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Maine LLC formation
Start your Maine LLC, usually filed within 1 business hour
HourLLC prepares and files your Maine Certificate of Formation with the Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations usually within one business hour of a complete order (Monday to Thursday 9 AM to 5 PM and Friday 9 AM to 12 PM Eastern; orders placed after hours are usually filed by 10 AM the next business day). You pay our $99 service fee plus Maine's $175 state filing fee and $100 same-day (Immediate) expedited filing fee, both passed through at cost, plus our $200 Maine Courier & Handling Fee, so your total is $574. An EIN from the IRS and an operating agreement are included.
- State fee at cost, shown up front
- EIN included
- Documents by email
At a glance
Maine LLC: fees, speed and paperwork
Once we file, approval is up to the state. Maine files every order with the state rush, so approval is expected the same business day. Every Maine order is filed with the state's rush service: Immediate (same business day) +$100. It's the state's own fee, passed through at cost with no service fee from us. Why rush is included: HourLLC files every Maine order with the state's Immediate expedited service instead of the standard queue. Maine handles it the same business day it receives it (Maine Secretary of State: fees and expedited service).
- State filing fee (paid to the state at cost)
- $175
- HourLLC service fee
- $99
- Includes Maine same-day (Immediate) expedited filing (+$100 state rush fee)
- +$100
- Maine Courier & Handling FeeMaine only accepts paper filings by mail. Includes overnight courier and handling ($200).
- +$200
- Your total
- $574
- We file
- usually within 1 business hour
- State approval (rush included)
- Same business day
- Filing office
- Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations
- Formation document
- Certificate of Formation
- Certified copy (state cost only)
- $9
- Certificate of Good Standing (state cost only)
- corporation $30 / LLC $30 / LP $30 / LLP $30
State fees and processing times as researched in October 2026 and subject to change by Maine. We confirm your exact state fee before we file. Certified copies and Good Standing certificates are optional; the required Maine rush fee is charged at checkout at the state's cost. No service fee on any of them.
Official Maine fee source: official state fee page. Fees checked October 23, 2026; the price at checkout is what the state charges us, including any card or portal fee it adds.
How it works
Forming an LLC in Maine with HourLLC
- Pick a name. Your Maine LLC name must include an LLC designator such as "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company" and must not already be taken. We check availability before filing; give us a backup name on the form in case your first choice is taken.
- Fill out a 3 minute form. Members, a Maine registered agent, and your business address. Maine filings are public records, so a business address rather than a home address is a common choice.
- Review and pay. One total: $99 plus Maine's state fee and required rush fee at cost, plus the $200 Maine Courier & Handling Fee. No upsells.
- We usually file within 1 business hour. We prepare and submit your Certificate of Formation to the Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations. When Maine approves it, we email your filing receipt and stamped Certificate of Formation as PDFs and keep them in Documents at My account. Then we get your EIN.
After your Maine LLC is approved
Maine LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State each year, due by June 1.
Your EIN is included: we apply to the IRS for it together with your state filing, so you can open a business bank account and file taxes under the LLC.
Almost every state requires a registered agent with a street address in the state who accepts official mail and legal papers during business hours. You can be your own registered agent if you have a Maine address, or use a commercial registered agent.
What every HourLLC order includes
- Name availability check before filing
- Certificate of Formation usually filed with the state within 1 business hour
- EIN from the IRS (federal tax ID)
- Free operating agreement
- Filing receipt and stamped, approved Certificate of Formation, emailed as PDFs
- Annual report reminders, free with every LLC
Choosing a Maine LLC formation service
Compare the all-in price, not the starting price. Ask each service: is the EIN included, is an operating agreement included, when exactly do you file, and what renews every year? With HourLLC the answer is one price ($99 plus Maine's fee at cost), EIN and operating agreement included, usually filed within 1 business hour, and no yearly fee for the LLC itself. See a side by side comparison.
Yearly cost after your Maine LLC is formed
Maine LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State each year, due by June 1. We send free reminders before it is due.
Rules and costs
Maine LLC requirements
On this page: Name rules · Registered agent · EIN · Cost breakdown
Maine LLC name rules
A Maine LLC name must include “limited liability company”, “limited company”, “L.L.C.”, “LLC”, “L.C.” or “LC”. It also has to be different from names already on file with the state.
You can reserve a name before you file for $20 (good for 120 days). Most people skip this: we check the name and file right away, and you can give us a backup name.
Maine registered agent
The LLC names either a commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial registered agent (a person or business that serves in Maine) with its name and address. Naming an agent in the filing means the LLC confirms the agent agreed to serve.
On our order form you name your registered agent and their Maine street address. It can be you, if you have a street address in Maine, or a commercial registered agent service.
Getting an EIN for your Maine LLC
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your LLC's federal tax ID. It comes from the IRS, not from Maine, and the IRS does not charge for it. You need it to open a business bank account, hire employees and file business taxes. Every HourLLC order includes it: we prepare and submit the EIN application together with your state filing and send you the IRS confirmation letter.
If your LLC will sell taxable goods or services or hire employees, you may also need to register for Maine state tax accounts. That is a separate step with the state.
Maine LLC cost breakdown
| State filing fee (one time) | $175 |
|---|---|
| Required state rush fee (Maine same-day (Immediate) expedited filing) | $100 |
| Maine Courier & Handling Fee | $200 |
| Yearly report or tax (January 1 to June 1) | $85 |
| Name reservation (optional) | $20 |
| Assumed or trade name / DBA (optional, Secretary of State) | $125 |
| Registered agent | $0 if you serve yourself; a commercial service charges its own yearly fee |
Add our $99 service fee once, at formation. There is no yearly HourLLC fee for the LLC itself.
Checked on official Maine sources on November 5, 2026: name rules, registered agent, name reservation, trade name, annual report. Rules and fees can change; we confirm them before we file.
FAQ
Maine LLC questions, answered
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maine?
Maine charges a $175 state filing fee for a new LLC, and every Maine order includes its same-day (Immediate) expedited filing (+$100 state rush fee). Maine only accepts paper filings by mail, so every Maine order also includes our $200 Maine Courier & Handling Fee (overnight courier and handling). HourLLC adds a flat $99 service fee, so your total is $574. That includes your EIN and an operating agreement. The state fee is passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
How long does it take to get an LLC in Maine?
We usually file within 1 business hour of a complete order during business hours. After that, approval is up to the Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations. With the required state rush, approval is expected the same business day. Some filings take longer; the state sets the pace, not us.
Can I rush my Maine LLC?
Every Maine order is filed with the state's rush service: Immediate (same business day) +$100. It's the state's own fee, passed through at cost with no service fee from us.
Does a Maine LLC have to file an annual report?
Maine LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State each year, due by June 1. We send free reminders with every LLC so you do not miss it.
What is the Maine formation document called?
In Maine the document that creates your LLC is the Certificate of Formation, filed with the Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations. We prepare it from your order, file it, and email you the stamped, approved copy as a PDF.
Do I need a registered agent in Maine?
Yes, like almost every state, Maine requires a registered agent with a street address in the state who can accept official mail and legal papers during business hours. You can be your own registered agent if you have a Maine address, or use a commercial registered agent and give us that address when you order.
Is the EIN really included?
Yes. The IRS issues EINs for free, and we prepare and submit the application for you together with your state filing, at no extra charge. You will usually need the EIN to open a business bank account or hire employees.
What does a Maine LLC name need to include?
A Maine LLC name must include "limited liability company", "limited company", "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C." or "LC", and it has to be different from names already on file with the state.
Who can be a registered agent in Maine?
The LLC names either a commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial registered agent (a person or business that serves in Maine) with its name and address. Naming an agent in the filing means the LLC confirms the agent agreed to serve.
How do I get an EIN for my Maine LLC?
An EIN is a free federal tax ID from the IRS. Every HourLLC order includes it: we prepare and submit the EIN application together with your Maine state filing and send you the IRS confirmation letter.
Other states
Forming an LLC somewhere else?
We file in all 50 states and DC at the same $99 service fee. Each state sets its own filing fee and speed.
Nearby states
Sources checked October 2026: Maine filing requirements