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Last Updated on Dec 7, 2023

How to Start a Business in Maine

Maine is a beautiful place to live, and it can also be a great place to do business. With one of the lowest sales tax rates in the nation, along with great access to funding and a skilled labor pool, Maine has many attributes that make it attractive to business owners.

If you’re wondering how to start a business in Maine, this is the guide for you. We’ll help walk you through all the necessary steps to start a Maine company and join the ranks of entrepreneurs in the state.

First and foremost, you’ll need to decide what kind of business you want to start. Chances are you already have something in mind, but if not, here are some things to consider:

  • What are you talented or naturally skilled at? Could this talent make you well suited to a certain type of business?
  • What business does your community need? Have you talked to people to find out?
  • What are you interested in? Can you combine any of your passions with a business idea?
  • Is this going to be a full time business, or more of a side hustle?

These are questions to ask yourself when deciding on a business idea. Once you have decided, move on to the next step.

Now it’s time to start planning. This means coming up with a business plan, naming your business, researching locations, and more. There’s a lot to cover here, so let’s break it down:

Select a business name

The first concrete step you must take is to choose a business name for your new company. This will be the official name of the LLC, corporation, or other business entity, and it will be displayed on your formation documents and business licenses. It will also be the primary name that you do business with (although you can also use trade names; more on this later).

You should take your time with the naming process, as it’s important to choose a name that you like and that’s relevant to your business. If possible, find a name that is memorable for your clients or customers, as well. 

Most importantly, the name you choose must be unique from other businesses in the state of Maine. You can conduct a corporate name search to see if the name you want has been taken or not. This name requirement is specific to the business entity type; meaning if you’re forming an LLC, the name you use must be unique from all other LLCs in Maine. 

Choosing a unique name for your business is very important – but it’s not the only Maine business name rule to be aware of: 

  • The business name must be unique from other businesses already registered in the state
  • Names for LLCs need to contain “limited liability company”, or approved abbreviations like “LLC” or “L.L.C.”
  • Names for corporations need to contain “corporation”, “incorporated”, or approved abbreviations like “corp” or “inc”
  • To use certain financial words in your business name, such as “bank” or “trust”, you may be required to obtain written permission first
  • Other rules may apply. See the Maine business name rules page for details. 

When you find a name that satisfies the rules and that is a good fit for your business, you can move on to the next steps. 

Not quite ready to form your business yet, but want to save the name? You can also temporarily reserve a business name, giving you some time to think about it. 

Maine trade names

Maine allows existing businesses to register trade names, also known as doing business as names or DBAs. A DBA allows you to operate under a different name than you use for your formal business entity name. This provides some flexibility in how you market and brand your new company, and allows you to operate legally under multiple business names. More information here.

Register a domain name

Once you choose a name, you should immediately register a domain name for your new business. In most cases, getting a .com domain name is ideal, but there are many other extensions (.biz, .net, etc.) that are worth considering. 

You can use a tool like Namechk to search for an available domain name and find a great deal on the registration cost. You may find that your desired names are taken, so you may need to get creative. 

Complete market research

Once you have an idea, you’ll want to do some market research. You want to gain a better understanding of who your customers – and competitors – are. You can achieve this by conducting online research, running focus groups, sending out surveys, and more. There are also companies that can help you complete market research, for a fee. 

Select a business location

Unless you plan to run a remote/virtual business, you will need to find a physical location for your company. Research commercial property in your area, and take note of typical costs. For customer-facing businesses (retail and some services), location is very important, so take your time in selecting the right area for your business. 

Create a business plan

You will now need to create a detailed business plan for your new venture. This plan is helpful for your own purposes, and will also be necessary in order to obtain funding from a bank. A good business plan should contain these elements:

  • Finances: How much funding does the business need to get started? How many sales does it need each month to break even on expenses?
  • Product: What do you plan to sell? Is it a product or a service? What problem does your business solve, and how is it distinct from your competitors?
  • Marketing: How will you drive sales? What marketing and sales efforts do you plan to employ? How much money will you set aside to fund marketing efforts?
  • Staff & Partnerships: How many people will you need to hire, and what skill sets do they need to have? Will you have any partnerships or arrangements with other local businesses? 

If you need help, you can find business plan templates online that will help walk you through the steps you need to take to draft a detailed business plan. If you plan to seek funding, you may also wish to call your bank to see what they require in terms of business plans. 

Before you form your business as a legal entity, you will need to decide which business structure you will use. There are a few different types of businesses, each with its own pros and cons.

Sole proprietorship

Sole props are single-person operations. Examples include freelancers, gig economy workers, and consultants. A sole proprietorship business is very easy and inexpensive to form, and tax reporting is also fairly simple. As a sole proprietor, your business taxes are reported as part of your personal tax return.

The downsides to a sole prop are that you cannot hire employees, and you don’t have the legal liability shield that something like an LLC or corporation would provide. 100% of the debts and liability of a sole proprietorship go to the sole owner: you. 

Partnership

A general partnership is an unincorporated business structure similar to a sole proprietorship, except with two active owners/participants. Partnerships do not have liability protection. 

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company, or LLC, is a popular choice for business owners because it provides liability protection to the owners. It separates the business from the owners, which means the personal assets of owners will not be at risk if the company gets sued or goes into bankruptcy. 

LLCs are also a bit easier to form than corporations. Even so, there is definitely more work involved with an LLC than there is with a sole proprietorship. 

Corporation

A corporation is owned by its shareholders and is a separate entity. There are a few different types of corporations (C-corp, S-corp, etc), with the main differences being the way they are treated tax-wise. 

Corporations are more regulated than LLCs, which makes them more attractive to outside investors. For this reason, most large companies are corporations. The downside is that it takes more effort, and more paperwork, to form a corporation. 

Nonprofit

A nonprofit is a legal entity that is set up with charitable status, meaning that its goal is not to make a profit, but rather to address a certain cause. Nonprofits are funded by donations, rather than investors, and are subject to many regulations. They are exempt from most forms of taxation, although tax returns must still be filed. 

Next, it’s finally time to actually form your new business as a legal business entity. You’ll need to work with the Maine Secretary of State, and the paperwork can be filed either online or through the mail. 

There are basically two options to complete this process:

  • You can do the work yourself (see the steps below)
  • You can hire a professional business formation service to help

For most entrepreneurs, we recommend using a service. Why? These companies specialize in forming new business entities, and they can help make the process much simpler and more efficient. 

Some of the best options include Northwest Registered Agent, ZenBusiness, and Bizee. These firms charge a small fee to business owners and then help them complete all the necessary paperwork in order to form a new business. These companies can also serve as your Registered Agent (and it’s required to have a registered agent for any new business entity in Maine). 

If you do decide to complete the work on your own, the process looks like this:

  1. Choosing a name for your Maine business
  2. Choosing a Maine Registered Agent for your business. The registered agent is tasked with receiving legal documents on behalf of your company. 
  3. Filing formation documents with the Maine Secretary of State 
  4. Applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
  5. Applying for other necessary permits or licenses

The exact steps that you will need to take will vary a bit, depending on the type of business entity you plan to form. Specifics below:

Form a Maine sole proprietorship

Follow these steps:

  1. Decide if you will operate under your legal name, or use a trade name
  2. If you use a name other than your own, you may need to register a trade name
  3. Apply for a business license and/or other necessary permits from local governments (city/county)

Form a Maine LLC

Follow these steps:

  1. Name your new LLC 
  2. Choose a Maine Registered Agent (or use a service such as Northwest Registered Agent)
  3. File the LLC Certificate of Organization online, and pay the $175 filing fee
  4. Draft an LLC operating agreement
  5. Apply for an EIN with the IRS

Form a Maine corporation

Follow these steps:

  1. Decide on your desired corporate tax structure (S corp or C corp) 
  2. Name your new corporation 
  3. Choose a Registered Agent
  4. Hold an organizational meeting and appoint directors
  5. File the Maine Articles of Incorporation online, and pay the $145 filing fee
  6. Apply for an EIN from the IRS

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Visit Bizee

Registering your business and forming an LLC or corporation is an important part of starting your business – but in order to operate legally, you will likely also need to obtain certain permits and/or business licenses

The specifics vary depending on the type of business you are running, as well as your location. For example, restaurants will need health permits, bars will need liquor licenses, and medical service providers will need various professional licenses and federal permits. You will need to research the specifics that relate to your business type.

There are different requirements at each level of government:

  • Local: Cities and counties may require certain business licenses or permits. Contact your county clerk for details.
  • State: Maine may require additional permits and/or licenses in order to operate legally in the state. Check the Maine Business Portal for details. 
  • Federal: Federal permits/licenses may be required for certain regulated industries, such as construction, medicine and legal services. Check the Small Business Administration (SBA) guide for more details. 

At this time, you should also apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). An EIN is a federal tax ID that is required to hire employees. You can apply for an EIN online with the IRS – the application is free and quick. 

For most businesses, some startup funding will be necessary in order to get started. In step #2, you should have calculated your funding needs while drafting a business plan. Use this information to determine how much funding you need to raise.

For bootstrapped companies, you may be able to get by with your own personal savings, or some seed investments from friends and family. If your funding needs are small, this is likely your best route.

If your business plan indicates that substantial funding is needed, you will likely need to apply for a loan and/or a grant.

  • Small business loans are offered by banks, credit unions and other lenders. They can range from as little as a few thousand to hundreds of thousands. Specifics will depend on your business, as well as your personal creditworthiness. Most small business loans are issued in a lump sum, and paid back on a monthly basis, with interest.
  • Small business grants are offered by government agencies and some nonprofits. They are essentially business loans that don’t need to be paid back – but they usually have substantial fine print. It’s worth looking into, however, as there may be grants available, particularly for businesses serving an important social need, or for underprivileged entrepreneurs starting their first business. 

Beyond securing funding, there are other routine tasks that you need to take care of to get your business’ finances in order. This includes:

  • Opening a business checking account. You should have a separate business bank account that you use solely for business purposes. You can open this account at most banks, credit unions and financial institutions. Call ahead to see what documents will be required to open this account.
  • Open a business credit card or line of credit. This is not strictly necessary, but most businesses can benefit from having a business credit card, and/or a business line of credit. This can be used for day-to-day expenses and purchases, and may also earn you some rewards. 
  • Set up your accounting system. As a business owner, you will need to keep very detailed records about all revenue and expenses. To do this, you’ll want to set up the proper foundation from day one. This could be investing in an account software such as QuickBooks or Xero, hiring a bookkeeper, or at the very least establishing a spreadsheet to track everything. If you do not have any accounting experience, it’s wise to hire a professional to help. 
  • Purchase business insurance. Most businesses should have some form of liability insurance, and potentially other forms of business insurance as well. Insurance policies can help protect your equipment and buildings from costly damage, and help shield your company from liability if a worker or customer is injured or otherwise harmed. Speak with a local business insurance provider to get started. 

In this day and age, having a solid web presence for your business is very important. And social media profiles, while important, are no replacement for an actual website. You will want to build a professional business website that you can use to drum up business, inform your customers, and stay connected with your clientele. 

The simplest way to build a website is to use a website builder from a web hosting provider. When you register a new domain name, look for a provider that also offers web hosting and a site builder, so that you can purchase everything at once and get your site set up quickly.

Our picks of the best website builders

An easy-to-use website builder that lets users create attractive online stores.

Visit Square Online

Easy-to-use, no-code, hosted website builder. Great for beginners.

Visit Wix

Create, sell, and market your business from one place.

Visit Squarespace

Unless you plan to operate a solo business (with you as the only worker), you will likely need to hire employees. To do this, you will need a federal employer identification number (EIN), which is a free tax ID number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to ensure that you satisfy any state-level requirements for employers. For instance, when you hire someone new, you must report the new hire to the New Hire Reporting Center (more info here). And you’ll need to ensure that the employee holds all the necessary certifications or professional licenses needed for their work (restaurant workers will need health permits, for example). 

Finally, you’ll need to stay on top of Maine employer taxes. This includes registering for and paying unemployment insurance tax, as well as withholding tax. There will likely be other requirements as well; check with your CPA for details. 

At this point, you also should look into setting up your payroll system – whether you handle it yourself, or use a payroll service.

Now it’s time to get down to business and engage with the day-to-day activities that are sure to bring your business success. This means marketing your products and services, maintaining good relationships with your return customers, and setting yourself apart from the competition.

Still have questions about running a business in Maine? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions.

What are some business resources in Maine?

Maine entrepreneurs have a variety of quality business resources at their disposal. A great place to start is at the website of the Maine Small Business Development Center (SBDC). This resource provides free business advisor services, webinars and training, and many other useful resources. Other good resources include the SCORE Maine and the US Small Business Administration (SBA).

What is the minimum wage in Maine?

In 2021, the Maine minimum wage is $12.15 per hour. It is adjusted every year, to keep up with the increase in costs of living. Generally, the increase is small (it went from $12 to $12.15 per hour in 2021). Check with the Maine Department of Labor for the latest information on minimum wage laws.

Individual cities or counties are also able to impose their own minimum wage laws that may exceed Maine’s minimum wage. Check with local government officials in your area to ensure your business is compliant with all local rules.

What business taxes does Maine have?

Maine businesses must pay a variety of business taxes. Any business that sells taxable goods or services must pay the Maine sales tax (currently 5.5% for general sales, 8% on prepared food, and other rates for specific business activities – see here). Taxable goods that are used or consumed by the business may also be subject to use tax.

Maine businesses may also be subject to corporate income tax, unemployment insurance tax, withholding tax, and potentially others. See the Maine Revenue Service’s website for details.

How do I dissolve an LLC or Corporation in Maine?

To close a business in Maine, you must “dissolve” it. To do this, you will need to file voluntary dissolution paperwork with the state of Maine. For LLCs, this is the Certificate of Cancellation for a Maine LLC.

There will be other required steps, as well, such as closing down your business tax accounts and filing any outstanding tax returns. It’s best to work with a CPA for this process, as closing a business can be complex.

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