Forming an LLC in Maine
$199 covers our formation service — we draft and file your Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6) with the Maine Secretary of State. A $99/year registered agent fee keeps the entity compliant afterward.
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, and update you when the approval comes back.
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:
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation service, ours | $199 one-time |
| Maine state filing fee | $175 one-time |
| Registered agent, mandatory for every Maine LLC | $99/year |
| Annual report to the state | $85/year |
Our $199 handles the filing service. The $175 routes straight to the state. The agent product bills separately at $99 annually.
Expedite pricing, if you want the state to move faster: $50 for 24-hour processing, $100 for immediate same-day.
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
- 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.
- Line up a registered agent. Every Maine LLC lists one, at a physical Maine street address, and the listing is public. Our $99/year agent product puts our address on the record instead of yours.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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)
- Cover normal business hours for legal service
- 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. $99/year.
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?
Standard paper processing has no promised turnaround. 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 $99/year service is for.
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. $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.
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.
Ready to file your Maine LLC?
$199 covers formation, filed with the Maine Secretary of State. Ongoing compliance runs $99/year for the registered agent fee — billed separately, after your LLC exists.