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State Filing Data LLC fees by state, read from the source.

Foreign LLC guide · Maine

Maine Foreign LLC Registration (2026): Fees and the 3 Best Services

In 2026 we'd hire ME Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and Maine Registered Agent.co ($199) for foreign LLC registration in Maine, in that order. On the state's schedule a foreign LLC pays $250 up front and $150 per report, 35th of 50 over three years.
State Filing Data research desk

Maine numbers

of 50, foreign LLC fees over three years

Least expensive state = 1st, tied. See all 50

Registration fee

$250

Source maine.gov (October 2026)

Yearly report

$150

Annual report for a foreign LLC

Home-state certificate

90 days

Maximum age when you file

Three-year state fees

$550

Years one to three, state fees only

Services we'd use in Maine

Five criteria, fixed weights, same for every state. Details: methodology.

We would start here

1. ME Registered Agent.org: best for a low-cost Maine filing

Service fee $199, renewal $99 a year

ME Registered Agent.org leads here. The case for it: $199 plus the state fee, the first agent year included, then $99 a year for the agent.

It beats Mainstay Filing on three-year cost, which is the biggest single weight in our method.

What you pay for

  • Maine registration prepared and filed
  • A year of agent service

For

  • A year of agent service included
  • Low $99 renewal
  • $199 to register

Against

  • Maine only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit ME Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Bundled filings

2. Mainstay Filing: best for expanding companies

Service fee $199, renewal $149 a year

In second place, Mainstay Filing: a $199 service fee in any state, the first agent year included.

A $100 gap over three years against ME Registered Agent.org keeps it out of first place.

Agent service after year one: $149 a year, any state.

What you pay for

  • Registration prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, free for the first year
  • Fifty-state coverage

For

  • Year one agent at no charge
  • Covers all fifty states
  • $199 over the state fee

Against

  • Agent renews at $149, $50 above ME Registered Agent.org
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Maine focus

3. Maine Registered Agent.co: best for a low agent renewal

Service fee $199, renewal $99 a year

Third on our list, Maine Registered Agent.co: $199 plus the state fee, the first agent year included, then $99 a year for the agent.

It publishes the same prices as ME Registered Agent.org, so the two are close.

What you pay for

  • Maine registration prepared and filed
  • A year of agent service

For

  • $199 to register
  • A year of agent service included
  • Low $99 renewal

Against

  • Maine only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit Maine Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3 picks, side by side

#ServiceYear oneFrom year twoThree-year service fees
1 ME Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397
Visit ME Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Maine Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397
Visit Maine Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Company prices read November 12, 2026. Add the $250 state fee to every row.

Foreign LLC calculator

Pick years and a service. The state side is the $250 registration and each yearly report.

State fees $550 plus ME Registered Agent.org at $397: $947 over 3 years.

How Maine compares with nearby ranks

RankStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
34th Vermont$495
35th Alaska$550
35th Maine$550
37th Arkansas$570
38th Kentucky$645

See the 50-state table for every rank.

Registering a foreign LLC in Maine

An LLC formed elsewhere files the Statement of Foreign Qualification to Conduct Activities (Form MLLC-12) with the Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions and pays $250. Include certificate of existence, at most 90 days.

Recurring filing: Annual report for a foreign LLC ($150), June 1.

Checklist

  • Certificate of existence, dated within 90 days.
  • Legal name plus the date the LLC was formed.
  • An in-state registered agent, which each listed service supplies.
  • Payment of the $250 official fee.

Penalties for not registering in Maine

Lawsuits it tries to bring are blocked until the registration is on file (31 MRSA 1629(1)).

The reasoning

Service fees over three years is worth 35% of the score, and it put ME Registered Agent.org ahead of Mainstay Filing here.

Over three years ME Registered Agent.org charges $397 in service fees, $100 less than Mainstay Filing.

Questions

How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC in Maine?

$250 at the state office. Add $199 for a service.

Which form registers a foreign LLC in Maine?

File Statement of Foreign Qualification to Conduct Activities (Form MLLC-12) with the Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions.

Do I need a certificate from my home state?

Yes: certificate of existence, dated within 90 days of filing.

What does a foreign LLC file after registering?

The Annual report for a foreign LLC, $150.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

Lawsuits it tries to bring are blocked until the registration is on file (31 MRSA 1629(1)).

Is a registered agent needed there?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Who should file the registration?

ME Registered Agent.org, then Mainstay Filing and Maine Registered Agent.co. ME Registered Agent.org leads on service fees over three years.

Related guides

Where each figure comes from

  1. [August 2026] Maine Secretary of State: maine.gov
  2. [August 2026] Maine Secretary of State: maine.gov
  3. [August 2026] Maine report due date: maine.gov
  4. [August 2026] 31 M.R.S. sec. 1531: legislature.maine.gov
  5. [October 2026] Maine formation fee: Filing fee, official source: legislature.maine.gov
  6. [October 2026] Maine registered agent statute: legislature.maine.gov
  7. [October 2026] Maine Secretary of State, foreign entities: maine.gov
  8. [October 2026] Form MLLC-12: maine.gov
  9. [October 2026] 31 MRSA § 1622, foreign qualification: legislature.maine.gov
  10. [October 2026] 31 MRSA § 1623, activities that do not: legislature.maine.gov
  11. [October 2026] 31 MRSA § 1629, consequences of not qualifying: legislature.maine.gov
  12. [October 2026] Vermont Secretary of State, foreign registration: sos.vermont.gov
  13. [October 2026] Vermont Secretary of State, fees and statutes: sos.vermont.gov
  14. [October 2026] 11 V.S.A. § 4112, application for certificate of: legislature.vermont.gov
  15. [October 2026] 11 V.S.A. § 4113, activities that are not: legislature.vermont.gov
  16. [October 2026] 11 V.S.A. § 4033, annual report: legislature.vermont.gov
  17. [October 2026] Form 08-0497, Certificate of Registration: commerce.alaska.gov
  18. [October 2026] Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.600 to 10.50.670: akleg.gov
  19. [October 2026] Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.675 to 10.50.720: akleg.gov
  20. [October 2026] Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.750 to 10.50.765: akleg.gov
  21. [October 2026] Alaska Statutes, AS 43.70.020 to 43.70.030: akleg.gov
  22. [October 2026] Arkansas Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms and: sos.arkansas.gov
  23. [October 2026] Form FL-01: sos.arkansas.gov
  24. [October 2026] Act 1041 of 2021, Uniform LLC Act: arkleg.state.ar.us
  25. [October 2026] 2026 LLC franchise tax report and instructions: sos.arkansas.gov
  26. [October 2026] Form FL-04, application for cancellation: sos.arkansas.gov
  27. [October 2026] Kentucky Secretary of State, business filings: sos.ky.gov
  28. [October 2026] Form FBE, Certificate of Authority: web.sos.ky.gov
  29. [October 2026] KRS 14A.9-020, consequences of transacting business without authority: apps.legislature.ky.gov
  30. [October 2026] KRS 14A.9-010, authority to transact business required: apps.legislature.ky.gov
  31. [October 2026] KRS 14A.6-010, annual report: apps.legislature.ky.gov
  32. [October 2026] Kentucky Secretary of State, fee schedule: sos.ky.gov
  33. [October 2026] Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official: revenue.ky.gov
  34. ME Registered Agent.org (pricing page), read on November 12, 2026
  35. Mainstay Filing (Maine service page), read on November 12, 2026
  36. Maine Registered Agent.co (pricing page), read on November 12, 2026