WEBVTT 00:00:00.250 --> 00:00:06.890 The 5 best registered agents in Maine in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest 00:00:06.934 --> 00:00:12.490 Registered Agent, ME Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and 00:00:12.623 --> 00:00:15.130 Maine Registered Agent.co. 00:00:15.130 --> 00:00:18.970 Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast. 00:00:19.157 --> 00:00:21.850 Maine. Anything special up there? 00:00:21.850 --> 00:00:27.130 One thing. The state sorts agents into commercial and noncommercial, and the 00:00:27.174 --> 00:00:30.330 commercial kind is named by a number instead of an address. 00:00:30.442 --> 00:00:32.650 That changes how you read the filing. 00:00:33.614 --> 00:00:36.298 Start with the basics. What does the law call this? 00:00:36.298 --> 00:00:41.018 A registered agent. Maine corporations have a clerk, but a Maine LLC has a 00:00:41.062 --> 00:00:46.457 registered agent, and the Model Registered Agents Act in Title 5 sets the rules. 00:00:46.457 --> 00:00:47.977 So who can be one? 00:00:47.977 --> 00:00:52.138 Either a commercial agent, which is a person or business listed with the Secretary 00:00:52.165 --> 00:00:57.178 of State, or a noncommercial agent, which is anyone else who serves in Maine as an 00:00:57.245 --> 00:00:59.337 agent for service of process. 00:00:59.337 --> 00:01:00.698 What's the difference on paper? 00:01:00.698 --> 00:01:05.178 For a commercial agent you write only its name and its public number from the 00:01:05.231 --> 00:01:09.898 state's list. For a noncommercial agent you write the name, a physical street 00:01:09.938 --> 00:01:12.218 address in Maine, and a mailing address. 00:01:12.218 --> 00:01:14.698 I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan. 00:01:14.698 --> 00:01:17.738 Thanks, Maya. Now the five. 00:01:18.611 --> 00:01:19.411 Number one? 00:01:19.411 --> 00:01:26.131 Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, and it renews at the same $149. 00:01:26.131 --> 00:01:27.411 What does that cover? 00:01:27.411 --> 00:01:31.171 Its Maine address goes on the public record instead of yours. 00:01:31.242 --> 00:01:35.651 Anything served on your company is scanned and uploaded the same business day with 00:01:35.731 --> 00:01:40.691 no fee, and your first three government mailings a year are scanned free. 00:01:40.691 --> 00:01:42.451 Switching from another agent? 00:01:42.451 --> 00:01:44.451 Mainstay files the change for you. 00:01:44.551 --> 00:01:47.570 The $35 state fee passes through at cost. 00:01:48.071 --> 00:01:49.171 The honest catch? 00:01:49.171 --> 00:01:54.691 If all you want is the lowest flat price, two agents below it are $99. 00:01:55.891 --> 00:01:56.931 Second? 00:01:56.931 --> 00:02:00.451 Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. 00:02:00.631 --> 00:02:06.851 The standout is that its page says the price hasn't moved in 20 years, and it scans 00:02:06.878 --> 00:02:10.931 up to 10 pieces of regular business mail a year free. 00:02:10.931 --> 00:02:11.731 And the catch? 00:02:11.731 --> 00:02:18.131 Signing up enrolls you automatically in its annual report filing service, $100 plus 00:02:18.198 --> 00:02:21.131 state fees per filing, until you cancel. 00:02:21.131 --> 00:02:23.731 Maine's report costs $85. 00:02:23.731 --> 00:02:30.691 So the service plus the state fee is $185, more than twice what the 00:02:30.744 --> 00:02:34.291 state charges on its own. Cancel it unless you want it. 00:02:35.028 --> 00:02:36.628 Third? 00:02:36.628 --> 00:02:41.508 ME Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, the same at renewal. 00:02:41.728 --> 00:02:46.468 You get the office address on file, scanned legal mail, and compliance reminders 00:02:46.495 --> 00:02:47.668 ahead of state deadlines. 00:02:47.668 --> 00:02:49.028 Switching? 00:02:49.028 --> 00:02:53.668 Just the $35 state fee. Annual report filing is a separate service. 00:02:53.668 --> 00:02:55.748 Compared with Mainstay? 00:02:55.748 --> 00:03:00.228 $50 a year less. Over three years that's $150. 00:03:02.548 --> 00:03:03.987 Four? 00:03:03.987 --> 00:03:10.868 Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free the first year with any formation package, then $149 00:03:10.948 --> 00:03:12.308 a year. 00:03:12.308 --> 00:03:13.108 Any fine print? 00:03:13.108 --> 00:03:17.668 The free year needs a formation order, and the renewal is automatic. 00:03:17.848 --> 00:03:22.308 Its policy says auto renew fees can't be reversed once charged. 00:03:22.308 --> 00:03:24.789 If I formed my company on my own? 00:03:24.789 --> 00:03:30.868 Then you start at $149. That's $298 for two years. 00:03:31.613 --> 00:03:33.052 And five? 00:03:33.052 --> 00:03:39.453 Maine Registered Agent.co, $99 a year, flat, with no change at renewal. 00:03:39.533 --> 00:03:44.653 It covers the office address, same-day scanning of court papers, and reminders 00:03:44.710 --> 00:03:46.293 before state deadlines. 00:03:46.293 --> 00:03:48.333 How's that different from number three? 00:03:48.333 --> 00:03:54.493 On the listings, it isn't. Same price, same catch, because annual report filing is 00:03:54.533 --> 00:03:55.533 its own service. 00:03:56.724 --> 00:03:59.492 Back to that split. Why does it matter to me? 00:03:59.492 --> 00:04:01.252 Because it decides what's public. 00:04:01.612 --> 00:04:05.652 A noncommercial agent puts a street address on your Certificate of Formation. 00:04:05.972 --> 00:04:10.292 A commercial agent puts a name and a number, and the street address sits on the 00:04:10.359 --> 00:04:11.652 state's list instead. 00:04:11.652 --> 00:04:14.772 Where does the agent go when I form the LLC? 00:04:14.772 --> 00:04:20.532 Item five of the Certificate of Formation, Form MLLC-6. 00:04:20.745 --> 00:04:24.212 It's $175, and it goes in by mail. 00:04:24.212 --> 00:04:26.372 Does the agent have to sign anything? 00:04:26.372 --> 00:04:31.732 No. Naming an agent on your filing is your affirmation that they agreed to serve. 00:04:31.785 --> 00:04:33.892 There's no separate consent form. 00:04:34.041 --> 00:04:36.132 So I could name someone who never said yes? 00:04:36.132 --> 00:04:38.532 You could, and it would be on you. 00:04:38.772 --> 00:04:40.932 Get the yes before you file. 00:04:41.594 --> 00:04:42.954 What is the agent's job? 00:04:42.954 --> 00:04:48.234 A short one. The law says the only duties are to forward anything served on the 00:04:48.301 --> 00:04:53.674 agent to the address you last gave, to give the notices the chapter requires, and to 00:04:53.722 --> 00:04:55.434 keep their own details current. 00:04:55.434 --> 00:04:57.434 What about state mail? 00:04:57.434 --> 00:05:02.794 Maine's forms ask for an email address for annual report reminders, so those don't 00:05:02.847 --> 00:05:08.234 hinge on your agent. But the notice that the state plans to dissolve your LLC goes 00:05:08.261 --> 00:05:08.954 to the agent. 00:05:10.305 --> 00:05:12.394 So a forwarding mistake gets expensive. 00:05:12.394 --> 00:05:17.034 A lawsuit's deadline keeps running whether or not the papers reached you. 00:05:19.034 --> 00:05:20.394 How do I change it later? 00:05:20.394 --> 00:05:27.354 Form CLK/RA-3, the Statement of Appointment or Change of Clerk or Registered Agent. 00:05:27.494 --> 00:05:30.874 For an LLC the fee is $35. 00:05:30.874 --> 00:05:31.914 Who signs? 00:05:31.914 --> 00:05:37.434 Any duly authorized person. The members or managers don't have to approve it first, 00:05:37.474 --> 00:05:39.274 and it takes effect when it's filed. 00:05:39.274 --> 00:05:39.994 Online? 00:05:39.994 --> 00:05:45.034 We found paper only. You mail it to the Secretary of State in Augusta. 00:05:45.034 --> 00:05:46.154 Can I speed it up? 00:05:46.154 --> 00:05:52.314 The cover letter offers next business day for $50 or same day for $100. 00:05:52.314 --> 00:05:54.794 So switching to a service costs what? 00:05:54.794 --> 00:05:59.674 With Mainstay or either $99 agent, the state's $35. 00:05:59.786 --> 00:06:03.434 With paper and mail, start the switch before you need it. 00:06:04.782 --> 00:06:06.302 What if my agent quits? 00:06:06.302 --> 00:06:10.542 The agent files a statement of resignation with the Secretary of State, and it takes 00:06:10.599 --> 00:06:15.422 effect on the 31st day after filing, or sooner if you appoint a new agent. 00:06:15.422 --> 00:06:17.582 Does the agent owe me a heads up? 00:06:17.582 --> 00:06:21.622 Yes, promptly, in writing, with the date they filed. 00:06:21.695 --> 00:06:22.622 Watch for it. 00:06:22.622 --> 00:06:25.182 Does resigning cost them anything? 00:06:25.182 --> 00:06:27.382 A commercial agent pays nothing. 00:06:27.522 --> 00:06:30.302 A noncommercial agent pays $35. 00:06:30.302 --> 00:06:31.822 So I have a month. 00:06:31.822 --> 00:06:38.222 A month to get Form CLK/RA-3 on file, and since it travels by 00:06:38.302 --> 00:06:39.822 mail, it's tight. 00:06:41.033 --> 00:06:44.313 What if papers need to reach a company with no agent? 00:06:44.313 --> 00:06:48.713 The law allows registered or certified mail addressed to the company's governors by 00:06:48.809 --> 00:06:53.513 name at its principal office. Those names and that address can be the ones in your 00:06:53.561 --> 00:06:55.033 most recent annual report. 00:06:55.033 --> 00:06:56.792 And after that? 00:06:56.792 --> 00:07:01.233 Handing a copy to the manager or whoever's in charge of a regular place of business. 00:07:01.233 --> 00:07:02.873 What does the state do? 00:07:02.873 --> 00:07:07.433 Having no registered agent is a ground for administrative dissolution. 00:07:07.533 --> 00:07:11.352 The state sends notice, and you have 60 days to fix it. 00:07:12.073 --> 00:07:15.593 So the annual report address matters more than people think. 00:07:15.593 --> 00:07:17.833 It does. Keep it current. 00:07:19.134 --> 00:07:21.054 What does Maine ask for every year? 00:07:21.054 --> 00:07:28.014 An annual report, $85, filed between January 1 and June 1, starting the year 00:07:28.094 --> 00:07:29.134 after you form. 00:07:29.134 --> 00:07:31.054 What if I miss June 1? 00:07:31.054 --> 00:07:33.294 There's a $50 late penalty. 00:07:33.294 --> 00:07:35.854 What does the year cost with an agent? 00:07:35.854 --> 00:07:42.094 With Mainstay, $149 plus $85 is $234. 00:07:42.190 --> 00:07:45.854 With a $99 agent, $184. 00:07:45.854 --> 00:07:48.574 And with Northwest's report service? 00:07:48.574 --> 00:07:55.454 $125 plus $185 is $310. Only if you want the 00:07:55.502 --> 00:07:56.334 hand off. 00:07:57.109 --> 00:07:58.789 Can I be my own agent in Maine? 00:07:58.789 --> 00:08:02.949 As a noncommercial agent, yes, if you have a Maine street address. 00:08:03.056 --> 00:08:04.230 It costs nothing. 00:08:04.230 --> 00:08:05.190 What's the tradeoff? 00:08:05.190 --> 00:08:10.230 Your name and that address are on a public record, and that's where a process server 00:08:10.270 --> 00:08:14.870 comes looking. If you're out on a job or away for the season, nobody takes the 00:08:14.950 --> 00:08:15.910 papers. 00:08:15.910 --> 00:08:18.230 Do I have to live there or be a certain age? 00:08:18.230 --> 00:08:21.910 Maine's law sets neither rule for a noncommercial agent. 00:08:22.030 --> 00:08:24.550 The street address in the state does the work. 00:08:25.870 --> 00:08:28.030 How would a Portland or Bangor owner decide? 00:08:28.030 --> 00:08:33.550 Three things. Does the price hold after year one, is there a real Maine address on 00:08:33.646 --> 00:08:36.350 file, and who files the paper change. 00:08:36.350 --> 00:08:37.870 And your answer? 00:08:37.870 --> 00:08:42.830 Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Maine, at $149 a year. 00:08:44.167 --> 00:08:45.367 All five, once more? 00:08:45.367 --> 00:08:50.567 One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal. 00:08:50.707 --> 00:08:56.807 Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. 00:08:56.914 --> 00:09:01.687 Three, ME Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. 00:09:01.975 --> 00:09:08.887 Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:15.087 Five, Maine Registered Agent.co: $99 flat. 00:09:15.087 --> 00:09:16.887 The links are in the show notes. 00:09:17.058 --> 00:09:20.647 Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.