Starting an LLC in Maine
Located in the far northeast of the United States, Maine is a beautiful state that’s home to over 1.3 million people. Maine’s key industries include agriculture, manufacturing, electronics, tourism, biotech and textiles.
For most business owners, the fastest and easiest way to start a business in Maine is by creating a Maine LLC. A limited liability company (LLC) is a type of business entity that’s ideal for startups and small- to medium-sized businesses. You get the advantages and protections of larger Maine corporations, but with much simpler rules and regulations.
Briefly, the benefits of starting a Maine LLC include:
- Separating and limiting your personal liability from your business liability and debts
- Quick and simple filing, management, compliance, regulation and administration of your Maine LLC
- Easy tax filing and potential advantages for tax treatment
Learn more about the benefits of the LLC business structure here.
Form a Maine LLC in Six Quick Steps
We’ve got lots of useful information on starting a business in ME. On this page, you’ll find the basic steps of how to form a Maine LLC, with more in-depth content throughout the rest of our guide.
First, you need to gather basic information about your LLC, including the names and addresses of the managers or members. The LLC members are typically the people who own and run the business. They are also the ones who can take profits out of the business to pay themselves.
You will need a distinctive and original name for your LLC that’s not used by any other business in ME. To find out if another company is using your chosen business name, carry out a business entity name search on the ME Secretary of State website.
There are a few rules you’ll need to follow when choosing an LLC name. You can find out more in our guide to naming your Maine LLC.
Every Maine LLC must have a designated street address. That could be your home address (if you’re running the company from your residence), your company’s office building or any physical address of your preference. The address must be inside the state of Maine, but it cannot be a P.O. Box.
Every ME LLC must have a “Registered Agent.” This is an official position; the Registered Agent is someone who receives official legal and tax correspondence and has responsibility for filing reports with the Maine Secretary of State.
This position can be filled by you, another manager in the business or a dedicated Registered Agent service. Your Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Maine and must be present to receive important documents for your company during business hours.
At Incfile, all of our packages include a Maine Registered Agent service that is free for the first year and just $119 per year afterward. We also have a dashboard where you can log in and easily view any document your Registered Agent has received on your behalf.
You will need an EIN to identify your business with the IRS. You use this number when filing and paying taxes or when submitting payroll information and payments for your employees. You can obtain one directly from the IRS, or we can get one for you as part of the Maine LLC business formation process.
Once you've gathered all the information for your LLC, you’ll need to file a formal document with the ME Secretary of State. This document is known as your “Articles of Organization,” and filing the document creates your Maine LLC. Here’s what is typically included:
- Your business name and address
- Details of your Registered Agent
- Names of managers or members of the LLC at the time of filing
- Addresses of managers or members of the LLC at the time of filing
- Name of the incorporator
You can file your Maine Articles of Organization online, mail in a form or have Incfile do it on your behalf. There is a fee to file and start an LLC in Maine, but you only need to file your Articles of Organization once.
Review Information from the Maine Secretary of State
The ME Secretary of State has plenty of information on forming and running a business in Maine.
These are all the basic steps for forming an LLC in Maine. You’ll find other useful information below:
Special Types of Maine LLCs
A regular Maine LLC is suitable for most business needs, but you also have a few other options to incorporate a special type of LLC.
Some states, including Maine, allow certain occupations to form “Professional LLCs.” These types of businesses typically have special requirements and licensing.
Here are the occupations that the ME Secretary of State allows to form professional LLCs:
- Accountants
- Attorneys
- Chiropractors
- Dentists
- Optometrists
- Osteopathic physicians
- Physicians and surgeons
- Physician assistants
- Podiatrists
- Registered nurses
- Veterinarians
If your business is already operating in another state and expanding to Maine, you’ll need to form a foreign LLC.
More information on Maine filing and licensing requirements here.
What to Do After Forming Your Maine LLC
Want to know your next steps after creating a new LLC in Maine? We’ve got you covered. Here’s our guide to understanding your ongoing requirements, setting up new bank accounts, protecting your business name, getting accounting in place and more.
Other Information in This Guide
You’ll find plenty more insight and guidance on the other pages of this guide, including:
Naming Your Maine LLC
How to search the Maine business registry of the Secretary of State and find the right name. Includes information on naming rules, fictitious names, reserving a Maine LLC name and more.
Maine Registered Agents for LLCs
How to appoint a Registered Agent to your new LLC or change to a different Registered Agent. Includes information on Registered Agent rules and searching forMaine Registered Agents.
Fees and Requirements for Maine LLCs
How to understand the various fees you’ll need to pay and the requirements you’ll need to meet for both federal and Maine rules. Includes details of Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), Maine and federal business licenses, annual reports and more.
Federal, State, Sales and Other Taxes for Your Maine LLC
How to understand the various taxes you will need to pay to the federal and Maine government. Includes details of federal taxes like income and self-employment, and Maine taxes like sales tax and income tax.
