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Formation Facts

What the state wants, and what it costs.

Foreign LLC guide · Maryland

Maryland Foreign LLC Registration (2026): What the State Charges and the 3 Best Services

Short version for Maryland in 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199), MD Registered Agent.org ($199) and Maryland Registered Agent.co ($199), ranked best first, if you are bringing an out-of-state LLC into the state. Registering costs $100 in Maryland, and every later report costs $300; on three-year state cost the state sits at 40th of 50.
Briefing by the Formation Facts team

Maryland: key figures

40th

among 50 states for foreign LLC state fees

Rank 1 is the least expensive state. The whole 50-state comparison

  • Fee the state takes at registration

    $100

    Confirmed in October 2026: mgaleg.maryland.gov

  • Report you must file again

    $300

    Business Entity Annual Report and Personal Property Return, Form 1

  • Paper from the home state

    60 days

    It must have been issued within

  • What the state collects in 3 years

    $700

    Registration in year 1, reports in years 2 and 3

Maryland ranking

We ordered the list with five criteria, and three-year fees and coverage count most (the method page covers the rest).

Our #1

1. Mainstay Filing: best for one price in every added state

$199 plus the state fee; the agent then costs $149 a year from year 2

Why Mainstay Filing is first: $199 plus Maryland's state fee, then $149 a year for the agent from year 2.

Over three years you would pay $100 more than you would with MD Registered Agent.org. Coverage is 26% of the score, though, and handling more filings outweighs that difference.

In year 2 you start paying $149 a year for the agent in any state.

What your money gets you

  • Prepares your registration and files it
  • The same price in any state

What works

  • $199 on top of Maryland's fee
  • All fifty states covered

What to weigh

  • A renewal $50 above MD Registered Agent.org's
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Local option

2. MD Registered Agent.org: best for a small yearly agent price

$199 plus the state fee; the agent then costs $99 a year from year 2

Why MD Registered Agent.org is second: their fee is $199, and the agent renews at $99.

What your money gets you

  • Prepares and submits your registration
  • A year of agent service

What works

  • A fee of $199
  • Then $99 a year
  • The first agent year is included

What to weigh

  • Maryland only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit MD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Local option

3. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for registering only in Maryland

$199 plus the state fee; the agent then costs $99 a year from year 2

Why Maryland Registered Agent.co is third: their fee is $199, and the agent renews at $99.

MD Registered Agent.org and this provider charge the same.

What your money gets you

  • Prepares and submits your registration
  • A year of agent service

What works

  • Then $99 a year
  • A fee of $199
  • The first agent year is included

What to weigh

  • Maryland only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit Maryland Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3 services, one table

RankWhoYou pay in year 1Then per yearTheir fees across 3 years
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2MD Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit MD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Maryland Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Maryland Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
All prices come from the companies' own pages, as they stood on November 13, 2026. The $100 state fee is not part of any row.

Registration cost calculator

The registration fee is $100, with a $300 report from year 2, and provider fees are added on top.
Choosing Mainstay Filing means paying $1,197 over 3 years, made up of $700 for the state and $497 for the service.

How Maryland compares with the states near it in the ranking

RankStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
38thKentucky$645
39thNorth Carolina$650
40thMaryland$700
41stMississippi$750
41stTexas$750
The full comparison ranks all fifty states in the same way.

How to register an LLC from another state in Maryland

Your registration goes through the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Charter Division: the Limited Liability Company Registration (For non-Maryland Limited Liability Company), with a fee of $100. You will also need written proof of existence from the home state, equivalent to a certificate of good standing, dated within 60 days.

Upkeep means filing the Business Entity Annual Report and Personal Property Return, Form 1 ($300), April 15.

Your checklist

  • Written proof of existence from the home state, equivalent to a certificate of good standing, not older than 60 days.
  • The legal name of your LLC and the day it was formed.
  • Your own resident agent with a street address in the state, named on the form.
  • Enough to cover the $100 registration fee.

The consequences of staying unregistered

A lawsuit you file before registering is blocked until you make the filing (4A-1007(a)). Your LLC's contracts continue to hold (4A-1007(b)).

Why the Maryland list is in this order

Mainstay Filing wins on upkeep the price covers, which counts 26%, and MD Registered Agent.org is next.

One provider for your home state and Maryland got the highest score.

Common questions

How much will it cost to register my out-of-state LLC with Maryland?

$100 as the official fee. Provider fees are $199.

Which form do I use to register an out-of-state LLC with Maryland?

Use the Limited Liability Company Registration (For non-Maryland Limited Liability Company) and send it to the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Charter Division.

Does the state want a certificate from my home state?

Yes, you need written proof of existence from the home state, equivalent to a certificate of good standing, dated within 60 days of your filing.

Will my foreign LLC have to file anything every year?

Yes, you file the Business Entity Annual Report and Personal Property Return, Form 1 and pay $300.

What happens if my LLC does business there without registering?

A lawsuit you file before registering is blocked until you make the filing (4A-1007(a)). Your LLC's contracts continue to hold (4A-1007(b)).

Must I appoint a resident agent when registering in Maryland?

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

Which service should I choose to register a foreign LLC?

Go with Mainstay Filing: $199 plus state fees covers the registration, and the resident agent costs nothing in year 1. After that: MD Registered Agent.org and Maryland Registered Agent.co.

Related briefings

Where this briefing comes from

  1. Our figures on Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation come from dat.maryland.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
  2. Our figures on Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation come from dat.maryland.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
  3. Our figures on Maryland report due date come from dat.maryland.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
  4. Our figures on Md come from mgaleg.maryland.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
  5. Our figures on Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source come from mgaleg.maryland.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  6. Our figures on Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source come from egov.maryland.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  7. Our figures on Maryland registered agent statute come from mgaleg.maryland.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  8. Our figures on Maryland Business Express come from egov.maryland.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  9. Our figures on Corporations and Associations § 4A-1002, registration come from mgaleg.maryland.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  10. Our figures on Corporations and Associations § 4A-1009, activities that are come from mgaleg.maryland.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  11. Our figures on Corporations and Associations § 4A-1007, effect of not come from mgaleg.maryland.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  12. Our figures on Tax-Property § 11-101, annual report come from mgaleg.maryland.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  13. Our figures on Kentucky Secretary of State, business filings come from sos.ky.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  14. Our figures on Form FBE, Certificate of Authority come from web.sos.ky.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  15. Our figures on KRS 14A.9-020, consequences of transacting business without authority come from apps.legislature.ky.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  16. Our figures on KRS 14A.9-010, authority to transact business required come from apps.legislature.ky.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  17. Our figures on KRS 14A.6-010, annual report come from apps.legislature.ky.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  18. Our figures on Kentucky Secretary of State, fee schedule come from sos.ky.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  19. Our figures on Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official come from revenue.ky.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  20. Our figures on North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration come from sosnc.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  21. Our figures on Form L-09, Application for Certificate of Authority come from sosnc.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  22. Our figures on Secretary of State guide to registering a foreign come from sosnc.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  23. Our figures on G.S come from ncleg.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  24. Our figures on Annual report due dates come from sosnc.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  25. Our figures on Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services come from sos.ms.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  26. Our figures on Business filing fee schedule come from sos.ms.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  27. Our figures on Business FAQs come from sos.ms.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  28. Our figures on Start Your Business in Mississippi come from sos.ms.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  29. Our figures on Mississippi annual reports come from sos.ms.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  30. Our figures on Registered agents come from sos.ms.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  31. Our figures on Texas Secretary of State, foreign entities FAQ come from sos.state.tx.us. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  32. Our figures on Form 304 instructions come from sos.state.tx.us. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  33. Our figures on Fee schedule, Form 806 come from sos.texas.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  34. Our figures on Business Organizations Code, Chapter 9 come from statutes.capitol.texas.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  35. Our figures on Texas Comptroller, franchise tax come from comptroller.texas.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  36. We looked at the Mainstay Filing website on November 13, 2026 to confirm Maryland service page
  37. We looked at the MD Registered Agent.org website on November 13, 2026 to confirm pricing page
  38. We looked at the Maryland Registered Agent.co website on November 13, 2026 to confirm pricing page