Featured Partners
1
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
2
Tailor Brands
$0 + state fee
Varies By State & Package
3
Formations
$0 + State Fee
Varies By State & Package
4
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
5 Best Maryland LLC Services of 2025
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 Maryland, 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, articles of organization 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 will help you launch an LLC in Maryland, taking care of all the necessary filings with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation and assisting with other legal requirements such as establishing registered agent service (to handle legal correspondence) or filing your annual report.
Maryland LLC Requirements
You need to be aware of state-specific rules before you begin your filing in Maryland.
First, the name of your company must include the words Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC to be legally registered as an LLC in Maryland. Also, ensure that the name of your company is available. Many of the best LLC services will conduct a business name search for you—some for free as part of the LLC formation package. If you need to reserve a name until you’re prepared to file, you can file a name reservation form with the state for $25.
A registered agent is also required to form an LLC in Maryland. The owner or an employee can act as a registered agent, or you can get registered agent service through a third party. Again, many of the services on our list will provide registered agent service, some free for the first year and some for an additional fee.
You can then register your business online through the Maryland Business Express website or by completing an articles of organization form and mailing it to the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
You must then pay a filing fee of $100. If you want expedited service, it costs $50. Finally, for filing your annual report, Maryland requires a fee of $300 plus 3% for credit card or PayPal or $3 for echeck.
Additionally, most Maryland LLCs are required to file a beneficial ownership information report (BOI) to 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.
Learn more: For a step-by-step guide, read our walk-through on how to start an LLC in Maryland.
How To Choose the Best Maryland LLC Service
Which LLC service is best for you will come down largely to what services you need, your budget and how much paperwork you’re willing to handle manually yourself. The more you’re willing to do yourself, the less you’ll likely pay in most cases, though expert service can expedite the entire process and reduce errors.
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 Maryland, file articles of organization with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. 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 and sometimes needed to get business banking or credit cards. 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 are 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 or expedited processing 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: An operating agreement 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, especially if you’re paying for ongoing support with compliance or taxes, customer support is critical. Ensure that the company you hire is available through your preferred contact channel (email, phone or live chat), and consider other customer reviews online, which tend to focus on the customer service experience heavily.
How Much Do LLC Services Cost in Maryland?
| Company | Free Plan ($0 Plus State $100 Filing Fee) | Package Pricing (Base Price Before State Fees) | 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 $299 | 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 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 |
A number of LLC services will offer free plans, which can be suitable for covering the basics of establishing an LLC if you’re comfortable handling some of the paperwork yourself. Several also offer the features available in paid plans as à la carte add-ons.
This often means that choosing the best plan is a matter of determining which features you need and whether a mid-tier or premium plan would be cheaper overall than paying to add those features to a free plan. Generally, premium plans are best for business owners looking for a completely hands-off experience or who want specific (often pricey) features only included in those premium plans.
Alan Bradley, Alison Killian, Dierdre Mundorf and Mehdi Punjwani also contributed to this article.
Featured Partners
1
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
2
Tailor Brands
$0 + state fee
Varies By State & Package
3
Formations
$0 + State Fee
Varies By State & Package
4
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I register an LLC in Maryland?
Creating an LLC in Maryland is a fairly straightforward process involving selecting your name, hiring or selecting a registered agent, and then filing articles of organization with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. For more details, check out our detailed guide to starting an LLC in Maryland.
Can I start an LLC for free in Maryland?
Though many LLC services offer free plans to establish an LLC, you’ll still be responsible for state filing fees and potentially other costs. In Maryland, the filing fee is $100.
Does an LLC need a registered agent in Maryland?
Yes, Maryland law requires that an LLC have a registered agent on record to handle legal correspondence from the state.
Does Maryland require an LLC operating agreement?
Maryland does not require that LLCs in the state have an operating agreement. Creating an operating agreement is always advisable for businesses, especially those where ownership percentages differ significantly.
How do I check if an LLC name is available in Maryland?
Some LLC services will offer a business name search function as part of their LLC formation plans, though there are also resources online where you can conduct a search yourself, such as the Maryland Business Entity Search page.
