Starting a Business in Maine

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Business Entity Formation

Business entities are formed by registration with the Department of the Secretary of State of Maine.

Limited Liability Company

Filing a Domestic LLC (for profit company, first registered in Maine) is a $175 initial filing fee, $85 annual fee, and may not be submitted online. Expedited service is available for an additional fee. Standard turnaround is 3-5 business days. While you wait expedited services ($100) and 24-hour expedited services ($50) are available. An annual report is required to be filed every year in order to maintain a good standing status. The legal filing deadline is June 1st.

Filing a Foreign LLC (for profit company, first registered elsewhere) is a $250 initial filing fee, $150 annual fee, and may not be submitted online. Expedited service is available for an additional fee. Standard turnaround is 3-5 business days. While you wait expedited services ($100) and 24-hour expedited services ($50) are available.An annual report is required to be filed every year in order to maintain a good standing status. The legal filing deadline is June 1st.

Corporation

Filing a Domestic Corporation (for profit company, first registered in Maine) is a $145 initial filing fee, $85 annual fee, and may not be submitted online. Expedited service is available for an additional fee. Standard turnaround is 3-5 business days. While you wait expedited services ($100) and 24-hour expedited services ($50) are available. An annual report is required to be filed every year in order to maintain a good standing status. The legal filing deadline is June 1st.

Filing a Foreign Corporation (for profit company, first registered elsewhere) is a $250 initial filing fee, $150 annual fee, and may not be submitted online. Expedited service is available for an additional fee. Standard turnaround is 3-5 business days. While you wait expedited services ($100) and 24-hour expedited services ($50) are available.An annual report is required to be filed every year in order to maintain a good standing status. The legal filing deadline is June 1st.

Sole Proprietor

A sole proprietor business does not require registration with the state.

DBA (Doing Business As) or Fictitious Business Name

Maine allows individuals and businesses to register a fictitious business name. This process is administered at the State level for corporations and LLCs, county level for sole proprietorships. For more information on DBAs in Maine visit this website.

Business Licenses

General licenses to operate a business are managed at the town/city level in Maine. For more information on business licenses in Maine visit their website.

Professional Licenses

There are a number of professions that require a state license in Maine. For more information on professional licenses, visit this website. The Office of Licensing and Registration ("OLR") is an umbrella agency consisting of 38 professional and occupational licensing boards and licensing programs.

State Income Tax

Maine does have a state income tax for individuals. Maine does have a state income tax for corporations. Visit this website for more information on business income taxes in Maine.

Maine does have a franchise tax for corporations. The Maine franchise tax is imposed on banks and financial institutions.

State Sales Tax

Maine does have a state sales tax. Visit this website for more information on sales taxes in Maine. Apply for an Maine sales tax permit here. This online service allows new businesses to register with Maine Revenue Services for Sales & Use Tax, Use Tax, and/or Income Tax Withholding.

Employer Assistance

The state of Maine administers labor and employment issues through the State of Maine's Department of Labor.

Unemployment Insurance

Unemployment insurance information for employers in Maine is available at this website. The program is funded by Unemployment Taxes paid by employers based on the amount of wages paid for covered employment. The Unemployment Tax is paid on the first $12,000 in gross wages an employer pays to an individual in a calendar year.

Unemployment insurance information for workers in Maine is available at this location.

Workers' Compensation

Information for employers in Maine regarding Worker's Compensation is available from the Maine Worker's Compensation Board website.

Occupational Health & Safety

Maine provides Occupational Health & Safety support through Occupational Safety and Health Data Collection and Injury Prevention Work Group. Visit their website.

Resources for Starting a Business in Maine