Form an LLC by State › Maryland
Cheapest and fastest way to file an LLC in Maryland (2026)
Filing an LLC in Maryland costs $100 in state fees. The fastest route listed is paper rush, two hours, +$425 on top of the filing fee ($525 all in). Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, files it for you and keeps the registered agent.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
Cheapest vs fastest in Maryland
| Route | What you get | State cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission | $100 |
| Fast, no extra fee | None listed | — |
| Paid lane | Expedited (7 to 14 business days) | Fee not in our source |
| Paid lane | Rush online, reviewed within three hours | $425 |
| Paid lane | Paper rush, two hours | $525 |
Paid lanes are the filing fee plus the expedite fee. The yearly report is $300 afterwards.
What the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) says
Non-expedited: "reviewed during the second calendar month after submission" (submitted in September, reviewed in November). Expedited: "Initial review is between 7-14 business days"; "Expedited filings are not reviewed before the 7th business day". Rush ($325 online): submitted before 2:30 PM on a business day, "Reviewed within three hours". Paper rush (two-hour) is $425. On 2026-10-01 SDAT was reviewing expedited online LLC Articles submitted 09/16/2026.
Processing, read October 1, 2026
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, same at renewal
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Questions
What is the cheapest way to file an LLC in Maryland?
The cheapest route is the plain filing at $100, with the state’s stated turnaround of non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.
What is the fastest way to file an LLC in Maryland?
The fastest route listed is paper rush, two hours, +$425 on top of the filing fee ($525 all in).
How much does it cost to expedite a Maryland LLC?
The state lists 3 options: expedited (7 to 14 business days) (fee not in our source); rush online, reviewed within three hours (+$325); paper rush, two hours (+$425).
Sources
- Md. Code, Corporations & Associations sec. 4A-202 (formation); contents at sec. 4A-204; $100 fee per SDAT charter fee schedule (multira state research spine): mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gca§ion=4A-202, checked August 12, 2026
- Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gca§ion=1-203, checked October 1, 2026
- Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/Payment/FeesSchedule, checked October 1, 2026
- Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (multira state research spine): dat.maryland.gov/SiteAssets/Pages/sdatforms/2026_Form1%20Final%20(6).pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (multira state research spine): dat.maryland.gov/SiteAssets/Pages/sdatforms/2026%20Form%201%20Instructions%20%20FINAL.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- Maryland report due date (multira state research spine, due dates verified 714/714): dat.maryland.gov/businesses/Pages/Annual-Report-and-Personal-Property-Return.aspx, checked August 12, 2026
- Maryland registered agent statute (Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-101(x)): mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gca§ion=4A-210, checked October 20, 2026
- Maryland processing (State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), official page read): egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/Home/ProcessingTimes, checked October 1, 2026
- State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT): dat.maryland.gov/, checked October 20, 2026