State registration fee
$250
maine.gov, read October 2026
Foreign LLC guide · Maine
Maine Foreign LLC Registration Fees (2026): the Official Numbers and the 3 Best Services
Mainstay Filing ($199), Maine Registered Agent.co ($199) and ME Registered Agent.org ($199) come first, second and third for registering an out-of-state LLC in Maine in 2026. Expect $250 to the state for registration, plus $150 for each report. Maine ranks number 35th of 50 on three-year cost.
Maine at a glance
35th
on a 50-state list of foreign LLC state cost
The lowest total takes number 1 (tied). Every state side by side
Recurring report
$150
Annual report for a foreign LLC
Certificate from home state
90 days
Newest age allowed
State charges over 3 years
$550
The first filing and two years of upkeep
Ranked services for Maine
The method page lists every criterion and weight.
1. Mainstay Filing: best for a third or fourth state later on
$199 plus the state fee; agent $149 per year from year 2
Number one, Mainstay Filing, for this reason: the provider fee is $199 in any state, and the first year of agent service costs nothing.
Maine Registered Agent.co costs $100 less over three years, but this provider handles more of the state paperwork, and coverage is what puts it first.
After year 1, agent service runs $149 yearly everywhere.
What the price takes in
- Files the registration for you
- Registered agent costs nothing in the first year
- The price does not change with the state
In its favor
- One price, any state
- Agent service is included for year 1
- $199 on top of Maine's fee
Against it
- Maine Registered Agent.co's agent renews for $50 less
2. Maine Registered Agent.co: best for registering only in Maine
$199 plus the state fee; agent $99 per year from year 2
In second place sits Maine Registered Agent.co: a provider fee of $199 and an agent renewal of $99.
What the price takes in
- Takes care of the foreign registration filing
- A year of agent service
In its favor
- $199 to register
- The first agent year is included
- Then $99 yearly
Against it
- Only Maine; your home state needs its own agent
3. ME Registered Agent.org: best for Maine registrations
$199 plus the state fee; agent $99 per year from year 2
In third place sits ME Registered Agent.org: a provider fee of $199 and an agent renewal of $99.
Its prices equal Maine Registered Agent.co's, so the two are close.
What the price takes in
- Takes care of the foreign registration filing
- A year of agent service
In its favor
- The first agent year is included
- Then $99 yearly
- $199 to register
Against it
- Only Maine; your home state needs its own agent
3 providers next to each other
| No. | Provider | First year | Later years | Provider fees over 3 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Maine Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Maine Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | ME Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit ME Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Every price here was read from the company's own site on November 13, 2026. No row includes the $250 state fee.
Registration cost calculator
The registration fee is $250, with a $150 report from year 2; provider fees are added.
Maine and the states around it in the ranking
| Place | State | Three-year foreign LLC fees |
|---|---|---|
| 34th | Vermont | $495 |
| 35th | Alaska | $550 |
| 35th | Maine | $550 |
| 37th | Arkansas | $570 |
| 38th | Kentucky | $645 |
Foreign LLC fees by state puts every state in order, lowest cost first.
Maine filing for LLCs formed in other states
Send the Statement of Foreign Qualification to Conduct Activities (Form MLLC-12) to the Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions with $250. Enclose certificate of existence, issued in the past 90 days.
Reports after registration: the Annual report for a foreign LLC ($150), June 1.
Pre-filing checklist
- Certificate of existence, not older than 90 days.
- The home-state legal name and date of formation.
- A registered agent located in the state (each pick includes one).
- A method of paying the $250 filing fee.
The price of not registering
The state's courts will not take a lawsuit from an LLC that has not registered (31 MRSA 1629(1)).
Why the Maine ranking looks like this
In Maine, Mainstay Filing beat Maine Registered Agent.co on paperwork inside the price (28%).
Your LLC is already formed somewhere else, so a provider that can serve both states earned the top score.
Short answers
How much does it cost a foreign LLC to register in Maine?
$250 at the state office. The providers here charge $199 more.
Which form registers a foreign LLC in Maine?
The Statement of Foreign Qualification to Conduct Activities (Form MLLC-12), which is sent to the Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions.
Does the state want a certificate from the home state?
Yes, it wants certificate of existence, dated within 90 days of the filing.
Does a foreign LLC file anything every year?
Yes, it files the Annual report for a foreign LLC for $150.
What are the consequences of working there without registering?
The state's courts will not take a lawsuit from an LLC that has not registered (31 MRSA 1629(1)).
Does a foreign LLC in Maine need a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which service would you choose to register a foreign LLC?
Choose Mainstay Filing: $199 plus the Maine state fee, then $149 a year for the agent starting in year 2. Then Maine Registered Agent.co and ME Registered Agent.org.
Where these facts come from
- Check our statements on Maine Secretary of State against maine.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Maine Secretary of State against maine.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Maine report due date against maine.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on 31 M.R.S. sec. 1531 against legislature.maine.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Maine formation fee: Filing fee, official source against legislature.maine.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Maine registered agent statute against legislature.maine.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Maine Secretary of State, foreign entities against maine.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Form MLLC-12 against maine.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on 31 MRSA § 1622, foreign qualification against legislature.maine.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on 31 MRSA § 1623, activities that do not against legislature.maine.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on 31 MRSA § 1629, consequences of not qualifying against legislature.maine.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Vermont Secretary of State, foreign registration against sos.vermont.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Vermont Secretary of State, fees and statutes against sos.vermont.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on 11 V.S.A. § 4112, application for certificate of against legislature.vermont.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on 11 V.S.A. § 4113, activities that are not against legislature.vermont.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on 11 V.S.A. § 4033, annual report against legislature.vermont.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Form 08-0497, Certificate of Registration against commerce.alaska.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.600 to 10.50.670 against akleg.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.675 to 10.50.720 against akleg.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.750 to 10.50.765 against akleg.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Alaska Statutes, AS 43.70.020 to 43.70.030 against akleg.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Arkansas Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms and against sos.arkansas.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Form FL-01 against sos.arkansas.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Act 1041 of 2021, Uniform LLC Act against arkleg.state.ar.us, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on 2026 LLC franchise tax report and instructions against sos.arkansas.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Form FL-04, application for cancellation against sos.arkansas.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Kentucky Secretary of State, business filings against sos.ky.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Form FBE, Certificate of Authority against web.sos.ky.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on KRS 14A.9-020, consequences of transacting business without authority against apps.legislature.ky.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on KRS 14A.9-010, authority to transact business required against apps.legislature.ky.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on KRS 14A.6-010, annual report against apps.legislature.ky.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Kentucky Secretary of State, fee schedule against sos.ky.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official against revenue.ky.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- As read November 13, 2026, Mainstay Filing shows Maine service page on its site
- As read November 13, 2026, Maine Registered Agent.co shows pricing page on its site
- As read November 13, 2026, ME Registered Agent.org shows pricing page on its site