Maine LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | Maine amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $175 |
| Annual report | $85 ($135 with the late penalty) |
| When it is due | 1 January to 1 June, every year after formation |
| State tax on the LLC | No franchise tax or minimum tax |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $175 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $85 |
| Registered agent | Required. Free if you act as your own; commercial services charge a yearly fee |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 |
Fees verified October 2026 against the Maine Secretary of State Division of Corporations and other official Maine sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maine?
The Maine Secretary of State charges $175 to file a Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6) for an LLC. The fee is set in statute (31 M.R.S. section 1680), and the Division of Corporations publishes the form as a PDF to complete and mail with the fee, with a stated processing time of 25 to 30 business days.
Faster handling costs $50 for 24-hour service or $100 for immediate service, on top of the filing fee. A name reservation costs $20.
Our walkthrough on how to file articles of organization in Maine covers the form field by field.
How much does a Maine LLC cost every year?
Every Maine LLC files an annual report between 1 January and 1 June, and the fee is $85. The first report falls in the year after formation, so an LLC formed in 2026 files between 1 January and 1 June 2027.
Maine’s $175 formation fee is the second highest in New England after Massachusetts, and its $85 annual report costs less each year than New Hampshire’s $100 report but more than Vermont’s $45 report.
What does a Maine LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees a Maine LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts Maine charges. The second column adds the BusinessAnywhere registered agent service, which is free for the first year and $147 a year after that.
| Year | State fees only | With a registered agent service |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $175 | $175 |
| Year 2 | $85 | $232 |
| Year 3 | $85 | $232 |
| Three-year total | $345 | $639 |
Does Maine charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
Maine charges no franchise tax or minimum tax on LLCs. An LLC taxed as a partnership or a disregarded entity pays no state income tax itself, and profit passes through to the members.
Members pay Maine individual income tax on their share of profit at three rates: 5.8%, 6.75% and 7.15%.
How much does a registered agent cost in Maine?
Every Maine LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in Maine. Acting as your own agent costs nothing, but your address goes on the public record and you must be available at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services charge a yearly fee for the same role.
The BusinessAnywhere registered agent service is free for the first year and $147 a year after that, with every document scanned to your online dashboard the day it arrives.
See whether BusinessAnywhere can be your registered agent in Maine for the state-specific details.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does a Maine LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. A Maine LLC needs one to hire employees, to open a business bank account and whenever it has more than one member. US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply through the IRS online EIN application and receive the number at the end of the session.
Founders outside the United States cannot use the online tool. They apply by phone, fax or post with IRS Form SS-4, and do not need an SSN to do it. The BusinessAnywhere EIN application service handles that process for $97. Our guide on how to obtain an EIN for your LLC covers both routes.
What other Maine LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the Maine state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $20 | Application for Reservation of Name (Form MLLC-1). |
| Expedited filing | $50 within 24 hours / $100 immediate | Expedited service fees charged in addition to the filing fee. |
| Certificate of good standing | $30 | Certificate of Existence for LLCs (Maine does not use the term good standing). |
| Certified copy | $2 per page plus $5 per certification | Copies of filed documents under 31 M.R.S. section 1680. |
| Amending the articles | $50 | Certificate of Amendment (Form MLLC-9). Restated Certificate of Formation is $80. |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | $125 | Statement of Intention to do Business under an Assumed Name (Form ASUM-5). Foreign entities using a fictitious name file Form FICT-4 for $40. |
| Changing registered agent | $35 | Statement of Appointment or Change of Commercial or Noncommercial Registered Agent (Form CLKRA-3). |
| Foreign LLC registration | $250 | Statement of Foreign Qualification (Form MLLC-12). Foreign LLC annual report is $150. |
| Reinstatement after dissolution | $150 per violation, capped at $600 for unpaid annual reports, plus Certificate of Revival form fee | 31 M.R.S. section 1680 sets the reinstatement fee after administrative dissolution; the Application for Certificate of Revival (Form MLLC-REVIVE) is listed at $150. |
An operating agreement carries no state fee in Maine, and Maine does not collect it, but every LLC should have one to set out ownership and decision rights. BusinessAnywhere sells an operating agreement template for $97.
What happens if you miss a Maine LLC deadline?
A Maine annual report filed after 1 June carries a $50 late penalty, so the report costs $135 instead of $85. Failure to file the report or pay the penalty is a ground for administrative dissolution, and the LLC is dissolved if it does not correct the problem within 60 days after notice.
Reinstatement costs $150 for each violation, capped at $600 for unpaid annual reports, plus the Application for Certificate of Revival and every overdue report.
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in Maine sets out the steps.
How does Maine compare with other states?
Maine is expensive to form and mid-priced to keep. Its $175 formation fee is $75 above the $100 national median, while its $85 annual report costs less than New Hampshire’s $100 report and a small fraction of Massachusetts’ $500 report.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | $175 | $85 | $175 to form, $85 annual report |
| New Hampshire LLC cost | $100 | $100 | $100 to form, $100 annual report |
| Vermont LLC cost | $155 | $45 | $45 annual report, $250 minimum tax for partnerships |
| Massachusetts LLC cost | $500 | $500 | Highest filing fees: $500 to form, $500 a year |
| Wyoming LLC cost | $100 | $60 | $60 minimum license tax, no income tax |
| Delaware LLC cost | $110 | $400 | $400 flat annual tax due 1 June |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form a Maine LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your Maine LLC for $0 plus the $175 state fee. The filing comes with a free first year of registered agent service, so your first-year cost is the state fee and nothing else.
- Formation: $0 service fee plus the Maine filing fee.
- Registered agent: free for the first year, then $147 a year.
- EIN application: $97, with no SSN required for non-US founders.
- Compliance reminders: every Maine deadline on this page tracked in your dashboard.
- Virtual mailbox: a US street address with mail scanning, from $20 a month.
Start with our LLC formation service, or read the full guide on how to start an LLC in Maine first.
Maine LLC cost FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in Maine?
A Maine LLC costs $175 to form and $85 a year for the annual report.
When is the Maine LLC annual report due?
Between 1 January and 1 June each year, starting the year after formation.
What is the Maine annual report late fee?
$50. A report filed after 1 June costs $135 in total, and continued failure leads to administrative dissolution 60 days after notice.
Does Maine charge franchise tax on LLCs?
No. Maine has no franchise tax or minimum tax on LLCs. Members pay Maine income tax on their share of profit.
How much does it cost to register an assumed name for a Maine LLC?
$125 for a Statement of Intention to do Business under an Assumed Name (Form ASUM-5).
How much does a Maine LLC cost over three years?
At the minimum, $345 in state fees: $175 to form and two $85 annual reports. With a commercial registered agent from year two at $147 a year, the total is $639.
Sources
- Maine Secretary of State, LLC forms and fees
- Maine Revised Statutes, 31 M.R.S. section 1680 (fees)
- Maine Revised Statutes, 31 M.R.S. section 1665 (annual report)
- Maine Revenue Services, 2025 individual income tax rate schedule
- Official Maine source: Expedited filing fee
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the Maine Secretary of State Division of Corporations before you file.
