In Maryland, the agency you need isn’t the Secretary of State. Corporations, LLCs and trade names are registered with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), and the free Business Entity Search on Maryland Business Express is the official way to check whether a name is already on file.
If your name is open, you can reserve it for 30 days for $25. To operate under a different name, Maryland businesses file a $25 trade name application with SDAT, which lasts five years.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Maryland (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Maryland, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Maryland registered agent services below it are options if you only need an agent.
| 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 | MD Registered Agent.org | Maryland 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 | Maryland Registered Agent.co | Maryland 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 Maryland. 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. MD Registered Agent.org
MD Registered Agent.org is a Maryland 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. Maryland Registered Agent.co
Maryland Registered Agent.co is a Maryland 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.
Maryland name search at a glance
| Topic | Maryland (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Agency | State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Charter Division |
| Search tool | Maryland Business Express Business Entity Search (free) |
| Name reservation | $25 (+$20 expedited); 30 days |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $100 (+$50 optional expedite) |
| LLC amendment (name change) | $100 |
| Trade name filing | $25; five years; renewable |
| Annual report | $300 for an LLC, due April 15 |
| Online payments | 3% service fee through Maryland Business Express |
Fees are from SDAT’s charter fee schedule (revised May 2024). Standard paper filings can take 4 to 6 weeks to review, so plan ahead or pay for expedited service. Mainstay Filing’s Maryland LLC cost guide totals the startup costs.
How to search Maryland business names
The Business Entity Search covers corporations, LLCs, partnerships and trade names on file with SDAT. Here’s how to use it for an availability check.
Step 1: Open the Business Entity Search
Go to Maryland Business Express and choose Business Entity Search. You don’t need an account to search, and there’s no fee for looking up names.
Step 2: Search by business name
Enter the distinctive part of your name without the ending. For “Chesapeake Crab Shack LLC,” search “Chesapeake Crab” so similar names show up. Then try variations: plural and singular forms, alternate spellings, and numbers written as digits and as words. Each variation can surface a business the first search missed, and catching it now saves a rejected filing and a lost filing fee later.
Step 3: Review entities and trade names
Open close matches and look at the status. Remember that SDAT keeps trade names too, so a business may be using your preferred name as a DBA even if no entity has it as a legal name.
Step 4: Reserve or file
If nothing conflicts, reserve the name or file Articles of Organization. SDAT confirms availability when it reviews your filing.
If you’re opening a home improvement company, SDAT notes that registering a trade name doesn’t guarantee acceptance by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission, and it suggests contacting the Commission (410-230-6171) to confirm the name first.
Maryland business name rules
- Distinguishable: a new entity name must be distinguishable from names of entities and reservations on SDAT’s records.
- Designator: include the appropriate ending, for example “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” for an LLC and “Inc.” or “Corporation” for a corporation. The reservation form asks you to list the name with its ending.
- Governing law: LLCs are formed under the Corporations and Associations Article, § 4A-202 (statute text).
- Regulated words: terms tied to banking, insurance or licensed professions may need approval from the relevant Maryland regulator.
Short on ideas? Namechk’s business name generator can suggest names to check in the SDAT search.
How to reserve a business name in Maryland
SDAT’s Corporate Name Reservation Application works for corporations, limited partnerships, LLCs and LLPs. Under Title 1, Section 505 of the Corporations and Associations Article:
- Fee: $25, with a $20 expedited option.
- Length: an exclusive period of 30 days.
- Who files: the person intending to form the entity and adopt the name.
- Format: list the name with its ending, such as Inc, LLC or LLP.
Thirty days is short, and non-expedited Articles can take weeks to review. If you reserve, be ready to file your Articles of Organization right away, ideally with expedited service.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
SDAT’s records don’t include federal trademarks. Search the USPTO trademark database for conflicting marks before you invest in branding.
Then check whether your name is free online. Namechk searches domains and social media handles at the same time, and the domain name generator helps when the exact .com is taken.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Registering a trade name (DBA) in Maryland
Maryland handles DBAs as trade names registered with SDAT. The Trade Name Application instructions set the terms:
- Fee: $25 (amendments and cancellations are also $25 each).
- Term: five years from SDAT’s acceptance.
- Renewal: during the last six months of the term, renew for another five years. If you don’t renew, SDAT forfeits the trade name and you’d need a new application.
- Acknowledgement: once accepted, SDAT sends an acknowledgement with the filing date to the owner’s address, ordinarily within four weeks.
- Where to file: online through Maryland Business Express, or on paper to SDAT’s drop boxes at 123 Market Place, Baltimore.
Common Maryland name search mistakes
- Looking for a Secretary of State search. Maryland’s Secretary of State doesn’t keep the business registry; SDAT does. Use the Maryland Business Express search.
- Ignoring trade names. SDAT stores trade names alongside entities, so a DBA match is a real warning sign even if no LLC has the name.
- Reserving too early. A reservation lasts only 30 days, while a standard filing can take weeks to review. Reserve when your Articles are ready.
- Forgetting the trade name renewal. A trade name expires after five years and is forfeited if it isn’t renewed in the last six months.
- Skipping the trademark check. SDAT acceptance doesn’t clear a name against federal trademarks.
After the search: forming a Maryland business
With a clear name, our Maryland LLC guide covers the next steps:
- File Articles of Organization (SDAT form, $100) online through Maryland Business Express or on paper.
- Appoint a resident agent. Maryland’s term for a registered agent. Mainstay Filing includes one in its formation package; our Maryland registered agent guide explains the requirements.
- Get an EIN and register with the Comptroller of Maryland for state taxes if needed.
- File the annual report ($300 for an LLC) by April 15 each year. Our Maryland start-a-business guide lists local licenses.
FAQs
Does Maryland have a Secretary of State business search?
Not for business entities. Maryland registers corporations, LLCs and trade names with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). Its free Business Entity Search on Maryland Business Express is the official way to check whether a name is taken, and it’s what most people mean by a Maryland Secretary of State business search.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in Maryland?
A Maryland name reservation costs $25, plus $20 if you want expedited handling, according to SDAT’s fee schedule. It reserves the name for an exclusive period of 30 days under Section 1-505 of the Corporations and Associations Article. Because the window is short, be ready to file your Articles soon after reserving.
How do I register a DBA in Maryland?
File a Trade Name Application with SDAT, online through Maryland Business Express or on paper. The fee is $25. The registration is effective for five years from acceptance and can be renewed during the last six months; if it isn’t renewed, SDAT forfeits the trade name.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maryland?
SDAT charges $100 to file Articles of Organization for a Maryland LLC, plus an optional $50 for expedited review. Online payments through Maryland Business Express carry a 3% service fee. LLCs then file an annual report each year by April 15, which costs $300.
How long does SDAT take to review filings?
According to SDAT’s fee schedule, non-expedited paper filings may take 4 to 6 weeks and non-expedited online filings 6 to 8 weeks. Expedited filings are reviewed within 7 to 10 business days for a $50 fee, and same-day rush service is available for $425 on paper or $325 online.
Does a Maryland trade name protect my business name?
Only in a limited way. A trade name registration puts your claim on SDAT’s public record for five years, but it doesn’t create a separate legal entity or a trademark, and SDAT notes it doesn’t guarantee acceptance by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. For broader protection, consider a state or federal trademark.
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