How to Form an LLC in Maine
A clean Maine registered agent setup for $99 per year. You get the office address on file, scanned legal mail, and compliance reminders ahead of state deadlines.
Forming an LLC in Maine is mostly paperwork, but the paperwork has a Maine twist: the formation document is called a Certificate of Formation, not Articles of Organization, and it's filed on paper with the Secretary of State's Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. Budget $175 for the state fee, decide whether an expedite tier is worth it, and plan for the June 1 annual report that follows. Below is the full process and how our service fits in.
Build Your Maine LLC — $199
We prepare the Certificate of Formation and file it with the Maine Secretary of State for $199. You'll hear from us the moment the state returns your approval.
What an LLC Does for You in Maine
LLCs give business owners a layer of protection: business debts and lawsuits generally stop at the business, not the owner. Maine's small-business landscape leans heavily on the LLC structure for its mix of protection, simplicity, and minimal ongoing compliance.
Maine LLC Filing Fee: $175
The official Maine filing fee for a new LLC is $175, set by 31 M.R.S. § 1680 and paid to the Secretary of State when you submit the Certificate of Formation. Here's the full picture with our services included:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (Maine Secretary of State) | $175 one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Maine LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report fee | $85/year |
$199 is our filing-help service. The state's $175 goes to the Maine Secretary of State. Registered agent service bills separately at $99 per year.
Maine-specific notes: the annual report is $85 for domestic LLCs and $150 for foreign LLCs, due by June 1 every year. Optional expedited processing on formation filings runs $50 for 24-hour service or $100 for immediate same-day service.
The Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6)
Maine's formation document is the Certificate of Formation, Form MLLC-6, executed by one or more authorized persons under 31 M.R.S. § 1531 (statute text). The certificate must include the registered agent information that 5 M.R.S. § 105(1) requires, alongside the company name and the other organizational basics.
Two things surprise people about filing it:
- It's a paper filing. Maine has no general online formation portal, so the completed form goes to the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions by mail with your $175 payment. You can download Form MLLC-6 (PDF) straight from the Secretary of State.
- Processing has two paid tiers. Standard processing takes as long as the state's mail queue takes. If you need the LLC sooner, $50 buys 24-hour service and $100 buys immediate same-day service.
Steps to Form Your Maine LLC
- Settle on a compliant name. Include an LLC designator and make sure the name is distinguishable from entities already on record. Run the Secretary of State's entity search before you build a brand around a name, and skip words that imply a bank, insurer, or government body unless you hold the license.
- Appoint your Maine registered agent. Every Maine LLC lists an agent with a physical Maine street address who's available during business hours. Whatever address goes in this field becomes public. Our agent service is $99 per year, and our office address goes on the certificate instead of yours.
- Complete and mail the Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6). The form records the company name, the registered agent information required by 5 M.R.S. § 105(1), and the organizer's signature. Mail it to the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions with the $175 fee, plus $50 or $100 if you're using an expedite tier.
- Write the operating agreement. Maine keeps operating agreements internal. The state doesn't see them, but banks, partners, and courts do. Without one, the default rules in Maine's LLC Act decide ownership questions for you.
- Get a federal tax ID (EIN). Apply free at IRS.gov. Banks, payroll providers, and the IRS all want it, and the number issues as soon as the application finishes. Never pay a third party for an EIN.
- Calendar the ongoing obligations. Keep a registered agent on file continuously, file the $85 annual report by June 1 each year, keep business and personal finances separate, and meet your tax deadlines. Fall behind and the Secretary of State can administratively dissolve the LLC.
Want us to handle the filing? One $199 payment and we prepare and submit the Maine LLC for you.
The Maine Registered Agent Rule
Every Maine LLC needs a registered agent, with no exceptions and no workarounds. The agent must:
- Keep a physical Maine street address on file (a PO box alone doesn't qualify)
- Stay available through normal weekday hours to accept legal service
- Get lawsuits and state mail to you fast enough that response deadlines stay workable
Listing yourself is possible if you have a Maine street address, but that address becomes public in the Secretary of State's entity database. Our Maine agent service is $99 per year, and our address takes that public exposure instead of yours.
Questions People Ask
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maine?
The state charges $175 for the Certificate of Formation, which lands on the higher side among the fifty states. After formation, the annual report runs $85 each year.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Maine?
Standard processing depends on the state's paper filing queue. If you can't wait, Maine sells two expedite tiers: 24-hour service for $50 and immediate same-day service for $100.
Does Maine require an annual report?
Yes, every year by June 1. The report is $85 for a domestic LLC, and filing late adds a $50 penalty.
Do I need a registered agent for my Maine LLC?
Yes. A registered agent with a physical Maine address is required from the day you file and for the entire life of the LLC.
Can I form an LLC in Maine if I live in another state?
Yes. Maine doesn't require owners to live in the state. You'll still need a Maine registered agent on file, and our $99 per year service covers that.
Start Your Maine LLC the Right Way
Filing on your own is entirely doable: print Form MLLC-6, attach the $175 fee, and mail both to the Secretary of State. The registered agent requirement applies either way.
We're the agent that goes on your certificate. For $99 annually, our Maine address sits in the state's public records, documents get scanned the day they arrive, and reminders reach you ahead of every filing deadline.
Looking only for the agent? The standalone Maine agent plan is $99 per year on a stand-alone basis.
Other questions about Maine LLCs or the registered agent piece? See our FAQ or contact us during the workday.
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