Starting an LLC in Maine: what you should know first

Filing a Maine LLC costs $175. The Annual Report costs $85 a year. Our pick is Mainstay Filing; $942 covers three years.

By kind of owner

Side hustle: Quiet-year cost: $284 in year 2 with Mainstay Filing, including the $85 state report in that year.
Online business: Required registered agent. 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.
Startup: Filing: Certificate of Formation (MLLC-6) with the Maine Secretary of State. Write the operating agreement before you open the bank account.
First-time owner: Report due: June 1.

Best LLC formation service in Maine for a first-time owner?

Mainstay Filing: $374 in year 1 including the $175 filing fee, $284 in year 2.

31 M.R.S. sec. 1531 (certificate of formation); filing fee set by 31 M.R.S. sec. 1680 (multira state research spine): legislature.maine.gov/statutes/31/title31sec1531.html, checked August 12, 2026
Maine formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: legislature.maine.gov/statutes/31/title31sec1680.html, checked October 1, 2026
Maine Secretary of State (multira state research spine): www.maine.gov/sos/corporations-commissions/filing-an-annual-report, checked August 12, 2026
Maine Secretary of State (multira state research spine): www.maine.gov/sos/corporations-commissions/i-need-a-business-form/limited-liability-company-forms, checked August 12, 2026
Maine report due date (multira state research spine, due dates verified 714/714): www.maine.gov/sos/cec/corp/annualreport.html, checked August 12, 2026
Maine registered agent statute (5 M.R.S. § 105): legislature.maine.gov/statutes/5/title5sec102.html, checked October 20, 2026