- ZenBusiness: Most Flexible LLC Packages
- Bizee: Best for à la Carte Add-Ons
- Rocket Lawyer: Best for Legal Documents
- Filenow: Most Transparent LLC Package Pricing
- Inc Authority: Best No-Starter-Fee Bundle
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
The business type of choice for many startups is a limited liability company (LLC), which provides small business owners greater financial protection, tax advantages and flexibility in ownership and management.
Deciding the best LLC formation service for your business in Maine can be difficult. There is so much variation in LLC services and pricing structures that business owners often don’t know where to begin. The ideal jumping-off point is our guide to the best Maine LLC services, which gets to the heart of each vendor’s best and worst features.
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5 Best Maine LLC Services
Forbes Advisor Ratings
The table below includes our full list of the best LLC services in the United States. To learn more about other top LLC services in Maine, read our full ranking.
Methodology
| Decision Factor | Scoring Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 30% | General features for the best LLC companies include name availability search, online document access, registered agent add-on, certificate of formation and whether additional legal services are available. |
| Value | 30% | We researched the average price points of small business-oriented LLC services and scored providers based on their transparency and affordability. Companies with prices listed publicly on their websites scored better than those that don’t display this information. |
| Service and Support | 20% | We looked at what LLC formation services offer in terms of over-the-phone support, live chats and the availability of 24/7 help to get an overall sense of customer support quality. |
| Expert Score | 20% | Our expert score considered overall value for money, ease of use, popularity and standout features. Some of those features may include security features, access to customer support, whether the service offers a knowledge base and what type of money-back guarantee is offered, if any. |
Learn how we evaluate company formation services.
State LLC Services Guides
What Is an LLC Service?
An LLC service is intended to help business owners set up their LLC. While different LLC services vary in the specific services and features they provide, they all can assist you with filing the necessary paperwork with the Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions and making sure you complete the process as required. You do not have to use an LLC service to set up a limited liability company.
You could choose to hire an attorney or to complete the paperwork yourself, including the certificate of formation required by Maine, but these services offer competitive pricing and experience that many small business owners find beneficial. Moreover, most LLC services also offer additional features, such as registered agent services or compliance support, which are required by the state of Maine.
Learn more: For a step-by-step guide, read our walk-through on how to set up an LLC in Maine.
Maine LLC Requirements
Two critical steps are required prior to filing the official paperwork with the Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions to create your LLC:
- Select a unique name. In addition to clearly representing the nature of your business, your LLC’s name has to be one-of-a-kind and within the parameters of Maine regulations. For example, the name can’t be vulgar or deceptive. The Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions website provides the Maine business search tool for confirming that your chosen business name is available.
- Appoint a registered agent. A registered agent is a person or business entity authorized to receive legal and official correspondence from the state and other public and private parties. Maine regulations allow the registered agent to be any adult resident of Maine with a physical address in the state or a domestic or foreign entity with a physical address in Maine. The registered agent must be available to receive official correspondences at the stated address during normal business hours.
Once you’ve confirmed the LLC’s name and chosen registered agent, you’re ready to file the certificate of formation form with the Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions. The filing fee is $175.
LLCs must also file an annual report with the Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions within 90 days of the LLC’s formation and every two years thereafter. The fee for the initial and required periodic statement of information filings is $85.
Maine requires that LLCs have an operating agreement that lays out the rules governing the LLC. These include the names of owners and managers, profit distribution and the process for resolving problems. A carefully crafted operating agreement is especially important for multi-member LLCs (ones with multiple owners) to anticipate and mitigate potential conflicts.
LLCs should also request an EIN from the IRS, even though single-member LLCs without employees or excise taxes aren’t required to have one. EINs are used to pay the entity’s income tax separately from the owners’ filing. They also qualify for tax deductions that aren’t available when filing with a Social Security number, and they give the business more flexibility in hiring and determining the LLC’s structure.
After filing the certificate of formation and other paperwork with the Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions, the documents are reviewed by the office and, upon approval, the LLC becomes a legal business entity.
Finally, most Maine LLCs are required to file a beneficial ownership information (BOI) report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network within their first 90 days of business. Beginning on January 1, 2025, this filing period will be reduced to 30 days.
How To Choose the Best Maine LLC Service
Which LLC service is best for you will come down in large part to what services you need, what your budget is and how much of the paperwork you’re willing to handle manually yourself. The more of the filing and paperwork you do, the less you’ll ultimately pay in most cases, though expert service can expedite the entire process.
Essential LLC Service Features
Regardless of which service you choose, you’ll need a handful of core services to set up your LLC and start operating your business.
- State filing: The most essential part of creating a new LLC is filing the appropriate paperwork; in Maine, file a certificate of formation with the Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions. An LLC service can complete forms and make sure all of the appropriate documents are accurate and properly submitted.
- EIN/Tax ID: An EIN, which you can obtain through the IRS, is required to hire employees. An LLC service can guide you through the process and complete the application for you, so you can focus on other elements of your business.
- Compliance: The best LLC services will file all the necessary reports to ensure your business remains legally compliant.
Packages and Add-Ons
Beyond the core features, there is a range of extras that many LLC services will provide, either as part of one of their plans or as optional add-ons.
- Expedited filing: If you’re looking to get your LLC established quickly, many services will offer same-day processing or expedited shipping to get things moving quickly.
- Website support: Many LLC services now offer website packages, often including a custom domain, website builder and business email, so you can establish your business online or start engaging in e-commerce.
- Operating agreement: Maine requires an operating agreement, which acts as a sort of constitution for your business and can establish operating procedures and financial rules for your company.
Ease of Use
For LLC services, the key to ease of use is how much of the process a company will take off your plate and how effortless it makes the entire process of starting an LLC. The best LLC services will get some basic information about you and your business and then handle nearly all the administrative tasks, including filing and reporting. More importantly, they’ll complete and file everything accurately, so you don’t have to constantly go back and forth making revisions and wasting valuable time.
Customer Service
Given how important the LLC formation process is, and especially if you’re paying for ongoing support with compliance or taxes, customer support is extremely important. Ensure that the company you hire is available through your preferred channel of contact (email, phone or live chat), and consider other customer reviews online, which tend to heavily focus on the customer service experience.
How Much Do LLC Services Cost in Kansas?
| Company | Free Plan ($0 Plus $175 State Filing Fee) | Premium Package (Base Price Before State Fee) | Plans Include Registered Agent (RA) or Compliance? |
|---|---|---|---|
| LegalZoom | Yes | $0 to $299 | Compliance included in Pro and Premium plans only; available as add-on |
| ZenBusiness | Yes | $0 to $349 | Compliance only; RA as add-on |
| Bizee | Yes | $0 to $299 | RA through first year, compliance alerts |
| Rocket Lawyer | Yes, with a premium membership | $19.99 to $39.99 per month plus $0 to $99.99 for business registration | No, available as add-on |
| Active Filings | Yes | $0 to $250 | RA for first year, annual report compliance |
| Swyft Filings | Yes | $0 to $299 | No, available as add-on |
| Northwest Registered Agent | No | $39 | RA service free for first year |
| BetterLegal | No | $299 (flat rate) | No, add-ons only |
| Filenow | No | $49 to $199 | RA through first year (Premium plan), compliance alerts |
| Inc Authority | Yes | $0 basic package; call for a quote on premium bundles | RA for first year, yearly compliance notifications |
The cost of an LLC service for Maine can vary quite significantly. While some providers offer free plans (before the $175 Maine filing fee), others may charge several hundred dollars for their services. In general, most providers offer several packages, and it is important to compare the features included in each of these packages to make sure you get the best value for the specific features your company needs.
For example, many free plans, such as the one from ZenBusiness, only include basic services such as filing the certificate of formation and name check services. However, some free plans, such as the one from Bizee, include a year of registered agent services, making them stand out as a good deal. If your business has more complex needs, then a more inclusive business formation plan that includes tax or legal consultations or discounts on trademarks or tax preparation, such as one from Rocket Lawyer, may be worth the added cost.
Alan Bradley, Alison Kilian, Dennis O’Reilly, Deirdre Mundorf and Mehdi Punjwani also contributed to this article.
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ZenBusiness
Pricing
$0 + State Fees
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Tailor Brands
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Formations
Pricing
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Northwest Registered Agent
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$39 + State Fees
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I register an LLC in Maine?
Registration of an LLC in Maine requires the filing of the certificate of formation with the Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions. The certificate of formation may be filed in person or by mail. A filing fee of $175 is required with the application.
How do I check if an LLC name is available in Maine?
There are a few different options available to confirm whether your desired LLC name is available in Maine. One option is to use the business entity search through the Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions website. Searching for your preferred business name should bring up similar or identical results to help you assess availability. If you plan on using an LLC service to help you set up your company, many of these also offer name-check services.
Regardless of the method you use to check for availability, wait until you have received your official business name from the Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions before moving forward with filing formation paperwork and any official branding or advertising using your desired name.
Does Maine require an LLC operating agreement?
Yes, Maine requires an LLC operating agreement. Operating agreements spell out the company’s rules and regulations, financial operations and overall structure, which can be beneficial for all involved parties and help avoid disputes in the future.
Can I start an LLC for free in Maine?
Though many LLC services offer free plans to establish an LLC, you’ll still be responsible for the state filing fee and potentially other costs. In Maine, the LLC filing fee is $175.
Does an LLC need a registered agent in Maine?
Yes, all LLCs in Maine are required to have—and continuously maintain—a registered agent. The registered agent for a Maine LLC can be any adult resident of Maine with a physical address in the state or a domestic or foreign entity with a physical address in Maine.
