Where Maryland stands on fees
40th
of 50 states on foreign LLC charges
Charge to register
$100
Recurring report
$300
Business Entity Annual Report and Personal Property Return, Form 1
Proof of good standing
60 days
Oldest the certificate can be
State total, years 1 to 3
$700
Only state charges, years 1 to 3
Providers for Maryland, ranked
Criteria and weights behind this order are on the
method page.
Rank 1
1. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for an economical Maryland filing
$199 plus $100 to the state; $99/yr later
Spot one goes to Maryland Registered Agent.co: $199 above the state fee to register, then $99 each year.
Mainstay Filing costs more over three years, and that criterion counts for 36%.
Price covers
- Registration handled from start to filing
- A year of agent service
Upside
- $199 over the state fee
- First agent year comes with it
- A $99 renewal
Downside
- Maryland and nothing else
Nationwide reach
2. Mainstay Filing: best for one price whichever state you add
$199 plus $100 to the state; $149/yr later
Placed second, Mainstay Filing offers the Maryland registration is filed for $199 above the state charge, and the first agent year costs nothing.
Maryland Registered Agent.co is $100 cheaper on three-year provider charges.
After the free first year the agent is $149 per year in any state.
Price covers
- Registration papers drawn up and filed for you
- No price change from state to state
Upside
- One fee, anywhere on the map
- A $199 service charge
Downside
- $50 more per year for the agent
Home-state option
3. MD Registered Agent.org: best for a local filer
$199 plus $100 to the state; $99/yr later
Just behind comes MD Registered Agent.org, where $199 above the state fee to register, then $99 each year.
Price for price it equals Maryland Registered Agent.co.
Price covers
- Registration handled from start to filing
- A year of agent service
Upside
- First agent year comes with it
- A $99 renewal
- $199 over the state fee
Downside
- Maryland and nothing else
The ranking as figures
Company price pages, seen November 12, 2026. Every row still needs Maryland's $100 registration fee.
Registration and upkeep, year by year
The registration fee is $100, with the $300 report from year two; each provider's prices go on top.
Maryland and the states beside it on the chart
Maryland foreign LLC registration fee and form (official)
The fee to register is $100, paid when the Limited Liability Company Registration (For non-Maryland Limited Liability Company) is filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Charter Division. The filing must carry written proof of existence from the home state, equivalent to a certificate of good standing, issued within the last 60 days.
After that comes the Business Entity Annual Report and Personal Property Return, Form 1 ($300), April 15.
Checklist before you file
- Written proof of existence from the home state, equivalent to a certificate of good standing, no older than 60 days.
- Home state record: legal name and formation date.
- A resident agent based in the state (all our picks offer this).
- Funds to cover the $100 official fee.
If you never register
Until it registers, the LLC cannot start a lawsuit in the state's courts (4A-1007(a)). Its contracts continue to hold (4A-1007(b)).
Reasoning for the ranking
Service cost across three years settled first place in Maryland; it carries 36% of the score, and the other criteria are requirements handled, renewal behavior, state-specific fit, pass-through of state fees.
Picking Maryland Registered Agent.co means $397 in provider charges across three years, $100 below Mainstay Filing.
Maryland FAQ
What does Maryland charge a foreign LLC to register?
$100 as the official fee. Our picks add $199.
Which form does a foreign LLC file with Maryland?
The form is the Limited Liability Company Registration (For non-Maryland Limited Liability Company), and it goes to the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Charter Division.
Does the filing need a certificate from the home state?
Yes: written proof of existence from the home state, equivalent to a certificate of good standing, dated within 60 days of filing.
Does a foreign LLC have a yearly obligation?
A yearly filing applies, namely the Business Entity Annual Report and Personal Property Return, Form 1, which costs $300.
What happens if the LLC does business there without registering?
Until it registers, the LLC cannot start a lawsuit in the state's courts (4A-1007(a)). Its contracts continue to hold (4A-1007(b)).
Must a foreign LLC name a resident agent for Maryland?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which provider should register my foreign LLC?
Rank Maryland Registered Agent.co first and Mainstay Filing and MD Registered Agent.org after it; the deciding factor is service cost across three years.
Where each number comes from
- Figure on Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation: dat.maryland.gov (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation: dat.maryland.gov (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Maryland report due date: dat.maryland.gov (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Md: mgaleg.maryland.gov (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source: mgaleg.maryland.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source: egov.maryland.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Maryland registered agent statute: mgaleg.maryland.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Maryland Business Express: egov.maryland.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Corporations and Associations § 4A-1002, registration: mgaleg.maryland.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Corporations and Associations § 4A-1009, activities that are: mgaleg.maryland.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Corporations and Associations § 4A-1007, effect of not: mgaleg.maryland.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Tax-Property § 11-101, annual report: mgaleg.maryland.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Kentucky Secretary of State, business filings: sos.ky.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Form FBE, Certificate of Authority: web.sos.ky.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on KRS 14A.9-020, consequences of transacting business without authority: apps.legislature.ky.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on KRS 14A.9-010, authority to transact business required: apps.legislature.ky.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on KRS 14A.6-010, annual report: apps.legislature.ky.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Kentucky Secretary of State, fee schedule: sos.ky.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official: revenue.ky.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration: sosnc.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Form L-09, Application for Certificate of Authority: sosnc.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Secretary of State guide to registering a foreign: sosnc.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on G.S: ncleg.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Annual report due dates: sosnc.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services: sos.ms.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Business filing fee schedule: sos.ms.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Business FAQs: sos.ms.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Start Your Business in Mississippi: sos.ms.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Mississippi annual reports: sos.ms.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Registered agents: sos.ms.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Texas Secretary of State, foreign entities FAQ: sos.state.tx.us (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Form 304 instructions: sos.state.tx.us (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Fee schedule, Form 806: sos.texas.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Business Organizations Code, Chapter 9: statutes.capitol.texas.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Texas Comptroller, franchise tax: comptroller.texas.gov (seen October 2026).
- Maryland Registered Agent.co: pricing page as the company showed it on November 12, 2026
- Mainstay Filing: Maryland service page as the company showed it on November 12, 2026
- MD Registered Agent.org: pricing page as the company showed it on November 12, 2026