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Biz Formation Academy

A plain textbook on LLC paperwork, one state per chapter.

Textbook chapter 2 · Maryland

Maryland Registered Agent Chapter (2026): 6 Sections and the 3 Best Agents

For appointing a registered agent in Maryland in 2026, this chapter recommends Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), Maryland Registered Agent.co ($99 a year) and MD Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), ranked from first to last. After 6 sections the resident agent question is settled for Maryland.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Key facts for this chapter

Legal requirement Yes mgaleg.maryland.gov (edition of October 2026)
Agent price range $99 to $149 a year Taken from each company's price page
Business Entity Annual Report $300 a year dat.maryland.gov (edition of August 2026)
Sections 6 Taken one at a time

Chapter objectives

  • What the law provides
  • Eligibility and address rules
  • Recording the agent
  • The agents ranked highest

Recommended reading for Maryland

Three-year cost and paperwork completed carry the most weight; how we grade lists all five.

1. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who plan to grow

Top recommendation
First year: $149. Second year: $149

Mainstay Filing is ranked first in Maryland: $149 a year from one provider, for this state and any later one.

Three years cost $150 more than Maryland Registered Agent.co, yet this service completes more of the paperwork, and the ranking weighs that.

Price covers

  • A physical street address in the state
  • Any papers served on the company get scanned for you at no cost
  • Three government mailings a year are scanned at no cost to you
  • Also serves nonprofits, corporations, LPs and LLPs

Advantages

  • $149 per year
  • One price in all fifty states

Limitations

  • Maryland Registered Agent.co is $50 a year lower
  • An agent-only plan with no report filing
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for a low yearly agent fee

Single-state plan
First year: $99. Second year: $99

Maryland Registered Agent.co takes second position; $99 a year provides a Maryland agent with an in-state office.

Price covers

  • A Maryland street address
  • Served documents appear online

Advantages

  • $99 each year with no increase
  • A smaller yearly bill than Mainstay Filing

Limitations

  • A single-state service
  • Business Entity Annual Report is excluded from the price
Visit Maryland Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. MD Registered Agent.org: best for remaining within one state

Single-state plan
First year: $99. Second year: $99

MD Registered Agent.org takes third position; $99 a year provides a Maryland agent with an in-state office.

It publishes the same prices as Maryland Registered Agent.co.

Price covers

  • A Maryland street address
  • Served documents appear online

Advantages

  • $99 each year with no increase
  • A smaller yearly bill than Mainstay Filing

Limitations

  • A single-state service
  • Business Entity Annual Report is excluded from the price
Visit MD Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Rankings and prices together

#ServiceAnnual priceRenewal priceThree-year total
1 Mainstay Filing $149$149/yr$447 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Maryland Registered Agent.co $99$99/yr$297 Visit Maryland Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 MD Registered Agent.org $99$99/yr$297 Visit MD Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Listed prices, consulted November 13, 2026. The state charges the same whichever agent is named.

How a Maryland agent is set up

  1. Section 1

    Understand the requirement

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

    Reference: mgaleg.maryland.gov (edition of October 2026)

  2. Section 2

    Who qualifies as an agent

    A Maryland resident, or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership. See Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-101(x).

  3. Section 3

    The address rule

    The address has to be a Maryland address on file with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; P.O. boxes are not accepted. The LLC also keeps a principal office in Maryland.

    A hired service lists its own Maryland street address in place of yours.

  4. Section 4

    Select the person or company

    Professional agents among the recommended services charge $99 to $149 a year; serving personally is available to those who qualify.

  5. Section 5

    Record the agent with the state

    A new LLC names its agent on the Articles of Organization, delivered to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). Replacing the agent later requires an amendment filed with the same office.

    Reference: egov.maryland.gov (edition of October 2026)

  6. Section 6

    Update the record when facts change

    File the Business Entity Annual Report on time ($300, April 15) so the agent record remains correct.

    Reference: dat.maryland.gov (edition of August 2026)

What the agent costs in Maryland

PurposeRecipientAmount
Agent service The provider$99 to $149 a year
Agent renewal The provider$99 to $149 a year
Business Entity Annual Report Paid to the state$300 every year

Rows for the state rely on Maryland's published fee schedules (listed in the bibliography below), and each service row uses that company's own price. For three years the state row adds the filing, the report in year two, the report in year three and any minimum tax.

Why Mainstay Filing is first

finished ahead of on chapters the price completes, which counts for 30%.

One agent for every state beat the single-state plan.

Short answers

Does Maryland require an LLC to have a resident agent?

Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Can I be my own resident agent?

An owner may serve if eligible; the tests are in sections 2 and 3.

Can I change my resident agent later?

Yes. A replacement requires a change filing at the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) (section 5).

What does a registered agent cost in Maryland?

A year of agent service costs $99 to $149 with the services ranked here.

What does the LLC pay the state each year?

Owners submit the Business Entity Annual Report and pay $300 every year.

Which registered agent would you choose?

Choose Mainstay Filing: $149 yearly is the agent price in all fifty states. Next are Maryland Registered Agent.co and MD Registered Agent.org.

Next chapter

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation rests on dat.maryland.gov, a text consulted August 2026.
  2. Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation rests on dat.maryland.gov, a text consulted August 2026.
  3. Maryland report due date rests on dat.maryland.gov, a text consulted August 2026.
  4. Md rests on mgaleg.maryland.gov, a text consulted August 2026.
  5. Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source rests on mgaleg.maryland.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  6. Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source rests on egov.maryland.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  7. Maryland registered agent statute rests on mgaleg.maryland.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  8. Mainstay Filing, Maryland service page: consulted November 13, 2026
  9. Maryland Registered Agent.co, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026
  10. MD Registered Agent.org, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026