The Maine Secretary of State business search is the Division of Corporations’ free Corporate Search in its Interactive Corporate Services system. Look up the key words of your proposed name and check that no business already on file uses the same or a confusingly similar name.
In Maine, a name reservation costs $20 and holds the name for 120 days, but it can’t be renewed, so time it carefully. An LLC or corporation that wants to trade under another name files a Statement of Intention to do Business under an Assumed Name with the Secretary of State for $125.
Updated October 2026.
Go to:
Best LLC Formation Services in Maine (2026)
If you’d rather not handle forming your LLC once your name is clear in Maine yourself, these are the services we recommend, in order. The table compares price and what’s included.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | ME Registered Agent.org | Maine registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Maine Registered Agent.co | Maine registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Maine. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. ME Registered Agent.org
ME Registered Agent.org is a Maine registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Maine Registered Agent.co
Maine Registered Agent.co is a Maine registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Maine name search at a glance
| Topic | Maine (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions |
| Search tool | Corporate Search (Interactive Corporate Services, free) |
| Name reservation | $20 (Form MLLC-1); 120 days; not renewable |
| Transfer of reserved name | $20 (MLLC-1A) |
| LLC Certificate of Formation | $175 (Form MLLC-6) |
| Name change (Certificate of Amendment) | $50 (MLLC-9) |
| Assumed name (entities) | $125 (ASUM-5); termination $20 |
| LLC annual report | $85, due June 1 |
Fees are from the Secretary of State’s LLC forms and fees page. Corporate filings take about 2 to 7 business days to process. For a full startup budget, see Mainstay Filing’s Maine LLC cost guide.
How to do a Maine Secretary of State business search
Maine’s Corporate Search covers corporations, LLCs, partnerships and other entities on file with the Division of Corporations. It’s also how you confirm a filing has gone through.
1. Open Corporate Search
Go to Interactive Corporate Services and choose the corporate name lookup. No account or fee is needed, so you can look up as many name variations as you like.
2. Search the core words
Enter the distinctive part of your name without “LLC” or “Inc.” For “Casco Bay Kayak Tours LLC,” search “Casco Bay Kayak” to catch close variations.
3. Open the Information Summary
Click into close matches. The Information Summary page shows the entity’s details, and at the bottom you can choose “view list of filings” to see its filing history.
4. Test variations
Repeat the search with plural and singular forms, alternate spellings and numbers written both ways. A name that looks open under one spelling may be taken under another.
5. Use the search to track your own filing
Maine says corporate filings take about 2 to 7 business days. Once you’ve submitted a reservation or Certificate of Formation, run the same Corporate Search to see whether it has been processed, then open the record’s list of filings to confirm what was accepted.
A search result is information only. The Division of Corporations decides whether your name is available when it reviews your reservation or formation filing.
Maine LLC name rules
- Designator: according to the reservation form, an LLC name must contain “limited liability company,” “limited company,” or the abbreviation “L.L.C.,” “LLC,” “L.C.” or “LC” (“L3C” for a low-profit LLC), unless the name is reserved only for use as an assumed name (31 M.R.S. § 1508).
- Distinguishable: the name must be distinguishable from names of other entities, reservations and registrations on file with the Secretary of State.
- Restricted words: the Secretary of State publishes separate guidance on using the words “bank,” “trust” and “credit union”, which are restricted to regulated institutions.
- Governing law: the Maine Limited Liability Company Act (Title 31, Chapter 21).
Need ideas? Namechk’s business name generator creates options you can check in the Maine search.
How to reserve a business name in Maine
File an Application for Reservation of Name (Form MLLC-1) under 31 M.R.S. § 1509. The form spells out the rules:
- Fee: $20.
- Length: 120 days.
- No renewals: a reservation may not be renewed, and the Secretary of State won’t hold a new application to file when your reservation ends. Timely filing is up to you.
- Assumed names: a checkbox lets you reserve a name for use only as an assumed name, in which case the LLC designator isn’t required.
- Use: the form recommends not using the name until the purpose of the reservation is completed.
Maine also offers a separate Application for Registration of Name (MLLC-2), mainly for out-of-state companies, at $20 per month with a $200 renewal.
Check federal trademarks, domains and social handles
Maine’s records cover state filings only. Search the USPTO trademark database for registered or pending marks that could conflict with your name, especially if you’ll sell to customers outside Maine.
Then confirm your online presence. Namechk checks domain names and social usernames in one search, and the domain name generator can suggest alternatives if the .com is taken.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Assumed names (DBAs) in Maine
Maine calls a DBA an assumed name, and LLCs and corporations register it with the Secretary of State.
- Form and fee: Statement of Intention to do Business under an Assumed Name (ASUM-5), $125, for domestic or foreign entities.
- Ending it: a Termination of Statement of Intention (MLLC-5A) costs $20.
- Foreign entities whose legal name isn’t available in Maine use a separate fictitious name statement (FICT-4, $40).
- Reserving first: you can reserve an assumed name for 120 days with Form MLLC-1 by checking the assumed-name box.
Sole proprietors and general partnerships don’t use the Secretary of State’s ASUM-5 form, which is for registered entities. If you operate under a trade name without forming an entity, check with your town or city clerk about local requirements.
After the search: forming a Maine business
Once you’ve confirmed the name, our Maine LLC guide walks through the full process:
- File a Certificate of Formation (MLLC-6, $175). Maine uses that term rather than Articles of Organization.
- Appoint a registered agent (commercial or noncommercial). Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package; our Maine registered agent guide covers the rules.
- Get an EIN and register with Maine Revenue Services if you’ll collect sales tax or have employees.
- File the annual report ($85 for a domestic LLC) by June 1 each year through the online annual report system. Our Maine start-a-business guide lists local licenses.
FAQs
How do I search for a business name in Maine?
Use the Maine Secretary of State’s Corporate Search in its Interactive Corporate Services system. It’s free. Search the distinctive words of your name, open close matches to see the Information Summary, and scroll down to view its list of filings. The Division of Corporations makes the final availability decision when you file.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in Maine?
A Maine LLC name reservation costs $20 with Form MLLC-1 and lasts 120 days. It can’t be renewed, and the Secretary of State won’t hold a new application for you when it expires, so file your Certificate of Formation before the 120 days run out. Transferring a reservation also costs $20.
How do I file a DBA in Maine?
LLCs and corporations file a Statement of Intention to do Business under an Assumed Name (Form ASUM-5) with the Maine Secretary of State. The fee is $125, and terminating the assumed name later costs $20. Foreign entities whose legal name isn’t available in Maine use the FICT-4 fictitious name statement, which costs $40.
What does a Maine LLC name need to include?
A Maine LLC name must contain limited liability company, limited company, or the abbreviation L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC, or L3C for a low-profit LLC. The requirement doesn’t apply to a name reserved only for use as an assumed name. Words like bank, trust and credit union are restricted.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maine?
The Maine Secretary of State charges $175 to file a Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6). A domestic LLC then files an annual report each year by June 1, which costs $85. Processing typically takes 2 to 7 business days, and expedited service is available for an extra fee.
Does a Maine business search reserve the name?
No. Corporate Search only shows names already on file. To hold a name, file a $20 reservation, which lasts 120 days and can’t be renewed, or file your Certificate of Formation, which secures the name once the Division of Corporations accepts it. Also check federal trademarks before you commit.
CHK_ YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW
Use our engine to quickly check your content right now!
Disclosure: We may earn a commission from services recommended on this page.
