Forming an LLC in Maine

Launching an LLC in Maine means one state filing, an ongoing registered agent, and a short compliance list each year. The formation document is the Certificate of Formation, the state fee is $175, and the filing travels by mail because Maine has no general online formation portal. Keep reading for each step, the numbers, and how our service handles the paperwork side.

Open Your Maine LLC — $199

$199 once. We draft the Certificate of Formation, file it with the Maine Secretary of State, update you when the approval comes back, and hold the agent role through month twelve.

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$199 + $225 Maine state fees (filing $175 + required expedite $50) = $424 due today

The Case for A Maine LLC

An LLC is a state-recognized business entity that walls off the owner's personal property from business obligations. In Maine, independent contractors, real estate investors, e-commerce operators, and freelance professionals gravitate toward the LLC structure for its straightforward formation and ongoing flexibility.

The $175 Maine LLC Filing Fee

Maine's fee for a new LLC is $175, fixed by statute (31 M.R.S. § 1680) and paid with the Certificate of Formation. The rest of the stack:

Our $199 handles the filing service. The $175 routes straight to the state. The agent product is bundled for the opening year, then renews at $99 annually. Ordered through us: $199 + $225 Maine state fees (filing $175 + required expedite $50) = $424 due today.

Expedite pricing, if you file on your own and want the state to move faster: $50 for 24-hour processing, $100 for immediate same-day. Every Maine LLC order through us includes the state's expedited processing ($50), paid to the state with the filing fee.

Maine's Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6)

Forget "Articles of Organization" here. In Maine the document is a Certificate of Formation, Form MLLC-6, signed by one or more authorized persons per 31 M.R.S. § 1531. It carries the LLC's name plus the registered agent information required by 5 M.R.S. § 105(1).

It is a paper form. You download it from the Secretary of State's LLC forms page, fill it in, and mail it with the $175 fee to the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. Standard processing runs at the speed of the state's mail queue; the two paid tiers above are the only way to jump it.

Maine LLC Formation, Step by Step

1. Clear the name. It needs an LLC designator and it must be distinguishable from every entity already on record. Run the state's entity search first, and stay away from bank, insurance, or government terms unless you hold the license.
2. Line up a registered agent. Every Maine LLC lists one, at a physical Maine street address, and the listing is public. With our agent product, the public listing shows our Augusta-area address and not your home; formation customers pay nothing for it until their first anniversary, then $99/year.
3. Mail the Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6) with $175. Add $50 or $100 if you bought an expedite tier. Approval comes back from the Bureau once processed.
4. Draft an operating agreement. Maine never sees it, but banks and courts will ask. Skip it and the default rules in Maine's LLC statute decide your ownership disputes for you.
5. Grab an EIN from IRS.gov. Free, roughly ten minutes, issued at the end of the application. Paying a service for this is throwing money away.
6. Set the compliance calendar. Annual report by June 1 every year ($85), agent on file at all times, business and personal money kept strictly apart, taxes on schedule. Blow the obligations off and the state dissolves the LLC.

Outsourcing this? $199 one-time covers our Maine filing service.

Order Here
$199 + $225 Maine state fees (filing $175 + required expedite $50) = $424 due today

The Registered Agent Piece

Every LLC formed in Maine carries a continuous registered agent obligation with no carve-outs. The agent must:

• Hold a Maine street address (a PO box on its own fails)
• Have consented to serve (naming the agent affirms that it has)
• Move lawsuits, tax notices, and state mail to the owner fast

List yourself and your address sits in the state's searchable entity database indefinitely. List us and it never goes in: no fee for year one with formation, $99/year after.

Maine LLC FAQ

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maine?

$175 to the state for the Certificate of Formation, which sits above the national midpoint. The recurring annual report is $85/year after that.

How long does it take to form an LLC in Maine?

Maine currently posts 10 to 15 business days for standard corporate filings. Buying the $50 tier gets 24-hour handling; $100 gets immediate same-day service.

Does Maine require an annual report?

Yes, due June 1 every year, $85 for a domestic LLC. Late filings pick up a $50 penalty.

Do I need a registered agent for my Maine LLC?

Yes. A Maine street address must be on file for the agent from formation onward, without gaps.

Can I form an LLC in Maine if I live in another state?

Yes. Residency is not a requirement for owners. The Maine agent requirement still applies, which is exactly what our service is for, formation clients' first year included.

File Your Maine LLC Today

Self-filing is straightforward if you prefer it: print Form MLLC-6, write the $175 check, mail both to the Secretary of State. The agent requirement applies no matter who files.

We are the registered agent you list on the certificate. Year one free with formation, then $99 a year, buys our Maine address on the public record, same-day scans of whatever arrives, and a heads-up ahead of each filing deadline.

Order Here
$199 + $225 Maine state fees (filing $175 + required expedite $50) = $424 due today

Want the RA service without the LLC formation? The registered agent option is priced at $99 yearly.

Need help with Maine LLC formation or how our service handles the agent role? See the FAQ or contact us throughout the business day.