Maryland is a great place to do business. With excellent access to venture capital and one of the best startup survival rates in the nation, Maryland is home to some of the most exciting startups on the east coast.
Whether you’re looking to start a flashy startup or a simple local business, this guide can help. We’ll walk you through how to start a business in Maryland so that you can join the ranks of MD entrepreneurs. Here’s how.
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Decide on a business idea
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.
Plan your Maryland business
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 major step you must take is to research potential business names for your new company. Take your time with this step, because you want to select a name that is both relevant to your business/industry and memorable for your customers or clients.
The name you select will likely end in “LLC”, “corporation”, “incorporated”, etc. depending on the business structure you choose (more on this below). It will be the formal legal name for your business entity, and will also be the primary name that you do business under.
There are some rules that must be followed when it comes to naming your MD business. The most important is that the name must be unique from the names of other businesses registered in Maryland. That means that the name must be distinguishable from other business names already registered in MD.
To confirm if a name is available or not, you can conduct a business entity name search online.
Other rules that must be considered include:
- 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 Maryland business name rules page for details.
Once you have found a name that is a good fit for your business and is available, you can go ahead and register it by forming your legal business entity. If you’re not quite ready to move on, you can also reserve the business name for 30 days by paying a $25 filing fee and submitting the application.
Maryland trade names
Maryland allows businesses already registered in the state to utilize trade names, otherwise known as doing business as names or “DBA”. Trade names allow you to legally do business under a name other than the formal business name your business entity is registered as.
Using trade names gives you more flexibility in how you brand and market your business. You can apply for a trade name (after verifying it’s available) with the Maryland State Department.
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.
Decide on a business structure
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.
Register your business in Maryland
It’s now time to formally register your business. This is done with the State Department of Assets and Taxation and can be done online through Maryland Business Express. You can also file the necessary paperwork through the mail if you prefer.
You have two options when it comes to registering your business:
- You can do all the work yourself (see below for details)
- You can hire a professional business formation service to help you
If you want the fastest, most efficient route, it’s definitely worthwhile to use a service. These companies specialize in forming new business entities. They can help walk you through the entire process from start to finish, and help ensure that you don’t make any mistakes.
Some good options if you choose to go with a service are Northwest Registered Agent, ZenBusiness, and Bizee. These three services offer low-cost packages to help you form your new business entity accurately and efficiently.
If you decide to do the work on your own, the basic process includes:
- Choosing a name for your Maryland business
- Choosing a Maryland Registered Agent for your business. This agent is responsible for receiving notice of lawsuits and other important documents on behalf of your company.
- Filing formation documents with the Maryland Secretary of State
- Applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- Applying for other necessary permits or licenses
The exact steps that you’ll need to take depend on the type of business entity you are forming. Specifics for the most common business types are found below:
Form a Maryland sole proprietorship
Follow these steps:
- Decide if you will operate under your legal name, or use a trade name
- If you use a name other than your own, you may need to register a trade name
- Apply for a business license and/or other necessary permits from local governments (city/county)
- More information here
Form a Maryland LLC
Follow these steps:
- Name your new LLC
- Choose a Maryland Registered Agent (or use a service such as Northwest Registered Agent)
- File the LLC Certificate of Organization online, and pay the $100 filing fee. You can also file this document through the mail
- Draft an LLC operating agreement
- Apply for an EIN with the IRS
Form a Maryland corporation
Follow these steps:
- Decide on your desired corporate tax structure (S corp or C corp)
- Name your new Maryland corporation
- Choose a Registered Agent
- Hold an organizational meeting and appoint directors
- File the Maryland Articles of Incorporation online, and pay the $120 filing fee. This form can also be filed through the mail
- Apply for an EIN from the IRS
Our picks of the best registered agent services
Apply for business licenses and permits
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: Maryland may require additional permits and/or licenses in order to operate legally in the state. Check the Maryland Business Express 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.
Secure funding
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.
Set up your business finances
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.
Create a business website
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
Hire employees
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).
Obtaining an EIN is the main federal requirement to satisfy before you can hire employees. However, there are additional requirements on the state level.
Whenever you hire a new employee, you must report the new hire to the appropriate new hire reporting center. You should also ensure that the employee holds all the necessary permits or licenses that they need for the position (restaurant workers will need health permits, for example).
You should also register for employer tax accounts at this time. The combined online application lets you open all the necessary tax accounts at once.
At this point, you also should look into setting up your payroll system – whether you handle it yourself, or use a payroll service.
Run and grow your business
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.
Maryland business FAQs
Still have questions about running a business in Maryland? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions.
What are some business resources in Maryland?
There are a variety of helpful resources available to Maryland entrepreneurs. A good option to start exploring is the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC). This resource provides free business advisor services, webinars and training, and many other useful resources. Another great resource is the US Small Business Administration (SBA), as well as local Maryland chapters of the SBA.
What is the minimum wage in Maryland?
The Maryland minimum wage is currently $11.75 per hour, as of 2021. Employers with fewer than 15 employees can pay a slightly reduced wage of $11.65 per hour.
There are a few exceptions to this rule. Tipped employees can be paid as little as $3.63 per hour (so long as the total wages, including tips, adds up to the minimum wage of $11.75 per hour). And employees under 18 may earn 85% of the minimum wage.
Minimum wage laws are subject to change. Be sure to check the Maryland Department of Labor for the latest information.
Finally, keep in mind that individual cities and counties are also able to impose their own minimum wage laws that may exceed Maryland’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 Maryland have?
There are a variety of business taxes that firms in Maryland must pay. Any business that sells taxable goods or services must pay the Maryland sales tax (currently 6% for general sales and 9% for alcoholic beverages). Taxable goods that are used or consumed by the business may also be subject to use tax.
MD businesses may also be subject to corporate income tax, unemployment insurance tax, withholding tax, and potentially others. See MarylandTaxes.gov for details.
How do I dissolve an LLC or Corporation in Maryland?
To close a business in Maryland, you must “dissolve” it. To do this, you will need to file voluntary dissolution paperwork with the state of Maryland. For LLCs, this is the Articles of Cancellation. For corporations, this is the Articles of Dissolution.
There will be other required steps, as well, such as closing down your business tax accounts and filing any outstanding tax returns. It’s recommended to hire a CPA for this process because the process of closing down a business can be complex.
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