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Register Your Delaware LLC in Maryland

Step-by-step foreign qualification requirements, fees, and filing instructions for Delaware LLCs expanding into Maryland.

Cost Summary

Maryland filing fee
$100
Delaware Certificate of Good Standing (Short Form)
$50
Annual obligation in Maryland
$300/year franchise tax
Estimated year 1 total
$450
Note: Year 1 total includes the $100 filing fee in Maryland plus the $50 Certificate of Good Standing (Short Form) fee from Delaware. Registered agent fees (typically $100-$200/year) are not included.
Delaware data verified Apr 18, 2026 · corp.delaware.gov
Maryland data verified May 1, 2026 · dat.maryland.gov

How to register your Delaware LLC in Maryland

1

Check name availability in Maryland

Before filing, verify that your LLC name (or a distinguishable variation) is available in Maryland. If your exact name is already taken, you may need to register under a fictitious or assumed name.

Check the Maryland Secretary of State website for name availability search.

2

Get a Certificate of Good Standing (Short Form) from Delaware

Maryland requires a Certificate of Good Standing (Short Form) from Delaware to prove your LLC is in good standing. The fee is $50. No state-imposed expiration; many receiving parties (Maryland, New York) require certificate dated within 30-60 days.

3

File the Registration of Foreign LLC in Maryland

Submit your application along with the Certificate of Good Standing (Short Form) and the $100 filing fee. Processing time is 7-10 business days. Expedited processing available for $50.

Maryland filing portal ↗
4

Appoint a registered agent in Maryland

You must designate a registered agent with a physical address in Maryland to accept legal documents on behalf of your LLC. This is required as part of the foreign qualification application.

Ongoing compliance in Maryland

Annual report
$300/year franchise tax
Report due
April 15
Processing time
7-10 business days
Expedite
$50
Note: The $300 is technically a personal property tax return fee, not a franchise tax. Maryland may waive this fee for businesses that file online via Maryland Business Express. Verify current waiver status before budgeting.

Activities that do NOT require registration in Maryland

  • Maintaining or defending a lawsuit, administrative proceeding, or arbitration
  • Holding meetings of members or managers, or carrying on internal company affairs
  • Maintaining bank accounts
  • Maintaining offices or agencies for the transfer, exchange, or registration of the LLC's own securities
  • Selling through independent contractors
  • Soliciting or obtaining orders if orders require acceptance outside the state before becoming contracts
  • Creating or acquiring indebtedness, mortgages, or security interests in real or personal property
  • Securing or collecting debts, or enforcing mortgages or security interests
  • Owning real or personal property
  • Conducting an isolated transaction completed within 30 days that is not part of repeated similar transactions
  • Transacting business in interstate commerce

Maryland's Limited Liability Company Act, codified at Title 4A of the Corporations and Associations Article, lists activities at Section 4A-1009 ('Doing business'). NOTE: Maryland's safe harbors list is non-standard. It does not match the typical RMBCA enumeration (omits independent contractors, soliciting orders, interstate commerce, isolated transactions) and includes foreclosure-specific activities not found in other states. Subsection (b) carves IN ownership of income-producing property as transacting business. Maryland uses 'doing business' rather than 'transacting business.' The list applied here is the standard RULLCA list and may need state-specific tailoring.

Need a registered agent in Maryland?

A registered agent is required for foreign qualification. These services operate in all 50 states.

Get Northwest Registered Agent ↗
Recommended · $125/year · Privacy included
Registered Agents Inc
$200/year · Includes annual report filing
Visit site ↗
Harbor Compliance
$99/year · Full-service compliance option
Visit site ↗

Check your full compliance

Use our free tool to check if you need to register in additional states.

Start free compliance check ↗

This page provides general information based on publicly available state requirements. It is not legal advice. Verify all fees and requirements with the Maryland Secretary of State before filing.