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Foreign LLC guide · Maine

Maine Foreign LLC Fees (2026) and the 3 Best Registration Services

2026 ranking, Maine, foreign LLC services: Mainstay Filing ($199), Maine Registered Agent.co ($199) and ME Registered Agent.org ($199). An LLC from another state pays $250 to enter Maine, then $150 on every report, ranking the state 35th of 50.
Charted by the State Biz Facts team

Where Maine stands on fees

35th

among 50 states, counting foreign LLC fees

The map starts at the smallest bill (same total as others). All states side by side

  • Charge to register

    $250

    maine.gov, as seen October 2026

  • Recurring report

    $150

    Annual report for a foreign LLC

  • Proof of good standing

    90 days

    Maximum age of the certificate

  • State total, years 1 to 3

    $550

    Register once, then two report years

Maine: the ranked providers

Five weighted criteria set the order; three-year provider charges and filings covered carry the most (see the method).

Best route

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies adding a second state

$199 plus the state fee, then the agent at $149 per year

Why Mainstay Filing is placed first: $199 beyond the state fee, the registered agent free for year one, then $149 per year.

Three years of provider charges come to $100 more than Maine Registered Agent.co, and more of the state's paperwork is handled in exchange.

Year two brings an agent charge of $149 per year, whichever state it is.

Price covers

  • Registration papers drawn up and filed for you
  • First-year registered agent service carries no fee
  • Active in every state on the map

Upside

  • One service charge for every state
  • $199 to register
  • No agent charge in year one

Downside

  • A bigger agent renewal ($149)
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Rooted in Maine

2. Maine Registered Agent.co: best for an economical Maine filing

$199 plus the state fee, then the agent at $99 per year

Placed second, Maine Registered Agent.co offers $199 above the state fee to register, then $99 each year.

Price covers

  • Registration handled from start to filing
  • A year of agent service

Upside

  • A $199 service charge
  • The agent renews at $99
  • No agent charge during year one

Downside

  • Nothing beyond this state
Visit Maine Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Rooted in Maine

3. ME Registered Agent.org: best for a local filer

$199 plus the state fee, then the agent at $99 per year

Placed third, ME Registered Agent.org offers $199 above the state fee to register, then $99 each year.

It ties with Maine Registered Agent.co on price.

Price covers

  • Registration handled from start to filing
  • A year of agent service

Upside

  • A $199 service charge
  • No agent charge during year one
  • The agent renews at $99

Downside

  • Nothing beyond this state
Visit ME Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Prices in a row

OrderProviderYear 1Year 2 and onProvider charges, 3 years
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Maine Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Maine Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3ME Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit ME Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company price pages, seen November 12, 2026. Maine charges $250 to register, separately from each provider.

Maine foreign LLC budget calculator

The registration fee is $250, with the $150 report from year two; each provider's prices go on top.
$550 to the state plus $497 to Mainstay Filing makes $1,047 over 3 years.

Maine and the states beside it on the chart

SpotStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
34thVermont$495
35thAlaska$550
35thMaine$550
37thArkansas$570
38thKentucky$645
Foreign LLC fees by state charts all fifty, least expensive on top.

How Maine registers outside LLCs (2026)

The fee to register is $250, paid when the Statement of Foreign Qualification to Conduct Activities (Form MLLC-12) is filed with the Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions. Include certificate of existence, at most 90 days.

On a recurring basis it files the Annual report for a foreign LLC ($150), June 1.

Before sending the filing

  • Certificate of existence, issued within 90 days.
  • Home state record: legal name and formation date.
  • A registered agent with a street address here; each provider ranked above can supply one.
  • Payment of the $250 registration fee.

What skipping registration costs in Maine

A suit brought before registration is blocked until the filing is made (31 MRSA 1629(1)).

Reasoning for the ranking

Requirements handled (24%) is the criterion on which Mainstay Filing outscored Maine Registered Agent.co here.

A foreign LLC already has a home state, so a provider that covers both scored best.

Maine FAQ

What does Maine charge a foreign LLC to register?

$250 paid to the state. A provider adds $199 to the bill.

Which form does a foreign LLC file with Maine?

The form is the Statement of Foreign Qualification to Conduct Activities (Form MLLC-12), and it goes to the Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions.

Does the filing need a certificate from the home state?

Yes: certificate of existence, dated within 90 days of filing.

Does a foreign LLC have a yearly obligation?

A yearly filing applies, namely the Annual report for a foreign LLC, which costs $150.

What happens if the LLC does business there without registering?

A suit brought before registration is blocked until the filing is made (31 MRSA 1629(1)).

Must a foreign LLC name a registered agent for Maine?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Which provider should register my foreign LLC?

Rank Mainstay Filing first and Maine Registered Agent.co and ME Registered Agent.org after it; the deciding factor is requirements handled.

Nearby pages

Where each number comes from

  1. Check maine.gov for Maine Secretary of State; last seen August 2026.
  2. Check maine.gov for Maine Secretary of State; last seen August 2026.
  3. Check maine.gov for Maine report due date; last seen August 2026.
  4. Check legislature.maine.gov for 31 M.R.S. sec. 1531; last seen August 2026.
  5. Check legislature.maine.gov for Maine formation fee: Filing fee, official source; last seen October 2026.
  6. Check legislature.maine.gov for Maine registered agent statute; last seen October 2026.
  7. Check maine.gov for Maine Secretary of State, foreign entities; last seen October 2026.
  8. Check maine.gov for Form MLLC-12; last seen October 2026.
  9. Check legislature.maine.gov for 31 MRSA § 1622, foreign qualification; last seen October 2026.
  10. Check legislature.maine.gov for 31 MRSA § 1623, activities that do not; last seen October 2026.
  11. Check legislature.maine.gov for 31 MRSA § 1629, consequences of not qualifying; last seen October 2026.
  12. Check sos.vermont.gov for Vermont Secretary of State, foreign registration; last seen October 2026.
  13. Check sos.vermont.gov for Vermont Secretary of State, fees and statutes; last seen October 2026.
  14. Check legislature.vermont.gov for 11 V.S.A. § 4112, application for certificate of; last seen October 2026.
  15. Check legislature.vermont.gov for 11 V.S.A. § 4113, activities that are not; last seen October 2026.
  16. Check legislature.vermont.gov for 11 V.S.A. § 4033, annual report; last seen October 2026.
  17. Check commerce.alaska.gov for Form 08-0497, Certificate of Registration; last seen October 2026.
  18. Check akleg.gov for Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.600 to 10.50.670; last seen October 2026.
  19. Check akleg.gov for Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.675 to 10.50.720; last seen October 2026.
  20. Check akleg.gov for Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.750 to 10.50.765; last seen October 2026.
  21. Check akleg.gov for Alaska Statutes, AS 43.70.020 to 43.70.030; last seen October 2026.
  22. Check sos.arkansas.gov for Arkansas Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms and; last seen October 2026.
  23. Check sos.arkansas.gov for Form FL-01; last seen October 2026.
  24. Check arkleg.state.ar.us for Act 1041 of 2021, Uniform LLC Act; last seen October 2026.
  25. Check sos.arkansas.gov for 2026 LLC franchise tax report and instructions; last seen October 2026.
  26. Check sos.arkansas.gov for Form FL-04, application for cancellation; last seen October 2026.
  27. Check sos.ky.gov for Kentucky Secretary of State, business filings; last seen October 2026.
  28. Check web.sos.ky.gov for Form FBE, Certificate of Authority; last seen October 2026.
  29. Check apps.legislature.ky.gov for KRS 14A.9-020, consequences of transacting business without authority; last seen October 2026.
  30. Check apps.legislature.ky.gov for KRS 14A.9-010, authority to transact business required; last seen October 2026.
  31. Check apps.legislature.ky.gov for KRS 14A.6-010, annual report; last seen October 2026.
  32. Check sos.ky.gov for Kentucky Secretary of State, fee schedule; last seen October 2026.
  33. Check revenue.ky.gov for Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official; last seen October 2026.
  34. On November 12, 2026 Mainstay Filing showed this Maine service page
  35. On November 12, 2026 Maine Registered Agent.co showed this pricing page
  36. On November 12, 2026 ME Registered Agent.org showed this pricing page