Maryland LLC cost
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A Maryland LLC costs $100 to form with standard review, which takes 6-8 weeks, or $150 with expedited review. Paying online adds 3%. The bigger number comes later: the $300 Annual Report / Personal Property Return, due every April 15 starting the year after you form, even if the LLC owns no business property. Plan on $150 in year one, since most founders pay to skip the wait, and $300 every year after.
- To form
- $100
- Cheapest way to file
- Year one total
- $150
- Expedited filing (about $154.50 online); $100 if you can wait 6-8 weeks
- Every year after
- $300/yr
- Annual Report / Personal Property Return, due April 15
Our recommendation
Budget $150 for year one and $300 for year two
Pay the $50 expedite and file online, about $154.50 in total. Standard review takes 6-8 weeks; expedited online review takes 7-14 business days. Then put April 15 on your calendar: the $300 annual filing is the cost that adds up, $1,500 over five years. Pay for a resident agent only if you don't want your address on SDAT records.
Every Maryland LLC fee, line by line
What's required, what's optional, and where the total climbs past the filing fee.
| Item | Cost | Required? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $100 | Yes | Standard review, 6-8 weeks |
| Online payment fee | 3% | If paying online | About $3 on a standard filing |
| Expedited review | $50 extra | Optional | $150 total; 7-14 business days online, 7-10 after receipt by mail |
| Same-day rush online | $425 + 3% | Optional | Submit by 2:30 PM |
| Same-day rush paper | $525 | Optional | Drop box by 10:00 AM |
| Name reservation | $25 | Optional | 30-day hold |
| Trade name / DBA | $25 paper / $75 + 3% online | Conditional | Online requires the $50 expedite; valid 5 years |
| Resident agent service | $50-$300/yr | Optional | Typical reputable range is about $100-$150/yr |
| EIN | Free | Recommended | Required for multi-member LLCs or employees |
| Operating agreement | Free if you draft it yourself | Recommended | Internal document; not filed with SDAT |
| Certificate of Status | $20 | Optional | Good standing certificate |
| Annual Report / Personal Property Return | $300/yr | Yes | Due April 15 each year |
| Late annual report penalty | $30-$50 minimum | If late | Minimum depends on days late; plus 2% of the penalty per 30 days. Non-filing leads to forfeiture |
| Trader's License | $15-$800 + $2 | Conditional | For businesses selling goods; Baltimore City caps at $2,125 |
| Articles of Reinstatement | $100 | Only if forfeited | All missed reports, taxes, and penalties must be paid first |
| Resident agent change filing | $25 | If changing | File promptly if agent or address changes |
| Total (bare minimum DIY) | $100 | — | Mail filing, self as agent, no optional extras |
| Total (typical first year) | ~$280 | — | Expedited online filing plus about $125 resident agent service |
| Typical year 2+ | ~$425/yr | — | $300 annual filing plus about $125 resident agent service |
What you pay Maryland, and when
The recurring dates are the ones people miss. Put each one on your calendar the day the LLC is approved.
- Articles of Organization
- $100 / $150
- When you form. $150 with the expedite; paying online adds 3%.
- Annual Report / Personal Property Return
- $300
- April 15 every year, starting the year after you form.
- Late annual report penalty
- $30-$50+
- Minimum depends on how late, plus 2% of the penalty per 30 days. Not filing leads to forfeiture.
- Articles of Reinstatement
- $100
- Only if forfeited, after every missed report and penalty is paid.
- Trader's License
- $15-$800
- Only if you sell goods. Plus a $2 issuing fee.
Maryland resident agent cost
Maryland lets you serve as your own resident agent if you qualify. Your address then goes on the public record, and you're responsible for catching legal papers and SDAT mail. A professional resident agent, typically about $100 to $150 a year, makes sense if you work from home, travel often, or live outside Maryland. If you have a Maryland office where you're reliably available and don't mind it being public, you can skip it.
Maryland LLC cost vs nearby states
Cheaper elsewhere doesn't mean cheaper for you. If you live and work in Maryland, an out-of-state LLC still has to register here and pay Maryland's fees too.
| State | Upfront cost | Ongoing state cost |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $100 standard / $150 expedited | $300/yr |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7/yr |
| Virginia | $100 | $50/yr |
| Delaware | $110 | $400/yr |
| Wyoming | ~$100 | $60+/yr |
FAQ
How much does an LLC cost in Maryland?
$100 to file the Articles of Organization with standard review, or $150 with expedited review. Paying online adds a 3% fee, so expedited online comes to about $154.50. Starting the year after you form, the Annual Report / Personal Property Return costs $300 every year.
What is the Maryland LLC annual fee?
$300 for the Annual Report / Personal Property Return, due April 15 every year starting the year after formation. It's owed even if the LLC owns no business personal property. Late filing starts at a $30 to $50 minimum penalty plus 2% of the penalty for every 30 days, and an LLC that never files is forfeited.
Is the $50 Maryland expedite fee worth it?
For most founders, yes. Standard review takes 6-8 weeks, online or by mail. With the $50 expedite, SDAT lists online review at 7-14 business days and paper at 7-10 business days after it arrives. Same-day service costs $425 online or $525 on paper, which a first LLC rarely needs.
Why does Maryland charge 3% more online?
Maryland Business Express adds a 3% payment fee to online filings. On a $150 expedited filing, that is about $4.50. Mailing the paper Articles avoids it, at the cost of mail time.
How much is a resident agent in Maryland?
Free if you serve yourself, but your address goes on SDAT records and you have to be there to receive legal papers. A professional resident agent typically costs about $100 to $150 a year.