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Written by: Coralee Bechteler
Published on August 16, 2022
Updated on January 29, 2023
If you’re starting an LLC, the business entity formation process is one of the first and most important hurdles. This step can be terribly complex and time-consuming, which is why many entrepreneurs turn to professional formation services.
But which are the best LLC formation services in Maryland? This article takes a closer look, stepping into an entrepreneur’s shoes, to help you choose the service that puts you on the road to success.
A business formation service handles the business formation process for you, making it nearly seamless while offering additional services that can make life easier for a new business owner. Whether you’re forming a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation, a business formation service takes care of all the red tape, freeing you up to focus on growing your business.
With so many business formation services to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you. There are four essential elements that can help you make your decision.
Each service offers various products and services and their plans are all designed differently. You may need some services but not others, so you need to choose the service that offers everything you need. For example, only some of the providers offer annual report filing.
If it’s important to you to get that task off your plate, you’ll want a service that offers that feature. Another feature you might need is a digital dashboard where you can always access your business formation documents.
You’ll want to choose a service that has everything you need to make starting and running your business as easy as possible.
One good way to learn about the quality of anything you’re buying is to listen to what people are saying about it. When we review services we look at Better Business Bureau ratings and reviews, as well as TrustPilot reviews. It’s wise to look at both positive and negative reviews to find out what people love about the service, and about issues customers have encountered.
Remember that fake reviews are common, so you’ll have to take some of the reviews with a grain of salt.
Of course, you’ll want to get the best value for your money!
Compare the cost of each service for everything you need. The price can really add up when you start adding extras, so be careful not to go too far. You also want to get good value and great customer service, so if you’re considering the cheapest service, check the reviews to see how people felt about it.
Business formation turnaround times vary with each service, so if you’re in a hurry to get your business up and running, you’ll want to look for the quickest service. You don’t want your order to sit in an office for too long before your paperwork gets filed with the state. Some services differentiate themselves with fast turnaround times, so if they also offer good value, that might be your best choice.
Here we summarize our top four picks of business formation services in Maryland.
Northwest Registered Agent offers a la carte services and a financing plan that allows customers to spread their total formation fees over one year.
The BizFilings Basic Plan and Standard plan both offer good value, and the site is easy to use.
Swyft Filings has three business formation packages and a variety of a la carte services. Swyft Filings is known for their quick signup process and faster turnaround times.
BetterLegal offers one business formation plan for $299 plus state fees, and affordable registered agent services.
Northwest Registered Agent offers several a la carte services and one business formation package, the Corporate Guide Service plan, which includes a year of registered agent services and allows you to pay your total LLC formation fees over the course of a year. All customers have online access to their documents and full customer support.
The Corporate Guide Service spreads your filing and service fees over your first year of business. Your monthly bill and total expenses for the year will reflect Maryland fees. Your monthly bill will be $50, while your expenses for the year will total $600.
This package includes the preparation and filing of both your LLC formation documents and an EIN application. Customers receive same-day processing, an operating agreement, registered agent services for one year, a business address and a limited mail forwarding address, in addition to a prepared banking resolution.
It also provides online access to your documents, customer service support, and a virtual business guide, making it a great value at a reasonable monthly price. Additional services will need to be purchased separately at a later time.
Northwest Registered Agent’s a la carte services must be paid for in full at the time of purchase. This option allows customers to add more business services or tools to your LLC formation order, such as a certified copy or a second phone number. Paying upfront for business formation services will cost $225 plus Maryland fees. The total expense will be $380.
Northwest Registered Agent’s Corporate Guide Service is a great value for entrepreneurs with a limited budget. Competitors like LegalZoom offer similar packages, but Northwest Registered Agent’s plan tends to be cheaper and include more services. Their a la carte streamlined pricing is uncommon among competitors and benefits businesses that intend to take over responsibilities gradually.
The BizFilings Basic Plan offers good value compared to others, since they offer a few extras with the plan, including registered agent services for six months. You can purchase extra services with all their plans, including an operating agreement and other forms, and a business license research package.
They don’t offer as many services as some competitors, but if you’re just interested in forming your business, they are a good option.
The Basic Plan includes a business name availability search through your state and the business formation service, as well as registered agent services for six months, which is something most competitors do not offer. It also offers a 24/7 business monitoring tool and a library of common business documents. In Maryland, the total price is $254.
The $384 Standard Plan, including the state fee, includes all the services above plus an LLC kit and seal, an operating agreement and other form templates, and expedited processing.
The $514 Complete Plan includes Maryland state fees and offers everything in the Standard Plan with several added benefits, such as:
Most of the BizFilings plans and services are a good value. Their site is easy to use and they provide great customer service. They don’t offer as many services as some competitors, but if you’re just looking for a business formation service, they are a good option. If you’re looking for more services, LegalZoom might be a better choice.
Swyft Filings has three business formation packages and a variety of a la carte services. Package prices range from $49 to $299 plus state filing fees, and are sold for a one-time expense. Swyft Filings is known for speed, as their signup process is quick and they have faster turnaround times.
Swyft Filings Basic Package costs $204 (including Maryland’s state fees) and provides the verification of your company name, preparation of the articles of organization, and document filing with the state of Maryland. You’ll also get online access to your documents and lifetime customer support. This plan comes with a one-hour business tax consultation to help you prepare for your first tax season, and company compliance alerts so you never miss a deadline.
In Maryland, Swyft Filings’ Standard Package price plus state fees comes to a total of $304. This includes all the services included in the Basic Package, but with the addition of a custom operating agreement and a federal tax ID, or EIN. You will also get access to custom banking resolution services and custom organizational minutes, which is a form that helps you set up your very first meeting as an LLC.
For $454, the Premium Package includes Maryland fees and offers everything in the Standard Package with the advantage of expedited filing, as well as a business website and web hosting services. You also get a digital LLC kit, which includes a digital company “seal”, a ledger for tracking transfers of ownership, and customized stock certificates.
Swyft Filings lives up to its name in terms of speedy processing times. However, the biggest drawback is that they don’t include registered agent services in any of their packages. Additionally, the registered agent service is $149 per quarter, whereas many other LLC formation services either charge an annual fee or bundle it with other offerings.
BetterLegal’s LLC Formation Plan is their only packaged offering. For $299 plus state fees, it includes an operating agreement, employer identification number (EIN), and the business formation service. It also includes amendment or document research services and a business website.
BetterLegal’s LLC Formation Plan costs a one-time fee of $299 plus state fees. In Maryland, the total price is $454 and includes business name availability search and preparation and filing of the articles of organization. It also includes an operating agreement draft which allows you to record all pertinent information related to the ownership of your business, governance and business structure.
In Maryland, the LLC Formation Plan costs a total one-time cost of $454 and includes business name availability search and filing of the articles of organization. It also includes an operating agreement draft which allows you to record all pertinent information related to the ownership of your business, governance and business structure.
The BetterLegal LLC Formation Plan also includes a federal tax identification number, or EIN. You’ll need this number to open a business bank account and pay your employees and taxes.
The plan also comes with free website services, insurance evaluation, and tax analysis. BetterLegal is known for being a leading tax services provider, so you can rest assured that you’ll receive expert tax advice. You also receive amendment or document research services, minute templates, officer designation, banking resolution, and S corp tax election.
Note that this plan does not include registered agent services, which you can add for $10 per month or $90 per year.
BetterLegal is a bit more expensive than its competitors, especially Incfile. However, their registered agent services are better priced and also offer a monthly payment option, which is unique.
As an entrepreneurial advisory site, we take our responsibilities seriously. We understand that countless entrepreneurs, and potential entrepreneurs, rely on our judgments and insights, particularly when it comes to creating their business.
As a result, our writers do their utmost to gain a comprehensive understanding of the services offered and the actual customer experience. In nearly every case, we:
Thanks to this full immersion in the actual customer experience, our reviewers are able to provide the most complete and insightful analysis of various LLC formation services.
Using a business formation service to start your Maryland LLC frees you up to focus on growing your business. These services handle the filing process for you and offer additional services that can make life easier for a new business owner.
Incfile is great for entrepreneurs on a budget, as their Silver Package covers the basics and includes a free year of their registered agent service. Competitors like LegalZoom and Swyft Filings have a more robust suite of services, but can be more expensive.
Northwest Registered Agent offers a competitive Corporate Guide Service package for entrepreneurs on a strict budget. Customers that purchase this package benefit from Northwest Registered Agent paying your business fees upfront, allowing you to pay them back monthly at a lower price by distributing your bill over the course of a year.
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