5 Best LLC Services in Maryland (2023 Review) Tried & Tested

If you’re looking to hire an LLC formation service provider to handle your legwork, you have come to the right place.

In collaboration with my legal team, I personally tested several Maryland LLC services and have taken down notes on all the pros and cons, their drawbacks, and the specific feature I have benefited from.

In this article, we've gathered all this information and compiled a list of the best services in Maryland and discussed why they should be at the top of your list of choices. If you plan to have business in the state, you should give them serious consideration.

Our Top 5 Recommended LLC Services in Maryland (May 2023)

1 - ZenBusiness (Editor's Choice)

Would you recommend ZenBusiness?

ZenBusiness is known for quality Maryland LLC services and reasonable business formation packages.

ZenBusiness is one of the most popular LLC formation service providers nationwide, with more than 300,000 formations to date.

They provide three business formation service package tiers—making their business formation service package the most well-rounded one we've tried.

Their basic package for LLC services costs $0 plus state fees. Additionally, they will discount their other legal assistance offerings.

Based on our personal encounter with ZenBusiness, their customer support for Maryland LLC services was good.

Unlike other companies, the agent we spoke with did not push for additional LLC services but instead provided us with truthful guidance on the most suitable package for our needs.

Additionally, ZenBusiness offered us supplementary services, such as a form for a business operating agreement and an invoicing tool, which went beyond the basic LLC formation services.

Sign Up To ZenBusiness

2 - Northwest Registered Agent

Would you recommend Northwest Registered Agent?

By Maryland regulations, Northwest Registered Agent provides your Maryland business entity with all the advantages a registered agent must deliver in the state to meet LLC legal obligations.

Serving as your point of contact, they furnish your enterprise with a physical address in Maryland, receive mail and legal documents on your behalf during standard office hours, handle the procedure, and forward all your correspondence.

Our experience with Northwest Registered Agent has been very positive. We rank them at the top of our list due to their high-quality service and very knowledgeable customer support.

We were impressed by their online platform, featuring an easy-to-use interface and straightforward instructions, which made the LLC formation process in Maryland a simple task.

Moreover, they have instituted robust privacy measures to safeguard sensitive business data against unauthorized access.

Service Features:

• Basic Plan ($39 + $197 State Fee): Basic Plan comes with standard and expedited processing speed available. It comes with the organization's articles, an operating agreement, and one year of cost-free registered agent services.
• Full Service LLC Formation Plan ($225 + $197 State Fee): Full-Service Formation Plan will get you all features from Basic Plan plus an operating agreement, limited mail forwarding for free, filling on the same business day, and a client account filled with tools and free forms.
• Northwest Registered Agent Services ($125): Registered agent service fee comes free with Northwest forming your LLC. For the price of $5200, you get to have a registered business in all 52 jurisdictions. It includes free mail forwarding, privacy, and expert corporate guides.

Sign Up To Northwest Registered Agent

3 - IncFile

Would you recommend IncFile?

IncFile is another great choice for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to form LLCs. Unlike many other Maryland registered agent providers, IncFile won't charge you for their formation services.

Thus, earning a spot on the best services in Maryland.

The only things you will need to pay are certification fees, Maryland state fees, and address fees.

While testing the IncFile services in Maryland, we were surprised by the fact that these were the only fees we had to pay.

At the same time, they offered us a very professional service and packages that supported our LLC formation needs. We also appreciated that their online dashboard was very easy to navigate.

Sign Up To IncFile

4 - LegalZoom

LegalZoom is a decent choice if you want to start an LLC in Maryland or are a small business owner looking for a wider range of services.

They provide extensive legal services, including business formation, agent services, annual reports, and independent attorney consultation.

They also offer a 60-day evaluation period for their services, giving customers the opportunity to assess their satisfaction with the services provided.

If for any reason a customer decides they are not satisfied, LegalZoom provides a refund without hesitation.

We found LegalZoom's pre-filled Operating Agreement to be very convenient, and we were impressed by the knowledge and professionalism of their support teams who provided us with helpful guidance throughout the process.

However, LegalZoom's registered agent services may come at a higher price than other companies on this list as they have made a strong brand identity for over a decade.

In addition, their entry-level may be reasonable but not as feature-rich as the others.

But it does not change the fact that LegalZoom is the strongest brand among the companies at the top of the LLC formation industry. Hence, making their services one or arguably the best in Maryland.

Service Features:

• Basic Package ($0 + $197 State Fee): Basic package incorporates comprehensive name search and business entity filing, full digital LLC welcome packet, a customizable website powered by Wix and an article of organization.
• Pro Package ($249 + $197 State Fee): Pro package comes with all the Basic package features plus the founder’s kit with a personalized notebook, EIN, consultation for tax saving and an all-inclusive guide on licensees for Maryland.
• Premium Package ($299 + $197 State Fee): The premium package comes with a first-hand tailored guide from a professional business attorney. You'll also have changes to your LLC documentation and unlimited 30-minute attorney consultations within the initial 90 subscription days.
• Registered Agent Services: ($299): If you choose LegalZoom to form your company, you will pay $50 less for the registered agent. Following that, renewal would cost $299.

Sign Up To LegalZoom

5 - MyCompanyWorks

If you are looking for a Maryland LLC formation service that offers same-day filing—to avoid going through the troubles of doing it for a couple of days, then MyCompanyWorks would be a great choice.

MyCompanyWorks has an authentic track record helping entrepreneurs as an online business formation service that provides same-day filing for your Maryland LLC—making their services one of the best in Maryland.

We were thoroughly impressed with MyCompanyWorks' registered agent services, which efficiently handled court documents and IRS communications, keeping us well-informed of all necessary matters.

MyCompanyWorks also offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, ensuring customer satisfaction by addressing any issues or providing a refund.

To request a refund, customers need to submit a written request via email within 90 days of the purchase date, return any provided documentation, and explain the reason for the return.

Sign Up To MyCompanyWorks

Advantages of Creating an LLC in Maryland

Creating an LLC in Maryland comes with benefits depending on what type of business you have.

This business entity shields a corporation's liability, including a sole proprietorship's tax flexibility. Listed below are some of the advantages that come with creating an LLC in Maryland.

1. Shields Personal Liability

Creating an LLC for your business comes with many benefits, including protection from personal creditors. With the LLC's protection, business creditors cannot go after your personal assets, including your bank accounts, home, and vehicle [1].

Not only that, but forming an LLC in Maryland is one-way business owners can protect themselves from potentially costly personal liabilities caused by other LLC members

2. Pass-Through Taxation

Forming a Maryland LLC provides unique benefits, such as tax advantages, to those looking to establish their own corporation. That is how pass-through taxation comes into the picture [2].

It means your taxes pass through your business—where it is directly paid to you as personal income.

In addition, creating an LLC in Maryland simplifies the tax process and reduces the tax burden. As a result, your Maryland-based LLC is no longer required to pay corporate and personal taxes, unlike larger corporations.

3. Formation and Operation are Less Complex

Handling legal documents and paperwork on a regular basis can be burdensome. Creating an LLC in Maryland is the best option to secure your business.

Set up and management of an LLC are less cumbersome. Compared to corporations, LLCs have simpler formation requirements and fewer administrative obligations.

In addition, creating an LLC is simple, requiring only the submission of Articles of Organization to the Maryland Secretary of State. Furthermore, LLCs need not adhere to corporate protocols in holding annual meetings or keeping detailed minutes.

4. Flexibility in Raising Capital

LLCs in Maryland offer significant advantages over other typical business structures, including the ability to raise capital and add new members without jeopardizing management control or ownership stakes [3].

Additionally, unlike other business entities, namely general partnerships and sole proprietorships, you must become partners with investors before accepting investments.

Maryland LLC Formation Process

It is a common misconception that Maryland small businesses must utilize Maryland LLC formation services to form their own limited liability company. Fortunately, that is not the case.

Any business owner in Maryland can create a limited liability company on their own, potentially saving hundreds of dollars.

That said, you can complete the LLC formation process, saving you hundreds of dollars.

Follow these seven (7) simple steps to establish an LLC in Maryland:

• Step 1: Select a business name for your Maryland LLC
• Step 2: Assign a Maryland registered agent
• Step 3: Draft the Maryland Certificate of Formation
• Step 4: Draft a Maryland LLC Operating Agreement
• Step 5: Acquire an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
• Step 6: Choose your Maryland LLC type
• Step 7: Submit your Maryland LLC annual report

Qualities To Look For in a Maryland LLC Service

1. Competitive Pricing of Packages

When looking for the best Maryland registered agent services, you must consider the practicality of choosing a reasonable bundle that includes all the tools you need to establish your business.

Note that the cost of forming an LLC in Maryland may increase significantly if you choose an LLC package; for this reason, selecting a free package may be advantageous.

2. Ease of Use

Service providers should provide a streamlined order process and initiative online experience to make LLC formation quick and efficient.

3. Customer Support

Maryland LLC formation services that prioritize customer service with quick response times provide a hassle-free and worry-free experience.

4. Proven track record

The essential quality you must consider when choosing an LLC formation service is its track record. Confirm the company has an outstanding, top-notch track record and readily-available online client reviews.

FAQs

What’s the Best Maryland LLC Service for My Business?

The best LLC formation service must provide a good range of services and a user-friendly experience that takes the guesswork out of starting a Maryland business venture.

After closely examining several Maryland LLC formations services, we are confident that ZenBusiness delivers such an experience with packages that begin at a budget-friendly price point.

We found that even the basic business formation service package provides the necessary resources to get up and running quickly.

You don't have to take our word for it; they have earned countless customer praise for consistently delivering on their promise to provide cost-effective yet high-quality business formation service.