How Long Does It Take To Form an LLC in Maryland (Guide)

If you're establishing a limited liability company in Maryland, it's a good idea to know about the processing times offered by the Secretary of State so that you understand how long it'll take for your Maryland LLC to be approved.

Teaming up with our certified LLC experts who have over 2 decades-long experience in the industry, we took the time to research the processing times of creating an LLC in Maryland by checking the latest information found in the Secretary of State's official documents.

Here's a comprehensive guide to what you need to know.

Quick Summary

How Long Does It Take To Form an LLC in Maryland?

It takes 6-8 weeks to form an LLC in Maryland via mail and 28 business days for online filings.

This is the total time the Secretary of State takes to review, verify and approve your Articles of Organization after receipt.

If you want a faster processing time, you can submit the registration papers in person, pay extra state fees for expedited delivery, and reduce the lead time to less than 3 hours.

Maryland LLC Processing Time

The state of Maryland offers different processing times depending on the filing method you use to register your new domestic LLC or foreign entity.

Here are three ways you can register a Maryland corporation and the processing times of each filing method.

1. Online Filings 

All online business filings are made on the Maryland Business Express website.

You must create an online user account using your legal name, phone number, and email.

Log in with your username and password before beginning the LLC filing procedure.

Note that the primary email you use to sign up is what the SOS will use to send all your LLC correspondence and alerts.

Also, at the bottom of the signup page, you must indicate your user type, whether a business owner, agency, or legal professional.

Once on the website, you may choose the business organization you wish to establish; in this example, a limited liability company.

Follow the instructions and fill out the required information on the articles of formation.

Then pay the $103 LLC processing fee through Mastercard, Visa, Discover, or American Express.

Filing the articles of the organization online is $100 plus an additional 3% or $3 for the convenience fee [1].

The standard processing period for filing a Maryland LLC online is 28 business days, but you can pay an additional $325 for expedited processing of 3 hours.

This expedited processing applies to online filings made during regular working hours and by 2:30 PM.

If you submit it later, your papers will be approved on the next business day.

2. Mail Filings 

Mail LLC filing in Maryland means you must submit a physical paper of the articles of formation to the Secretary of State's office.

Once you log in to the online portal and download the registration forms, fill out all your LLC details and print the form.

The SOS will decline your Maryland corporation documents if you fail to include any of the following basic details:

• LLC name
• LLC address
• Registered agent service contact details (name and address)
• Official signatures

Regular mail filings in Maryland take a standard LLC processing time of 6-8 weeks.

However, you can pay an additional $50 to reduce the turnaround time to around 7-10 business days.

Alternatively, other expedited shipping for same-day filing costs as high as $425 on top of the standard filing fee.

The Maryland Department only accepts money order or check as the only payment methods for mail LLC filing.

And these checks or money orders are made payable to the Maryland State Department of Assessments.

Learn more about the cost of forming an LLC in Maryland.

3. In-person Filings 

You hand deliver your registration papers to the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) Dropbox for in-person submissions.

Once you download and fill out the articles of organization form, print it and take it to the Maryland SDAT Dropbox available in the lobby of 301 West Preston Street [2].

Hand-delivered Maryland corporation papers have a standard processing time of around 18 business days, depending on the filling volume and when you file.

However, you can pay an additional $425 fee for expedited same-day processing of 2 hours.

Note this applies to submissions made before 2.30 PM.

Ensure your envelope has all the correct details, including your name, address, and phone number.

You should also attach the filing fee plus the expedited service fee if you want same-day delivery.

Failure to adhere to these regulations will result in the rejection of your application, and same-day filing won't be guaranteed.

The SDAT staff will contact you through the phone number you provided in case there are specific details that you must amend.

Also, the SDAT Dropbox is open from Monday to Friday, and they don't work on weekends and holidays, so if you file on Friday, you'll have to wait till Monday.

4. Expedited Filing 

Expedited service offered by the Maryland Secretary of State allows small business owners in this state to receive their approved LLC paperwork faster than the standard processing.

Maryland offers three options for accelerated filing:

• $50 for 7-10 business days
• $325 rush filing for 3 hours delivery
• $425 expedited processing for 2 hours delivery

The rush filing option applies to online submissions only and takes 3 hours to approve.

Expedited shipping applies to LLC registration submitted in hard copies and takes 2 hours to approve [3].

Maryland Secretary of State offers expedited filings for the certificate of formation, annual reports, and other subsequent documents you'll file throughout your domestic or foreign LLC term.

Steps To Start an LLC in Maryland

If you want to register an LLC in Maryland, here are nine easy steps.

• Step 1: Look up an LLC in Maryland and choose an available business name for your Maryland corporation.
• Step 2: Hire a Maryland-based registered agent service, a person or business to communicate with the Maryland SOS and receive legal papers and alerts on your LLC's behalf.
• Step 3: Draft and mail your articles of formation to the Maryland Secretary of State's office and the processing of state fees.
• Step 4: Create a Maryland LLC operating agreement - a legal document governing how your LLC transacts in this state and other internal management operations.
• Step 5: Apply for an employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS to open a business bank account, file federal and state taxes and hire staff.
• Step 6: Open an LLC business bank account to separate corporate funds from individual income.
• Step 7: Open a wage withholding account if you hire workers.
• Step 8: Per Maryland business law, you must get a sales tax license and alcoholic beverage tax (if you're in the liquor business) from the Maryland Business License Department to sell tangible products in Maryland.
• Step 9: File an annual report by April 15.

FAQs

Should You Hire an LLC Service in Maryland?

Incorporating an LLC can be an uphill task if you're a new business owner in Maryland because of the complicated legal requirements.

Thankfully, here's a roundup of Maryland's best LLC formation services that can assist you in filing your LLC paperwork.

While these five LLC formation providers will not register your LLC faster, they offer an exclusive selection of low-cost solutions that include all the basic requirements for forming an LLC.

They have packages for LLC formation, registered agent services, and operating agreements.

Furthermore, most of these LLC services provide extended customer support hours, so you can be confident that any concerns will be resolved promptly.