Maryland · Start a business
How to start a business in Maryland
Maryland state business licenses are issued by the Clerks of the Circuit Court in each county.
See the checklistShort answer
To start a business in Maryland, pick a structure and file with the Maryland Department of: $155 for an LLC, $120 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes. Maryland's business license rule covers many businesses.
Last checked .What do you file before you open in Maryland?
Pick a structure
Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See Maryland LLC guide, Maryland corporation guide, S corp or C corp in Maryland. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.
Check and register the name
Search the Maryland Department of records before you pick a name: state name search. The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation registers trade names for a filing fee of $25.00, and a registration is effective for five years from the date of acceptance. 1 See Maryland name search guide.
File with the state
Maryland charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $155 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $120 3. See LLC cost.
Name a registered agent
A Maryland resident agent must be an adult citizen of Maryland or another existing Maryland corporation, with a Maryland street address and no post office box. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Maryland registered agent rules.
Which accounts do you open after you file in Maryland?
Get an EIN
An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. 5
Open your state tax accounts
The Comptroller of Maryland takes new tax account registrations on its Combined Registration Application, a single form for signing up for multiple Maryland tax accounts, which new businesses can file online through Maryland Business Express. 6 See Sales tax permit.
Register as an employer
The Maryland Department of Labor requires employers to register for an employer unemployment insurance account, which they request through the Maryland Unemployment Insurance Portal (BEACON) by selecting Register an Account. 7 The Maryland Department of Human Services requires employers to report newly hired or rehired employees within 20 days, and its Child Support program uses the information to identify people with a child support obligation. 8 The Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission says every employer with one or more employees must provide workers' compensation coverage, with few exceptions, through a licensed insurer or the Chesapeake Employers' Insurance Company. 9
What keeps your Maryland business in good standing?
Check licenses and permits
The Comptroller of Maryland says a State of Maryland business license is required for most businesses, and the Clerks of the Circuit Court issue it in the county where the business is located. 10
Calendar the yearly filings
Maryland annual report / personal property: $300, due April 15 every year. 11 See Maryland annual report.
Use free local help
Small business advising in Maryland runs through the Maryland SBDC Network. 12 Maryland Business Express is the state's start-a-business site, with steps for registering a business in Maryland, obtaining a federal tax ID number, applying for tax accounts and insurance, and obtaining licenses or permits. 13
What it costs to start a business in Maryland
Do you need a business license in Maryland?
Often, yes. Maryland's business license rule covers many businesses but not all of them; the conditions are in step 8. 10 Where to look up licenses: Maryland Business Express.
- Trader's license. Maryland requires a trader's license to sell goods and merchandise, for retailers and wholesalers alike, with a fee based on the commercial inventory value reported on the personal property return, and a license year of May 1 through April 30. 15
How to register a business name in Maryland
| Question | Maryland |
|---|---|
| Where it is filed | With the state 1 |
| Office | Department of Assessments and Taxation |
| What it is called | trade name |
| Fee | $25 |
| Term in years | 5 |
Check that the name is free first: state name search.
Also in Maryland
- FAMLI registration. Maryland requires every employer with at least one employee who works in the state to register with the Family and Medical Leave Insurance program, FAMLI, with no exceptions under state law, and withholding begins January 1, 2027. 16
More for Maryland
Start your Maryland business
We file it, and the state fee shows before you pay.
Start my LLCCommon questions
What are the steps to start a business in Maryland?
Pick a structure, file with the Maryland Department of, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Comptroller of Maryland, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.
What does it cost to register a business in Maryland?
In Maryland, an LLC filing is $155 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $120. The annual report is $300 each year.
Can I start a business in Maryland with no money?
Maryland charges $155 to file an LLC, and the annual report is $300 each year. An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one.
Are there small business grants in Maryland?
The Maryland Department of Commerce describes its grants as funding that does not have to be repaid, for specific activities like exporting, workforce training, manufacturing and industry growth, with set eligibility requirements and application windows for most.
What is the Maryland SBDC?
The Maryland Small Business Development Center Network is managed by a lead center at the University of Maryland, College Park, and has 6 regional locations.
Sources 17 links, checked Nov 12, 2026
- DBA or trade name registration dat.maryland.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Official state fee schedule for LLC filings egov.maryland.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
- Corporation filing dat.maryland.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Registered agent rule dat.maryland.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- State tax registration businessexpress.maryland.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Unemployment insurance registration labor.maryland.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- New hire reporting dhs.maryland.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Workers' compensation coverage wcc.state.md.us, checked Nov 12, 2026
- General business license marylandtaxes.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Maryland annual report / personal property egov.maryland.gov, checked Sep 1, 2026
- Small Business Development Center marylandsbdc.org, checked Nov 12, 2026
- State business portal businessexpress.maryland.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Trader's license marylandtaxes.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- FAMLI registration businessexpress.maryland.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- State small business funding commerce.maryland.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
Last verified Nov 12, 2026.
This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.