State hub · Maryland
Maryland LLC true cost (2026)
Maryland state side: $100 formation filing, $300 for Business Entity Annual Report (Form 1) in the 3-year model, ~$1,000 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #45 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
Maryland state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). Filings go through businessexpress.maryland.gov.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $100 | Articles of Organization $100 (domestic) per SDAT charter fee schedule. Optional expedite +$50; same-day/rush much higher. Online Maryland Business Express payments add ~3% convenience fee. Non-expedited review can take weeks. |
| Business Entity Annual Report (Form 1) | $300 | 2026 Form 1 lists $300 filing fee for domestic/foreign LLCs. MarylandSaves enrollment (or qualifying retirement plan certification) can waive the $300 fee for a year. Personal property return portion may also apply if property thresholds are met. |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $1,000 | Formation $100 + 3 × $300 Form 1 annual report fee = $1,000, assuming no MarylandSaves waiver. Expedite/convenience fees and personal property tax assessments excluded. |
When Maryland actually bills you
Maryland's recurring filing is due April 15 each year — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What Maryland charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $100 | $100 |
| Year 1 cycle | Business Entity Annual Report (Form 1) | $300 | $400 |
| Year 2 cycle | Business Entity Annual Report (Form 1) | $300 | $700 |
| Year 3 cycle | Business Entity Annual Report (Form 1) | $300 | $1,000 |
Provider + Maryland state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the Maryland state subtotal of $1,000.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $1,289 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $1,497 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $1,298 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $1,747 |
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How Maryland ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, Maryland sits at #45 — the 45th cheapest three-year state charter — at $1,000 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $965 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $720 above the $280 median, and $1,510 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, Maryland lands in the pricier half of the table.
- Just cheaper: North Carolina ($725), District of Columbia ($699).
- Just pricier: Delaware ($1,310), Nevada ($1,475).
- Full table: all 51 states ranked by 3-year state fees — including where the ranking flips once you add a professional registered agent.
Registered agent (Maryland)
- Maryland resident agent required; changes filed with SDAT (not a traditional SOS in most states—SDAT handles charter filings).
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of Maryland state fees is $1,000, while the cheapest provider path in our national 3-year comparison runs $289 (Formation $39 (RA Y1 included)) and the most expensive runs $747 (Basic $0 + RA $249/yr) — a $458 spread for the same statutory job. On the cheapest path the service, not Maryland, is about 22% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- $300 annual report is among the highest East Coast SOS/SDAT LLC report fees unless waived via MarylandSaves.
- Failure to file Form 1 can lead to forfeiture of charter/right to do business.
- Online formation often pairs with expedite options that raise year-one cost above $100.
Who Maryland is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- Maryland-operating businesses that need a domestic MD LLC and can budget for (or waive) the $300 annual report.
Often a poor fit when…
- Side projects or holding companies seeking minimal recurring state fees without using the MarylandSaves waiver path.
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about Maryland LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maryland?
$100 to Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) for the formation filing. Articles of Organization $100 (domestic) per SDAT charter fee schedule. Optional expedite +$50; same-day/rush much higher. Online Maryland Business Express payments add ~3% convenience fee. Non-expedited review can take weeks. That is the state charge only. A formation service is a separate bill on top: Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) works out to $39 in year one, versus $249 on the most expensive path we track.
What are the ongoing Maryland LLC fees after year one?
$300 for the Business Entity Annual Report (Form 1), due April 15 each year. 2026 Form 1 lists $300 filing fee for domestic/foreign LLCs. MarylandSaves enrollment (or qualifying retirement plan certification) can waive the $300 fee for a year. Personal property return portion may also apply if property thresholds are met. Recurring state charges are what make a low formation fee misleading — they are the reason this site models three years instead of one.
What does a Maryland LLC really cost over three years?
$1,000 in Maryland state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $1,289 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $1,747 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with Maryland.
Do I need a registered agent in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland resident agent required; changes filed with SDAT (not a traditional SOS in most states—SDAT handles charter filings). On the money side, the four providers tracked here charge $0–$249 in year one for formation plus the agent, then $125–$249 a year in agent renewal after that — separate from every Maryland figure above.
Is Maryland a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, Maryland ranks #45 of 51 at $1,000 over three years, against a $35 floor and a $2,510 ceiling. But cheapest charter is not the same as cheapest outcome: if you operate somewhere else you will likely foreign-qualify there and pay that state's fees and taxes too. See the full 3-year state fee ranking for the comparison.
How the Maryland three-year number is built
Formation $100 + 3 × $300 Form 1 annual report fee = $1,000, assuming no MarylandSaves waiver. Expedite/convenience fees and personal property tax assessments excluded. Figures are re-derived from the cited Maryland sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the Maryland state subtotal:
- Professional registered agent fees (same shopping problem in every state)
- County newspaper publication (NY, AZ, and similar — variable)
- Card / portal convenience fees unless fixed on the SOS schedule
- Expedites, name reservations, certified copies, foreign qualification
- Income / sales / payroll taxes and variable gross-receipts tiers above a stated floor
Unverified / confirm before filing
- Provider checkout upsells: see the national comparison page.
- Re-check live Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
- SDAT Corporate Charter Fee Schedule (Articles of Organization $100)
- SDAT 2026 Form 1 Business Entity Annual Report ($300 LLC fee)
- SDAT Forms & Annual Reports page
- Maryland Business Express portal
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where Maryland's $1,000 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the Maryland math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.