renews $100 a year above MD Registered Agent.org
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Mainstay Filing: the full write-up
Rank #2 Best local option

2. MD Registered Agent.org: best for a Maryland LLC that stays small

9.1 Editor score out of 10
$199 to form, then $99 a year for the agent, state fee extra

MD Registered Agent.org takes second spot: Maryland formation for $199 beyond the state's fee, with a free first agent year, and $99 a year to keep the agent.

The plan puts the company at an in-state street address and scans papers served on it to your online account.

Its prices leave out the Business Entity Annual Report, so you send that filing to Maryland yourself every year.

What you get

  • Maryland formation filed for you
  • A year as your resident agent, up front

Strengths

  • Resident agent service for year one is in the price
  • $199 service fee plus the state fee
  • Then $99 a year to keep the agent

Watch for

  • Leaves the Business Entity Annual Report with you
  • $99 extra for the EIN application
Visit MD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. MD Registered Agent.org: the full write-up
Rank #3 Low renewal

3. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for staying local in Maryland

9.0 Editor score out of 10
$199 to form, then $99 a year for the agent, state fee extra

Maryland Registered Agent.co takes third spot: Maryland formation for $199 beyond the state's fee, with a free first agent year, and $99 a year to keep the agent.

The plan puts the company at an in-state street address and scans papers served on it to your online account.

Its prices leave out the Business Entity Annual Report, so you send that filing to Maryland yourself every year.

The published prices and features do not separate MD Registered Agent.org from Maryland Registered Agent.co; choose whichever you like.

What you get

  • Maryland formation filed for you
  • A year as your resident agent, up front

Strengths

  • Forms the LLC for $199 plus the filing fee
  • A year of resident agent service is built in
  • Second-year agent cost: $99

Watch for

  • Leaves the Business Entity Annual Report with you
  • $99 extra for the EIN application
Visit Maryland Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Maryland Registered Agent.co: the full write-up

The 3 entries on one card

Place Service Card score Service fee Year two Best for Go
1 Mainstay Filing 9.4 $199 $199/yr Formation, agent and annual report together Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 MD Registered Agent.org 9.1 $199 $99/yr A Maryland-only LLC on a tight budget Visit MD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Maryland Registered Agent.co 9.0 $199 $99/yr A Maryland-only LLC on a tight budget Visit Maryland Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The marks out of 10 come from our editors and follow the weights on How we rank; none of them is a customer rating.

Maryland LLC service cost in 2026: first year, renewal and the three-year tally

Service First year Second year Third year Three-year tally Business Entity Annual Report included
Mainstay Filing $199 $199 $199 $597 Yes
MD Registered Agent.org $199 $99 $99 $397 No
Maryland Registered Agent.co $199 $99 $99 $397 No

Each price comes from the company's own site, read on November 12, 2026. Add Maryland's $100 filing fee to each row; the tally above leaves it out.

The case for Mainstay Filing in first

Points here: 25% for cost across three years, 25% for coverage of the price and 50% across renewal terms, state-by-state fit and pricing clarity. Maryland came down to coverage of the price.

Maryland asks for a report each year at a $300 fee. The Mainstay price covers that filing, while MD Registered Agent.org's leaves it to you, so the coverage points beat MD Registered Agent.org's cost advantage.

Every criterion and weight appears on How we rank.

Maryland LLC formation: the official fee and form

The Articles of Organization carries a $100 fee at the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). Every service here passes that fee through at cost, on top of its own price.

State processing time: Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.

Keeping the Maryland LLC current

The Business Entity Annual Report arrives every year and is due April 15. It carries a $300 fee. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Maryland LLC service: quick questions

How much will an LLC in Maryland cost to set up?

Expect $100 for the state plus $199 for the service.

What is the name of the formation form?

It is the Articles of Organization, and the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) receives it.

How quickly does Maryland process a new LLC?

Per the state: Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.

Must a Maryland LLC appoint a resident agent when it forms?

Yes. A resident agent with a street address in Maryland has to be on file from the start.

What does a Maryland LLC have to file after formation?

One item, the Business Entity Annual Report, due every year (April 15) with a $300 fee.

Is the EIN application part of the price?

Mainstay Filing folds it into the yearly price. MD Registered Agent.org and Maryland Registered Agent.co add $99 for it. Applying for an EIN costs nothing at the IRS itself.

Which LLC service tops the card for Maryland?

Mainstay Filing, since $199 a year takes in the formation filing, your resident agent and the annual report, with renewal at $199.

More from us

Where the figures come from

  1. Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, as of August 2026
  2. Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, as of August 2026
  3. Maryland report due date, as of August 2026
  4. Md. Code, Corporations & Associations sec. 4A-202, as of August 2026
  5. Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source, as of October 2026
  6. Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source, as of October 2026
  7. Maryland registered agent statute), as of October 2026
  8. Processing, official source, as of October 2026
  9. Read on November 12, 2026: Maryland service page for Mainstay Filing
  10. Read on November 12, 2026: pricing and service pages for MD Registered Agent.org
  11. Read on November 12, 2026: pricing and service pages for Maryland Registered Agent.co