Rank1
Best here
1. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for the smallest yearly fee on this list
$99 yearly, unchanged
Editor score9.1out of 10
Maryland Registered Agent.co takes the top spot because the plan is $99 a year, flat, and papers served on the company reach you as online scans.
Maryland Registered Agent.co provides the state street address on the public record and sends you scans of any legal papers served there.
It costs less than Mainstay Filing over three years, and cost is one of our two heaviest criteria.
In the price
- A state street address on file as the registered office
- You read served legal papers online as scans
Good
- Mainstay Filing charges more per year
- A yearly plan at $99 that does not rise
- Forms LLCs as well, with year one of agent service free
Watch for
- You handle the Business Entity Annual Report yourself
- Made for Maryland; another state needs a different agent
Rank2
Best yearly price
2. MD Registered Agent.org: best for Maryland specialists
$99 yearly, unchanged
Editor score8.8out of 10
MD Registered Agent.org makes the list at number two because the plan is $99 a year, flat, and papers served on the company reach you as online scans.
The registered office address comes from MD Registered Agent.org, which keeps a street address in the state, and papers served on the company arrive in your account as scans.
MD Registered Agent.org matches Maryland Registered Agent.co on price and features, so this pair is a near tie.
In the price
- A state street address on file as the registered office
- You read served legal papers online as scans
Good
- Yearly cost below Mainstay Filing
- $99 yearly with no change at renewal
- Formation comes with a free first agent year
Watch for
- You handle the Business Entity Annual Report yourself
- Made for Maryland; another state needs a different agent
Rank3
Best all-in coverage
3. Mainstay Filing: best for all fifty states
$149 yearly, unchanged
Editor score8.7out of 10
Mainstay Filing makes the list at number three because the price is $149 a year whether you stay in one state or add more, with three government letters a year scanned at no charge.
Starting from scratch? The formation package is $199 a year and adds the Maryland filing and the annual report.
Maryland Registered Agent.co undercuts it by $150 across three years, which leaves Mainstay Filing second on cost.
In the price
- An in-state street address on the public record
- Free scans of served papers on the same business day
- The first three letters from government offices each year, scanned at no charge
- Compliance reminders
Good
- Takes LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits
- $149 a year, and it holds at renewal
- Free scans of three government letters each year
- Papers served on the company are scanned the same business day at no charge
Watch for
- The agent alone is $50 a year more than Maryland Registered Agent.co
- Unless you buy the formation package, the annual report is yours to file
The 3 picks side by side
The 10-point scores come from Filing Shortlist's editors and the criteria on How we rank. They are not customer ratings.
Maryland registered agent pricing in 2026: first year, renewals, three-year total
Every price comes from the company's own pages as of November 12, 2026. Maryland's own fees stay the same whichever agent you pick.
What decided the order
Three-year price separated the picks in Maryland. The method gives three-year price 28%, gives what the price covers 28% and splits 44% over renewal terms, fit for the state and price clarity.
Maryland Registered Agent.co adds up to $297 over three years, which is $150 below Mainstay Filing. A company with a Maryland agent need gains little from fifty-state reach, so the smaller yearly price settled it.
Every criterion and weight is set out on How we rank.
Maryland resident agent rules from the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT)
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a Maryland address on file with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; P.O. boxes are not accepted. The LLC also keeps a principal office in Maryland. Statute: Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-101(x).
The Maryland Business Entity Annual Report: price and deadline
Every company formed here files the Business Entity Annual Report every year. The state charges $300 and wants it April 15. The reminders about it go to your resident agent.
Common questions about Maryland registered agents
Does the company need to name a resident agent in Maryland?
It does. Maryland wants each LLC to name a resident agent with a street address inside the state, and that name stays on the public record.
How much do agents in Maryland charge per year?
Yearly prices span $99 to $149, and each company holds its price at renewal.
Can the owner be the resident agent?
Yes, if you meet the state's conditions. A Maryland resident, or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership.
By what date is the Maryland Business Entity Annual Report due?
The deadline is April 15, and the state charges $300.
Which registered agents made this shortlist?
Maryland Registered Agent.co ($99 a year), MD Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), listed from the top pick down.
Which Maryland registered agent makes the shortlist first?
Maryland Registered Agent.co, because it charges $99 a year, the same at renewal, the smallest yearly price on this list.