If you’re set on opening a business in Maryland but you’re undecided on what registered agent service to hire, our article on the best Maryland registered agent services will be of immense help. We have compiled a list of our top eleven recommendations and we offer a detailed overview of each service.
If you’re short on time, check out our summary table below which includes our top three picks.
Best Maryland Registered Agent Services: 2024 Reviews
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Office Locations |
|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Oakland |
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| Registered Agent Net | $89 a year | Not stated |
| Maryland Registered Agent | $49 a year | Oakland |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Oakland |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Baltimore |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Lutherville |
| Registered Agents Inc. | $200 a year | Not stated |
| Resident Agent LLC | $75 a year | Not stated |
On top of giving individual recommendations, our article also contains a section where we go over the necessary steps of registering a business in Maryland, as well as an FAQ section.
Before we delve into our recommendations, let’s define the role of a registered agent.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent is an individual or a company that is responsible for receiving and handling all your documents and legal correspondence. Upon receiving said correspondence, they forward it to you in a timely manner.
Does Maryland Require a Registered Agent Service?
Yes, in the state of Maryland, all businesses are required by law to designate a registered agent while they’re forming their business. With that said, there are no restrictions in terms of who can be a registered agent, you can even appoint yourself as your own registered agent.
Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent Service
Wondering what benefits you can experience if you hire a registered agent? Here is what you can expect:
- Added privacy – you won’t have to share your home address with the public.
- You will be able to easily expand your business in multiple states.
- Your business image will remain pristine.
- You’ll always remain compliant.
- You can travel guilt-free and have more flexible business hours.
- You won’t be put in awkward situations with clients.
1. Northwest
One of our top recommendations for a Maryland registered agent is Northwest. Costing only $125 a year, their registered agent services include the following:
- Online document storage
- Pre-filled state forms
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report reminders
- Document scanning
- Compliance alerts
One of Northwest’s strong suits is their customer support team, also known as Corporate Guides. The team is always ready to help you with any issue you might have and their response time is incredible.
Moreover, during the first year of using their registered agent services, you’ll have access to a free compliance calendar that will remind you of all important due dates.
We also love their transparent pricing – you will never have to worry about encountering any hidden fees or auto-renewals.
Thanks to their Privacy by Default practice, your data and personal information will remain private.
If you hire Northwest as your registered agent for more than four states, you can get a reduced fee and their services will cost you only $100 a year.
Their Maryland office is located in Oakland, Garrett County.
Apart from offering registered agent services, you can also hire Northwest for:
- Payment processing
- Virtual office
- Mail forwarding
- Trademarking
- Annual report filings
- Foreign qualification
- Phone service
2. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is one of the top-rated registered agent services in the United States, rated #1 on Forbes and Investopedia. They will help you remain compliant by giving you access to tools such as:
- Document scanning
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Email notifications
- Fast turnaround service
A year of registered agent services with ZenBusiness will cost you $199. If you want, you can upgrade the service to unlock features such as two free filing changes a year and annual support alerts.
Another reason to support ZenBusiness is their dedication to giving back to the community – thanks to their $5K Grant Program, many struggling entrepreneurs get the financial support to start and grow their business.
In addition to offering registered agent services, ZenBusiness also offer:
- Worry-free compliance
- EIN Number
- Banking and finances
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Operating agreement
- Annual reports
- Taxes and accounting
- Business license reports
3. IncFile
Combining affordability with excellent service, IncFile gives you access to a myriad of features, such as:
- Access to a personal dashboard
- Automatic mail forwarding
- Tailored email and text notifications
With over 800,000 happy customers and thousands of positive reviews online, you can rest assured knowing you’ve hired a reliable and professional registered agent service.
One of the best parts about IncFile is that they provide a free year of registered agent services to customers who use their formation service. Otherwise, a year of registered agent services with IncFile will cost you $119 a year.
Apart from offering registered agent and formation services, IncFile also provide:
- Foreign qualification
- EIN Number
- Tax consultations
- Amendment
- Business licenses and permits
- Certificate of good standing
- Virtual address
4. Registered Agent Net
Looking for a Maryland registered agent service that will cost you less than $100? If that is the case, we highly recommend checking out Registered Agent Net. For only $89 a year, you can enjoy the following benefits:
- Price guarantee
- Same-day document delivery
- Access to their Compliance Calendar
- Access to their Compliance Entity Manager
Thanks to the compliance tools mentioned above, you will always be up-to-date with any upcoming deadlines and get reminders about your annual renewal filings. Plus, you’ll receive email notifications ahead of any important due dates.
Here are the other services that Registered Agent Net offer:
- Annual report services
- Corporate filings
- Registered agent change
- Maryland Registered Agent
5. Maryland Registered Agent
Maryland Registered Agent is another excellent option for anyone looking to hire an affordable registered agent service. Their annual fee is only $49 a year, and in return, you will get the following tools for your business:
- Annual report reminders
- Email notifications
- Online document storage
- Access to pre-filled state forms
Their pricing is both affordable and transparent – you’ll never get any sneaky auto-renewals or hidden fees.
Their Maryland office can be found in Oakland.
Apart from offering registered agent services, you can also hire Maryland Registered Agent for:
- Incorporation
- LLC formation
- Filing services
6. Harbor Compliance
Another affordable registered agent service that will seamlessly help your business stay compliant is Harbor Compliance. For only $99 a month, you can get access to:
- Annual report reminders
- Pre-filled state forms
- Same-day electronic delivery of all your documents
You can get an additional 10% discount if you use their multi-year deal.
They are also known for their fast processing speed, ensuring that you receive your important documents in due time so you never miss a deadline.
Harbor Compliance’s Maryland office is located in Oakland.
On top of offering registered agent services, you can hire Harbor Compliance for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Registration
- Business licensing
- Amendments
7. CSC Global
If you have a larger business and a higher budget to work with, then you’d benefit from hiring a registered agent service like CSC Global. Their benefits include:
- Same-day document scans
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
- Annual compliance reminders
- Electronic delivery of all your documents
Since it’s a nationwide registered agent service, you can easily expand your business across multiple states without having to change registered agents.
In addition, your data will remain protected at all times, thanks to their SOC-2 facilities that ensure a high level of data security.
Their Maryland office is located in Baltimore.
On top of providing registered agent services, CSC Global also provide:
- UCC
- Entity management
- Legal management
- Real estate and erecording
- Digital brand services
- Corporate filings
8. LegalZoom
Another great option for larger businesses is LegalZoom. Their registered agent package comes with a plethora of perks, such as:
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Mail alerts
- Annual report reminders
In addition, customers receive $1M in identity theft protection, so your business will remain protected throughout the year.
Another amazing benefit that comes with hiring LegalZoom is their offer to change your current registered agent and cover any fees in the process.
Their registered agent services are slightly more expensive ($299 annually), but the access to a myriad of expert legal services makes it a worthwhile investment for larger businesses.
Other services include:
- Copyright
- Trademarking
- Incorporation
- Taxation
- Power of attorney
- Annual reports
- Residential lease
- Business registration
- Foreign qualification
- EIN Number
- Business formation
9. InCorp
InCorp is an outstanding option for a Maryland registered agent, one that provides both affordability and expert services. Their registered agent service boasts:
- Annual report filings
- Access to their Entity Management System
- Mail forwarding
- Legal notifications
With the help of their EntityWatch technology, you can get up-to-date information about filings and officers. Plus, it includes identity theft prevention, which is always a plus.
Their annual fee is $129, but you can pay as low as $87 if you use their multi-year service.
Their Maryland office can be found in Lutherville.
In addition to registered agent services, you can also get the following services:
- Apostille service
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- DBA Filing
- UCC search
- Articles of amendment
- Trademarking and copyright
- Foreign qualification
- EIN Number
10. Registered Agent Inc.
While it’s slightly on the expensive side ($200 a year), Registered Agent Inc. is a nationwide registered agent service that comes with many appealing benefits, such as:
- Digital notifications
- Access to their Corporate Accounts Portal
- Professional filer tips
- Compliance reminders
Another thing customers really appreciate is the intuitive design of their website and how user-friendly it is.
Registered Agent Inc. also offer the following services:
- BOC-3 Process Agent Service
- Start-up formation
- Incorporation services
11. Resident Agent LLC
Last but not least, Resident Agent LLC is an affordable A+ rated registered agent service that gives you the following compliance tools:
- Annual reports
- Pre-filled state forms
- Compliance reminders
- Access to an online account
- Immediate notifications
Their registered agent service will cost you only $75 annually. They offer satisfaction guarantee and their pricing remains transparent, without any hidden fees or contracts.
Additionally, since they are a nationwide registered agent service, you can expand your business without having to change registered agents.
How Do I Register a Business in Maryland?
Here are all the steps required to register a business in Maryland.
Find a Name for Your Maryland Business
Your business name represents the values of your business and the services it offers, so it’s crucial that you pick the right name.
There are several requirements when it comes to naming your Maryland business. For starters, you need to pick a name that’s unique and not taken by any other business. To do this, you can do a Maryland business entity search to ensure that the name is available.
In addition, your business name has to contain a word that describes what kind of business entity it is. In the case of LLCs, you can use “LLC”, “L.L.C”, or “Limited Liability Company”, whereas corporations must contain the word “corporation”, “incorporated”, “Inc.”, or other abbreviations.
Choose Your Business Entity
Choosing the right business entity is also among the first steps you need to take to register a business in Maryland. There are several factors you need to take into consideration to ensure you’re making the right choice, such as the budget required to form the entity, the yearly obligations with the state, and whether the entity provides limited liability for its owners.
In Maryland, the most common business entities are:
- Sole proprietorship
- Partnership
- LLC
- Corporation
If limited liability is a priority, we recommend opting for an LLC or a corporation. These entities protect their owners’ assets, which is incredibly important for many entrepreneurs. With that said, if you don’t have the budget to form a bigger business entity at the start, choosing a sole proprietorship or a partnership is a good option.
File Articles of Organization
If the perks of forming an LLC appealed to you and you chose this business structure, then you’ll need to file articles of organization with the state of Maryland for your business to be officially registered.
You can either file the articles online or send them via mail. You’ll need to insert information about the business, such as its location, address, and purpose, information about the owner(s), and information about the registered agent. At this point, you’ll already need to have chosen a registered agent service.
The filing fee for articles of organization in Maryland is $100.
File Articles of Incorporation
Similarly to articles of organization, articles of incorporation is a set of documents required for your corporation to be officially registered. The documents contain basic information about the business, as well as information about the shares, officers, and directors.
The filing fee for articles of incorporation is $120.
Get an EIN
Getting an EIN (Employee Identification Number) is mandatory for any business that hires employees, as well as businesses that are taxed separately from their owners.
The main purpose of getting an EIN is for tax reporting. The application for an EIN is conducted online, on the Internal Revenue Service website, and is entirely free of charge. Once your application is approved, you will receive your new EIN.
Even if getting an EIN isn’t a requirement for your business, getting one may help in the many steps of the registration process, such as opening a business bank account.
Apply for Licenses and Permits
Last but not least, to ensure that you’re operating your business legally, you’ll need to get all the required licenses and permits.
Most businesses require a general business license. If you’re selling goods, you’ll need to get a trader’s license.
Certain industries require business owners to obtain special licenses. For instance, businesses that produce or distribute alcohol will need a federal business license. Additionally, owners of restaurants will need a food license.
Just like performing a business name search, you have the option of doing a business license search, which will give you all the information you need depending on the type of business you’re opening and your specific industry. You can complete a business license search on Maryland’s OneStop Portal.
While most licenses will be provided through state agencies, keep in mind that some licenses vary depending on the location of your business, so check with your city/county to ensure that you have all the required licenses.
FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Maryland?
The filing fee for registering an LLC in Maryland is $100, whereas the filing fee for corporations is $120.
Where Can I Do a Maryland Business Entity Search?
You can do a Maryland business entity search on the Government of Maryland website.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Maryland?
Yes, the state of Maryland allows you to be your own registered agent.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed reading our picks for the best Maryland registered agent services!
Our top three recommendations are Northwest, ZenBusiness, and IncFile. These services come with many useful tools that will help you stay compliant with the law, such as providing access to state forms, an online dashboard, mail forwarding, and compliance reminders.
If you don’t have a big budget to spend on a registered agent service, check out Registered Agent Net, Maryland Registered Agent, or Resident Agent LLC, all of which will cost you less than $100 annually.