[0:00] The short answer Dan: The 5 best registered agents in Maryland in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest Registered Agent, MD Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and Maryland Registered Agent.co. Maya: Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast. Maryland. What should a listener watch for? Dan: Two numbers. The state calls the role a resident agent and charges $25 to change it, but filing online adds $50. And the yearly report is $300, which makes the agent's price look small. [0:37] What Maryland requires Maya: What does the law say? Dan: Every Maryland LLC must have a principal office in the state and a resident agent. That's section 4A-210 of the Corporations and Associations article. Maya: Who counts as a resident agent? Dan: An individual who lives in Maryland, or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership on file with the state. A foreign entity isn't in the definition. Maya: Is there an age rule? Dan: Not in the statute. The state's form just says a citizen of Maryland who resides there, or an active Maryland corporation. Maya: What about the address? Dan: A complete physical address in Maryland. The Articles instructions say plainly that P.O. boxes cannot be accepted. Maya: I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan. Dan: Thanks, Maya. Now the five. [1:27] Mainstay Filing Maya: Number one? Dan: Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, the same $149 when you renew. Maya: What's in it? Dan: Its Maryland address on the public record instead of yours. Served papers are scanned and uploaded the same business day at no fee, and the first three government mailings a year are scanned free. Maya: And if I already have an agent? Dan: Mainstay files the change. The $25 base state fee passes through at cost. Maya: The honest catch? Dan: It isn't the lowest flat price. Two agents further down are $99. [2:03] Northwest Registered Agent Maya: Second? Dan: Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. Its page says the price hasn't gone up in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of business mail a year are scanned free. Maya: The catch? Dan: It enrolls you automatically in an annual report service, $100 plus state fees per filing, until you cancel. Maya: Maryland's report is $300. Dan: So that's $400 for a filing you could do yourself. Cancel it unless you want the hand off. [2:32] MD Registered Agent.org Maya: Third? Dan: MD Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, same at renewal. A physical Maryland address, same-day scanning of lawsuits and legal mail, and compliance reminders. Maya: Switching? Dan: The $25 base state fee plus any expedite. Filing the annual report is a separate service. Maya: Compared with Mainstay? Dan: $50 less each year, $150 over three. [3:01] Bizee Maya: Four? Dan: Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free the first year with a formation package, then $149 a year. Maya: Fine print? Dan: The free year needs a formation order, and it renews on its own at $149. Maya: If I formed my company some other way? Dan: You start at $149, so two years is $298. [3:25] Maryland Registered Agent.co Maya: And five? Dan: Maryland Registered Agent.co, a flat $99. A physical Maryland address, scanned court documents and reminders for compliance dates. Maya: Is it different from number three? Dan: On the listings, no. Same price, same catch: annual report filing is its own service. [3:46] Naming the agent at formation Maya: Where does the agent go when I form the LLC? Dan: In the Articles of Organization, in the items for the agent's name and Maryland address. Maya: Does the agent sign? Dan: The Articles carry a consent line: "I consent to serve as Resident Agent for this LLC." Maya: What does the filing cost? Dan: $100 as the base, with $50 more to expedite. Maya: Why would anyone expedite? Dan: Speed. The department's fee schedule lists expedited and rush options, and the rush fee is $325. [4:23] Changing the agent Maya: How do I change it later? Dan: A form called the Resolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent. It has no form number. The fee is $25. Maya: Who signs? Dan: An authorized person for the company, and the new resident agent has to sign as well, consenting to the designation. Maya: Online or paper? Dan: Both. Online filings are considered expedited, which adds $50, and card or PayPal payments carry a 3% fee. Maya: And paper? Dan: Mail it to the department in Baltimore. The department says non-expedited paper filings are reviewed within eight weeks. Maya: Eight weeks? Dan: When we checked, online resolutions were being reviewed after about two weeks. The change takes effect when the department accepts it for record. Maya: So a change of agent costs? Dan: $25 on paper, or $75 online with the expedite, before the card fee. [5:20] If the agent resigns Maya: What if the agent quits? Dan: The agent files a signed resignation with the department, and it costs them nothing. Maya: When does it take effect? Dan: The moment it's filed, if you've already named a successor. If not, 10 days after filing. Maya: Is the agent required to tell me? Dan: The statute doesn't spell out a notice to the company. So don't count on a warning. Maya: That's thin. Dan: Which is why you name a replacement before the old one leaves. [5:46] When there's no agent Maya: What happens if papers need to reach a company with no agent? Dan: Under Maryland Rule 2-124, the plaintiff serves two copies on the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. Maya: In which cases? Dan: If the company has no resident agent, if the agent is dead or no longer at the address on file, or if two good faith attempts on separate days to serve the agent have failed. Maya: Then what? Dan: The department forwards a copy to the company's mailing address, if known, or its principal place of business. Maya: Does having no agent cost the company its standing? Dan: The forfeiture rules in 4A-911 are about unfiled annual reports and unpaid taxes, not a missing agent. [6:30] The annual report Maya: What does Maryland want every year? Dan: An annual report, Form 1, filed with the business personal property return. It's due April 15, and for an LLC the fee is $300. Maya: What if I skip it? Dan: Companies that haven't filed the prior year's report are listed after September 30 and lose the right to do business in Maryland and the right to the use of the name. Maya: So that's the number that matters. Dan: It is. With Mainstay, $149 plus $300 is $449. With a $99 agent, $399. Maya: Does the state send a reminder? Dan: We couldn't find where reminders come from, so put April 15 on the calendar. [7:13] Doing it yourself Maya: Can I be my own agent in Maryland? Dan: If you're an individual living in Maryland, with a physical address there, yes. Maya: What's the downside? Dan: Your name and home address are on the public record, and a process server knows where to find you. Maya: And if I move? Dan: Then the record is stale. Service can go to the department instead, and it forwards to the last known address. [7:38] Picking one Maya: How would a Baltimore or Rockville owner decide? Dan: Three questions. Does the price hold, is there a real Maryland street address, and who files the Resolution when you change. Maya: And your answer? Dan: Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Maryland, at $149 a year. [7:58] The five in a row Maya: All five, once more? Dan: One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal. Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. Three, MD Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. Five, Maryland Registered Agent.co: $99 flat. Maya: The links are in the show notes. Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.