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Maryland handles business filings through the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, called SDAT, instead of a Secretary of State. You need your business name, resident agent details, and principal office address to file your Articles of Organization. Once SDAT approves your LLC, you get an EIN and put together your internal paperwork. From there, one filing keeps your LLC in good standing every year.
Swyft Filings handles the paperwork and state filings in all 50 states. Select our basic package to start an LLC for free in Maryland. We also offer professional resident agent services, so your personal address does not end up on a public filing.
Your LLC name goes on your Articles of Organization, your bank account, and every contract you sign, so get it right before you file anything. Use our free business name generator tool to get creative business name ideas.
Check your final choice against Maryland Business Entity Search before you file anything. You can proceed with the business formation if a name is available.
Maryland law requires every LLC to name a resident agent on its Articles of Organization. This is the person or company that accepts legal notices, lawsuits, and official state mail on your LLC's behalf.
Your resident agent needs a physical Maryland street address. A P.O. box does not satisfy this requirement.
They also need to be available at that address during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, so they can accept documents the moment they arrive.
You can act as your own resident agent, name another Maryland resident, or hire a professional service to handle it.
Acting as your own agent puts your address on public record, where anyone, including a solicitor or someone filing a lawsuit against you, can look it up. It also means you cannot step away during business hours without risking a missed delivery, even for something as ordinary as a lunch meeting or a sick day.
A professional resident agent service keeps your personal address off the public filing and forwards anything important to you the same day it arrives.
The Articles of Organization is the document that officially creates your LLC with SDAT. The filing fee is $100, whether you file online or by mail.
Filing online through Maryland Business Express:
Filing by mail: Download and complete the Articles of Organization form, then mail it with a check or money order for $100 to:
State Department of Assessments and Taxation
Charter Division
700 East Pratt Street, Suite 2700
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Filing by hand:
Hand-deliver to the drop boxes in the SDAT building lobby at 123 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202.
Whichever method you choose, you need your LLC name, purpose statement, principal office address, resident agent name and address, and the signatures of both the person filing and the resident agent.
Standard processing takes 6 to 8 weeks, regardless of whether you file online or by mail.
If you need it faster, SDAT offers expedited review within 7 to 10 business days for an extra $50.
For same-day turnaround, SDAT charges $325 if you file online or $425 if you hand-deliver your documents to the Baltimore office before the daily cutoff.
Write your operating agreement using clear, plain language covering how your LLC will run day-to-day. Use our free operating agreement template to get started, or answer a short questionnaire and Swyft Filings builds a custom agreement around your business. Either way, every member needs to sign it, and you should keep a copy with your other business records.
Main terms to add in a Maryland LLC operating agreement:
The Internal Revenue Service issues a nine-digit number, called an EIN, to businesses that need it for federal tax purposes. This includes hiring employees, opening a bank account, and filing taxes in the U.S. You can apply for an EIN directly on the IRS website and get it for free in minutes. The application requires the following details:
If you don’t have a Social Security Number, you can apply for an EIN by filing Form SS-4.
Maryland LLCs file a combined Annual Report and Business Personal Property Return with the SDAT by April 15 each year. The filing fee is $300. This applies whether or not your LLC made money that year.
You can file online through Maryland Business Express, which is the fastest option, or by mail. If you need more time to file, you can request a 60-day extension through SDAT. The extension request must be submitted by the original filing deadline. Failing to file even after the extension deadline leads to penalties by SDAT and the risk of losing good standing.
If you ever decide to close your Maryland LLC instead of keeping it in good standing, see our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in Maryland.
Maryland doesn't issue one general statewide business license that covers every LLC. Instead, most businesses that sell tangible goods need a Trader's License from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where they operate, plus a Sales and Use Tax License via the Maryland Tax Connect Portal if they sell taxable goods or services.
Depending on your industry, you may also need a professional or occupational license from the Maryland Department of Labor, or local permits from your city or county. Skipping a required license can lead to fines, back taxes, or trouble maintaining your LLC's good standing, so check the Maryland Business Express License Portal to see what applies to you.
It depends on what you're selling and where your customers are. If you sell taxable goods to Maryland residents, you generally still need a Sales and Use Tax License to collect and remit sales tax, even if you never open a physical storefront.
Whether you also need a Trader's License depends on your county, since some jurisdictions tie the requirement to buying and reselling goods rather than to having a physical location.
Selling only services, rather than physical products, often reduces or removes the licensing requirement, but it's worth confirming with your county Circuit Court Clerk before you launch.
Once SDAT approves your Articles of Organization, open a dedicated business bank account to keep your LLC's finances separate from your personal accounts. This is one of the easiest ways to protect your personal liability shield. Most Maryland banks will ask for your EIN, your approved Articles of Organization, and your operating agreement (even though it's not filed with the state, banks often want to see it). For the full breakdown of what to bring and how to compare accounts, check out this guide to opening a business bank account.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Articles of Organization filing fee | $100 |
| Expedited review (7-10 business days) | $50 |
| Same-day review | $325 online / $425 in person |
| Name reservation (30 days) | $25 |
| Trade name / DBA registration (5 years) | $25 |
| Foreign LLC registration | $100 |
| Annual Report and Personal Property Return | $300 a year |
| Resident agent service (if hired) | Varies by provider |
Writing your own operating agreement and applying for your EIN are both free. Business license costs depend on your industry and where you operate.
Starting an LLC in Maryland yourself is possible, but it takes time, research, and follow-up. Here's how doing it yourself compares to forming your Maryland LLC with Swyft Filings.
| Item | DIY | Swyft Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland LLC Operating Agreement | You draft your own from scratch or use a free operating agreement template | A custom LLC operating agreement is included |
| Maryland Registered Agent | You handle it on your own | Professional RA service is available |
| Attorney access | You'd need to hire one separately | Personalized guidance from a business attorney is available |
| Domain Name + Website | You build and host it yourself | Done-for-you website + domain included, through partner UENI |
| Maryland Business License Research | You do yourself | Available as an add-on |
| Maryland DBA filing | You handle yourself | Available as an add-on |
| Document Vault | Not available. You manage your own files | Secure online portal, 24/7 document access |
| Maryland Compliance management | You track deadlines yourself | Compliance support is available through ComplianceGuard |
| Tax consultation | Not included. You'd book this separately | Free 30-minute tax consultation included, through partner 1-800Accountant |
| Support | None | Lifetime customer support |
Since 2015, Swyft Filings has helped over 600,000+ owners with business formation and compliance management. Our business formation specialists manually review your application for accuracy. Take the first step toward building your LLC with confidence. Skip the guesswork and let Swyft Filings handle your paperwork!
$0 + State Filing Fees
*Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about forming an LLC in Maryland and is not a substitute for legal, tax, or financial advice.*
LLC rules, fees, and processing times vary by state. Select a state below to check its specific costs and filing requirements.