Step 1 · Form the entity
How to form an LLC in Maine
File a Maine LLC with the Secretary of State. Certificate of Formation (MLLC-6) is $175; keep a Maine registered agent. Annual report $85 due June 1 starting the year after formation.
This page is for a person who lives in Maine, will do the work in Maine, and is choosing between remaining a sole proprietor and filing a domestic Maine LLC. Compare the structures on LLC vs sole proprietorship.
Short version for 2026: file the Certificate of Formation (MLLC-6) through the official Maine Secretary of State corporate filing system, expect $175, use the Maine registered agent, then calendar the annual report ($85) by June 1. Pay what the official portal shows and keep the receipt.
At a glance: Maine LLC fees
- Formation: $175
- Recurring state filing: $85 for a domestic LLC
- Timing: annual report due June 1; first report is due between January 1 and June 1 of the year after formation
DIY or a formation shop. The walkthrough on this page is for Maine Certificate of Formation (MLLC-6). If you would rather pay a shop to handle the filing paperwork, compare these:
| Service | Best for |
|---|---|
| Swyft Filings | Fast online filing with compliance reminders |
| Bizee | Budget-minded formation packages |
| Zenind | Formation bundled with registered agent |
| MyCompanyWorks | Simple, no-frills formation filing |
| MyCorporation | LLC formation plus DBA, EIN and registered agent add-ons |
| CorpNet | Formation packages with a year of registered agent and EIN bundled |
| BizFilings | Established filing service (Wolters Kluwer) |
| doola | Non-US founders forming a US LLC |
| Harbor Compliance | Registered agent and multi-state compliance |
| Business Anywhere | Registered agent + virtual business mailbox |
| ZenBusiness | All-in-one formation packages |
Prices, registered agent renewals, and checkout traps side by side: LLC formation services compared by fit.
Optional branches (not always required to file)
File in Maine if the work is in Maine
A domestic Maine LLC starts with the Certificate of Formation (MLLC-6) filed with the Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC & Commissions. The official filing path is Maine Secretary of State corporate filing system. A company formed somewhere else that transacts business in Maine uses a different foreign-registration process; see Foreign LLC and certificate of authority.
Have a distinguishable LLC name, the principal office information, the Maine registered agent, and the organizer or authorized signature details required by the current state form. The operating agreement is kept with the company records rather than filed with this formation document unless the state says otherwise.
What to have ready
- A distinguishable LLC name with an allowed identifier. Search the state entity database before filing.
- Principal office and mailing information, plus the information the current Certificate of Formation (MLLC-6) form requests.
- Maine registered agent with a Maine address as required by the state filing path.
- Organizer, payment method, and the published formation fee: $175.
File through Maine Secretary of State corporate filing system
Start with the official state page in the Sources section. Select the domestic LLC formation path, enter the entity details, review the current fee total, and save the acceptance. The state’s form and checkout screen control any processor, expedited-review, or other line item not listed here.
DIY or a formation shop. The walkthrough on this page is for Maine Certificate of Formation (MLLC-6). If you would rather pay a shop to handle the filing paperwork, compare these:
| Service | Best for |
|---|---|
| Swyft Filings | Fast online filing with compliance reminders |
| Bizee | Budget-minded formation packages |
| Zenind | Formation bundled with registered agent |
| MyCompanyWorks | Simple, no-frills formation filing |
| MyCorporation | LLC formation plus DBA, EIN and registered agent add-ons |
| CorpNet | Formation packages with a year of registered agent and EIN bundled |
| BizFilings | Established filing service (Wolters Kluwer) |
| doola | Non-US founders forming a US LLC |
| Harbor Compliance | Registered agent and multi-state compliance |
| Business Anywhere | Registered agent + virtual business mailbox |
| ZenBusiness | All-in-one formation packages |
Prices, registered agent renewals, and checkout traps side by side: LLC formation services compared by fit.
After the Certificate of Formation (MLLC-6) is filed
The state filing creates the entity record. It does not replace separate licensing, tax-account, payroll, or local requirements that may apply to the business. After acceptance, obtain the EIN, keep the acceptance with the company records, and use the state’s current instructions for any follow-on filing.
Next: the money path. After the Certificate of Formation (MLLC-6) is accepted:
- Get an EIN — free on IRS.gov after the state entity exists
- Open business checking — park operating cash in the LLC’s name
- First brokerage — only if the work needs one
Full first-30-days desk list: After you form an LLC. Setup overview on the setup checklist. Formation shops, if you want one instead of DIY, stay in the callout above.
Annual report — June 1
Maine requires a domestic LLC annual report every year. The Secretary of State lists the domestic annual report at $85 and the filing deadline as June 1. The first report is due between January 1 and June 1 of the year following the calendar year of formation. A $50 late-filing penalty is assessed in addition to the report fee when the report is late. File through the official Annual Reports Online service.
Keep the registered-agent and principal-office information current. Cross-state renewals: LLC annual report and annual registration.
Maine LLC FAQ
- How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maine?
- The Maine Secretary of State LLC forms page lists the domestic Certificate of Formation (MLLC-6) at $175. Optional name, expedited, certified-copy, or other lines are separate; pay what the current state checkout shows.
- What recurring report does a Maine LLC file?
- Yes. Maine domestic LLCs file an annual report for $85, due by June 1 each year. The first report is due between January 1 and June 1 of the year after formation. The official reminders page says a $50 late penalty is added after the deadline.
- Does a Maine LLC need a registered agent?
- The formation filing requires a Maine registered agent and a Maine address for service of process. Compare DIY and commercial options: Registered agent basics for a new LLC.
- Should I form in Wyoming or Delaware if I live and work in Maine?
- For a one-state operator who lives and works in Maine, home-state filing is the straightforward default. An out-of-state LLC that transacts business in Maine may need a separate foreign registration, registered agent, and recurring filing calendar. See Foreign LLC and certificate of authority.
- Do I get an EIN before or after filing the Maine LLC?
- After the Certificate of Formation (MLLC-6) is accepted. The IRS application is free on IRS.gov. Walkthrough: Get an EIN after the state entity exists.
What this page does not cover
- Professional, series, nonprofit, or specialized LLC filings beyond the standard domestic path.
- Local licenses, sales-tax registration, employer accounts, or industry-specific approvals.
- Foreign qualification beyond the overview linked above.
- Voluntary dissolution or reinstatement; confirm the current state filing path before submitting either.
Sources
- Maine Secretary of State — Limited Liability Company Forms (MLLC-6 Certificate of Formation $175; MLLC-13 domestic annual report $85) — as of 23 September 2026
- Maine Secretary of State — Filing Requirement Reminders (annual report due June 1; first report after formation year; $85 fee; $50 late penalty) — as of 23 September 2026
- Maine Secretary of State — Annual Reports Online — as of 23 September 2026
- IRS — Get an employer identification number (EIN is free; form the state entity first) — as of 23 September 2026