WEBVTT

00:00:00.152 --> 00:00:06.312
<v Dan>The 5 best registered agents in Maryland in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest

00:00:06.356 --> 00:00:11.912
<v Dan>Registered Agent, MD Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and

00:00:11.992 --> 00:00:14.472
<v Dan>Maryland Registered Agent.co.

00:00:14.472 --> 00:00:16.712
<v Maya>Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast.

00:00:16.881 --> 00:00:19.992
<v Maya>Maryland. What should a listener watch for?

00:00:19.992 --> 00:00:26.712
<v Dan>Two numbers. The state calls the role a resident agent and charges $25 to

00:00:26.769 --> 00:00:30.072
<v Dan>change it, but filing online adds $50.

00:00:30.272 --> 00:00:35.832
<v Dan>And the yearly report is $300, which makes the agent's price look small.

00:00:37.506 --> 00:00:38.610
<v Maya>What does the law say?

00:00:38.610 --> 00:00:43.890
<v Dan>Every Maryland LLC must have a principal office in the state and a resident agent.

00:00:44.018 --> 00:00:49.370
<v Dan>That's section 4A-210 of the Corporations and Associations article.

00:00:49.370 --> 00:00:51.570
<v Maya>Who counts as a resident agent?

00:00:51.570 --> 00:00:57.170
<v Dan>An individual who lives in Maryland, or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited

00:00:57.223 --> 00:00:59.250
<v Dan>partnership on file with the state.

00:00:59.570 --> 00:01:02.050
<v Dan>A foreign entity isn't in the definition.

00:01:02.050 --> 00:01:03.730
<v Maya>Is there an age rule?

00:01:03.730 --> 00:01:09.170
<v Dan>Not in the statute. The state's form just says a citizen of Maryland who resides

00:01:09.210 --> 00:01:12.010
<v Dan>there, or an active Maryland corporation.

00:01:12.010 --> 00:01:13.970
<v Maya>What about the address?

00:01:13.970 --> 00:01:16.530
<v Dan>A complete physical address in Maryland.

00:01:16.630 --> 00:01:19.970
<v Dan>The Articles instructions say plainly that P.O.

00:01:20.023 --> 00:01:21.570
<v Dan>boxes cannot be accepted.

00:01:21.570 --> 00:01:23.970
<v Maya>I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan.

00:01:23.970 --> 00:01:26.610
<v Dan>Thanks, Maya. Now the five.

00:01:27.817 --> 00:01:28.537
<v Maya>Number one?

00:01:28.537 --> 00:01:34.457
<v Dan>Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, the same $149 when you renew.

00:01:34.457 --> 00:01:35.017
<v Maya>What's in it?

00:01:35.017 --> 00:01:38.617
<v Dan>Its Maryland address on the public record instead of yours.

00:01:38.857 --> 00:01:43.897
<v Dan>Served papers are scanned and uploaded the same business day at no fee, and the

00:01:43.964 --> 00:01:47.177
<v Dan>first three government mailings a year are scanned free.

00:01:47.177 --> 00:01:49.177
<v Maya>And if I already have an agent?

00:01:49.177 --> 00:01:55.096
<v Dan>Mainstay files the change. The $25 base state fee passes through at cost.

00:01:55.597 --> 00:01:57.337
<v Maya>The honest catch?

00:01:57.337 --> 00:01:59.297
<v Dan>It isn't the lowest flat price.

00:01:59.347 --> 00:02:01.897
<v Dan>Two agents further down are $99.

00:02:03.657 --> 00:02:04.697
<v Maya>Second?

00:02:04.697 --> 00:02:07.897
<v Dan>Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year.

00:02:08.017 --> 00:02:12.537
<v Dan>Its page says the price hasn't gone up in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of business

00:02:12.585 --> 00:02:14.217
<v Dan>mail a year are scanned free.

00:02:14.217 --> 00:02:15.337
<v Maya>The catch?

00:02:15.337 --> 00:02:21.017
<v Dan>It enrolls you automatically in an annual report service, $100 plus state fees per

00:02:21.097 --> 00:02:22.857
<v Dan>filing, until you cancel.

00:02:22.857 --> 00:02:25.737
<v Maya>Maryland's report is $300.

00:02:25.737 --> 00:02:29.337
<v Dan>So that's $400 for a filing you could do yourself.

00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:32.217
<v Dan>Cancel it unless you want the hand off.

00:02:32.957 --> 00:02:34.557
<v Maya>Third?

00:02:34.557 --> 00:02:39.357
<v Dan>MD Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, same at renewal.

00:02:39.637 --> 00:02:44.797
<v Dan>A physical Maryland address, same-day scanning of lawsuits and legal mail, and

00:02:44.848 --> 00:02:46.077
<v Dan>compliance reminders.

00:02:46.077 --> 00:02:48.077
<v Maya>Switching?

00:02:48.077 --> 00:02:51.837
<v Dan>The $25 base state fee plus any expedite.

00:02:51.917 --> 00:02:54.557
<v Dan>Filing the annual report is a separate service.

00:02:54.557 --> 00:02:56.477
<v Maya>Compared with Mainstay?

00:02:56.477 --> 00:03:00.477
<v Dan>$50 less each year, $150 over three.

00:03:02.237 --> 00:03:03.676
<v Maya>Four?

00:03:03.676 --> 00:03:10.317
<v Dan>Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free the first year with a formation package, then $149 a

00:03:10.365 --> 00:03:11.197
<v Dan>year.

00:03:11.197 --> 00:03:11.917
<v Maya>Fine print?

00:03:11.917 --> 00:03:17.437
<v Dan>The free year needs a formation order, and it renews on its own at $149.

00:03:17.437 --> 00:03:19.678
<v Maya>If I formed my company some other way?

00:03:19.678 --> 00:03:25.437
<v Dan>You start at $149, so two years is $298.

00:03:26.180 --> 00:03:26.980
<v Maya>And five?

00:03:26.980 --> 00:03:31.620
<v Dan>Maryland Registered Agent.co, a flat $99.

00:03:31.660 --> 00:03:36.020
<v Dan>A physical Maryland address, scanned court documents and reminders for compliance

00:03:36.087 --> 00:03:36.500
<v Dan>dates.

00:03:36.500 --> 00:03:38.820
<v Maya>Is it different from number three?

00:03:38.820 --> 00:03:45.060
<v Dan>On the listings, no. Same price, same catch: annual report filing is its own

00:03:45.130 --> 00:03:45.700
<v Dan>service.

00:03:46.468 --> 00:03:48.947
<v Maya>Where does the agent go when I form the LLC?

00:03:48.947 --> 00:03:53.588
<v Dan>In the Articles of Organization, in the items for the agent's name and Maryland

00:03:53.648 --> 00:03:54.148
<v Dan>address.

00:03:54.148 --> 00:03:56.068
<v Maya>Does the agent sign?

00:03:56.068 --> 00:04:01.428
<v Dan>The Articles carry a consent line: "I consent to serve as Resident Agent for this

00:04:01.588 --> 00:04:02.148
<v Dan>LLC."

00:04:02.148 --> 00:04:04.788
<v Maya>What does the filing cost?

00:04:04.788 --> 00:04:09.668
<v Dan>$100 as the base, with $50 more to expedite.

00:04:10.758 --> 00:04:13.187
<v Maya>Why would anyone expedite?

00:04:13.187 --> 00:04:18.708
<v Dan>Speed. The department's fee schedule lists expedited and rush options, and the rush

00:04:18.808 --> 00:04:21.108
<v Dan>fee is $325.

00:04:23.617 --> 00:04:25.217
<v Maya>How do I change it later?

00:04:25.217 --> 00:04:30.257
<v Dan>A form called the Resolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent.

00:04:30.390 --> 00:04:33.617
<v Dan>It has no form number. The fee is $25.

00:04:33.617 --> 00:04:34.897
<v Maya>Who signs?

00:04:34.897 --> 00:04:39.617
<v Dan>An authorized person for the company, and the new resident agent has to sign as

00:04:39.681 --> 00:04:41.537
<v Dan>well, consenting to the designation.

00:04:41.537 --> 00:04:43.217
<v Maya>Online or paper?

00:04:43.217 --> 00:04:50.177
<v Dan>Both. Online filings are considered expedited, which adds $50, and card or PayPal

00:04:50.230 --> 00:04:52.177
<v Dan>payments carry a 3% fee.

00:04:52.177 --> 00:04:52.977
<v Maya>And paper?

00:04:52.977 --> 00:04:55.217
<v Dan>Mail it to the department in Baltimore.

00:04:55.377 --> 00:05:00.497
<v Dan>The department says non-expedited paper filings are reviewed within eight weeks.

00:05:01.004 --> 00:05:02.337
<v Maya>Eight weeks?

00:05:02.337 --> 00:05:06.577
<v Dan>When we checked, online resolutions were being reviewed after about two weeks.

00:05:06.717 --> 00:05:10.297
<v Dan>The change takes effect when the department accepts it for record.

00:05:10.297 --> 00:05:12.897
<v Maya>So a change of agent costs?

00:05:12.897 --> 00:05:19.137
<v Dan>$25 on paper, or $75 online with the expedite, before the card fee.

00:05:20.482 --> 00:05:22.002
<v Maya>What if the agent quits?

00:05:22.002 --> 00:05:26.482
<v Dan>The agent files a signed resignation with the department, and it costs them nothing.

00:05:26.482 --> 00:05:28.162
<v Maya>When does it take effect?

00:05:28.162 --> 00:05:31.722
<v Dan>The moment it's filed, if you've already named a successor.

00:05:31.815 --> 00:05:34.082
<v Dan>If not, 10 days after filing.

00:05:34.082 --> 00:05:36.082
<v Maya>Is the agent required to tell me?

00:05:36.082 --> 00:05:39.242
<v Dan>The statute doesn't spell out a notice to the company.

00:05:39.309 --> 00:05:40.882
<v Dan>So don't count on a warning.

00:05:41.794 --> 00:05:43.201
<v Maya>That's thin.

00:05:43.201 --> 00:05:46.642
<v Dan>Which is why you name a replacement before the old one leaves.

00:05:47.400 --> 00:05:50.360
<v Maya>What happens if papers need to reach a company with no agent?

00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:55.720
<v Dan>Under Maryland Rule 2-124, the plaintiff serves two copies on the State Department

00:05:55.747 --> 00:05:57.400
<v Dan>of Assessments and Taxation.

00:05:57.400 --> 00:05:58.760
<v Maya>In which cases?

00:05:58.760 --> 00:06:03.240
<v Dan>If the company has no resident agent, if the agent is dead or no longer at the

00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:08.760
<v Dan>address on file, or if two good faith attempts on separate days to serve the agent

00:06:08.824 --> 00:06:09.840
<v Dan>have failed.

00:06:09.840 --> 00:06:11.399
<v Maya>Then what?

00:06:11.399 --> 00:06:15.800
<v Dan>The department forwards a copy to the company's mailing address, if known, or its

00:06:15.840 --> 00:06:17.160
<v Dan>principal place of business.

00:06:17.160 --> 00:06:20.520
<v Maya>Does having no agent cost the company its standing?

00:06:20.520 --> 00:06:26.920
<v Dan>The forfeiture rules in 4A-911 are about unfiled annual reports and unpaid

00:06:27.013 --> 00:06:29.160
<v Dan>taxes, not a missing agent.

00:06:31.332 --> 00:06:33.332
<v Maya>What does Maryland want every year?

00:06:33.332 --> 00:06:38.532
<v Dan>An annual report, Form 1, filed with the business personal property return.

00:06:38.612 --> 00:06:42.772
<v Dan>It's due April 15, and for an LLC the fee is $300.

00:06:42.772 --> 00:06:44.292
<v Maya>What if I skip it?

00:06:44.292 --> 00:06:48.692
<v Dan>Companies that haven't filed the prior year's report are listed after September 30

00:06:48.752 --> 00:06:52.691
<v Dan>and lose the right to do business in Maryland and the right to the use of the name.

00:06:53.145 --> 00:06:55.334
<v Maya>So that's the number that matters.

00:06:55.334 --> 00:07:00.933
<v Dan>It is. With Mainstay, $149 plus $300 is

00:07:00.965 --> 00:07:06.373
<v Dan>$449. With a $99 agent, $399.

00:07:06.373 --> 00:07:08.373
<v Maya>Does the state send a reminder?

00:07:08.373 --> 00:07:13.493
<v Dan>We couldn't find where reminders come from, so put April 15 on the calendar.

00:07:14.219 --> 00:07:16.299
<v Maya>Can I be my own agent in Maryland?

00:07:16.299 --> 00:07:20.619
<v Dan>If you're an individual living in Maryland, with a physical address there, yes.

00:07:20.619 --> 00:07:22.619
<v Maya>What's the downside?

00:07:22.619 --> 00:07:26.619
<v Dan>Your name and home address are on the public record, and a process server knows

00:07:26.646 --> 00:07:27.419
<v Dan>where to find you.

00:07:27.419 --> 00:07:30.139
<v Maya>And if I move?

00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:34.699
<v Dan>Then the record is stale. Service can go to the department instead, and it forwards

00:07:34.752 --> 00:07:36.059
<v Dan>to the last known address.

00:07:38.580 --> 00:07:40.820
<v Maya>How would a Baltimore or Rockville owner decide?

00:07:40.820 --> 00:07:46.900
<v Dan>Three questions. Does the price hold, is there a real Maryland street address, and

00:07:46.940 --> 00:07:49.700
<v Dan>who files the Resolution when you change.

00:07:49.700 --> 00:07:51.699
<v Maya>And your answer?

00:07:51.699 --> 00:07:56.820
<v Dan>Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Maryland, at $149 a year.

00:07:58.463 --> 00:07:59.662
<v Maya>All five, once more?

00:07:59.662 --> 00:08:04.543
<v Dan>One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal.

00:08:04.803 --> 00:08:10.943
<v Dan>Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel.

00:08:11.036 --> 00:08:16.063
<v Dan>Three, MD Registered Agent.org: $99 flat.

00:08:16.287 --> 00:08:23.663
<v Dan>Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149.

00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:28.623
<v Dan>Five, Maryland Registered Agent.co: $99 flat.

00:08:28.623 --> 00:08:30.464
<v Maya>The links are in the show notes.

00:08:30.623 --> 00:08:33.983
<v Maya>Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.