LLC Formation in Maine (2026): 7 Moves and the 3 Best LLC Services
Short answer for Maine, 2026: use Maine Registered Agent.co ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and ME Registered Agent.org ($199), ranked best to worst, if you want help starting an LLC. Numbers to know: 7 moves, a $175 filing fee, a $85 annual report.
Prices come from each company's own site, read November 13, 2026. The $175 state fee is not in these figures.
How a Maine LLC gets formed
Move 1
Make sure the name is yours to use
Start at the Maine Secretary of State: its business records show whether a Maine company already uses your name.
Have a backup ready.
Move 2
Fill the registered agent seat
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual or entity serving as agent in Maine, or the holder of a named position in the company.
A noncommercial agent lists a physical street address in Maine, not a P.O. box. Commercial agents keep their address on file with the state.
DIY costs the $175 state fee and your time. A service adds $199 and does the forms; our ranking says which.
Move 4
Fill in and send the Certificate of Formation
The Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6) is the document that forms the company. Deliver it to the Maine Secretary of State; the fee is $175. Processing, per the state: 10 to 15 business days (home page).
Approval first. Then the IRS. The Mainstay Filing package already includes this move.
Move 6
Draft the operating agreement
The operating agreement says who owns the Maine LLC and how decisions get made. Keep it with your records; the state never sees it.
Move 7
Keep the LLC active
Every year the LLC files the annual report and pays $85; deadline June 1. File late and add $50.
Where this comes from: Per maine.gov, as of August 2026
What you will pay
Line
Pay to
Total
Forming the LLC
Paid to the state
$175
Annual report
Paid to the state
$85 every year
Late report
Paid to the state
$50
Paid help
The service
$199 in year one
Three years of state fees
Paid to the state
$345
Filing plus the reports in years two and three plus any minimum tax: that is the state's three-year total. Sources are listed below.
How we ordered the Maine picks
Founder outlay over three years decided first place in Maine. It is 27% of the mark; the rest is to-dos the price takes off you, year-two price, fit with the state's rules and pricing you can read at once.
Maine Registered Agent.co totals $397 across three years, saving $200 next to Mainstay Filing.
Short answers
Which Maine fees apply to a new LLC?
$175 goes to the state. $199 extra buys a service that does the filing.
Which form creates the LLC?
Move 4 shows how to fill out the Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6) and where it goes: the Maine Secretary of State.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
How long does Maine take to process the filing?
Count on 10 to 15 business days (home page).
What does Maine require each year?
Every year the LLC files the annual report: $85, due June 1.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
The state accepts filings directly from owners, so you need no service. Expect $175 and a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
Our order: Maine Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing and ME Registered Agent.org. Maine Registered Agent.co leads because $199 to file, then $99 a year to keep the agent.