Use our free guide below to form a corporation in Maryland:
- Create a Name For Your Maryland Corporation
- Choose a Maryland Registered Agent
- Choose Your Maryland Corporation’s Initial Directors
- File the Articles of Incorporation
- Get an EIN
Or, use a professional service:
Northwest ($29 + state fee)
It’s Easy to Incorporate in Maryland
Forming a corporation in Maryland is a simple process that is achieved by filing the Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State. In the guide below, we will show you step-by-step how to start a corporation in Maryland.
Step 1: Create a Name For Your Maryland Corporation
When naming your Maryland Corporation, you will need to:
- Follow Maryland Name Requirements
- Complete a Name Search With the Maryland Secretary of State
- Consider Securing a Domain Name (URL)
To learn more, read our How to Name a Business in Maryland guide.
Name Requirements
First, you will need to choose a name that complies with Maryland naming guidelines:
- Your name must contain the word “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated,” “limited” or an abbreviation of one of these terms (note: “company” can only be used if it is not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”).
- Your name cannot imply that the corporation is organized for a purpose other than the one outlined in its articles of incorporation.
- Your name must be distinguishable from any existing business in your state. This includes reserved names.
- Your name cannot include words that could confuse your corporation with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
You can also read the Maryland state statutes about corporation naming guidelines for more information.
Name Search With Maryland Business Express
You will need to check name availability by using the Business Entity Search on Maryland Business Express.
This tool is also useful if you decide to register a trade name or DBA (Doing Business As) for your company. For detailed information about setting up a DBA for your Maryland corporation, check out our How to File a DBA in Maryland guide.
Name Reservation
If you have a name in mind, but you aren’t ready to officially form your corporation, you can reserve your name. Your business name can be reserved for 30 days by filing a Corporate Name Reservation Application form with the Maryland State Department of Assessments & Taxation.
The Corporate Name Reservation Application can be filed by mail. There is a $25 fee to file your Maryland Name Reservation.
Secure Domain Name
We recommend checking to see if your business name is available as a web domain (URL). Even if you don’t plan to make a business website today, you may want to buy the web address in order to prevent others from acquiring it. It’s free to search.
Need Help Naming Your Business?
Use our Corporation Name Generator to brainstorm your business’s perfect name. For more help, visit our free How to Name a Business guide. Then, create a logo with our free Logo Maker.
Step 2: Choose a Maryland Registered Agent
When you file your Maryland Articles of Incorporation, you will be asked to give the name of your Maryland registered agent.
A registered agent is a person or entity that accepts tax documents and service of process on behalf of your LLC or corporation.
Who Can Be a Registered Agent? Your registered agent can be an individual, business entity, or professional registered agent service. A registered agent must:
- be 18 years or older
- have a physical address in the state where business activity is conducted
- always be available (in person) during normal business hours
Launch Your Corporation for Less
Northwest offers one year of free registered agent services with their corporation formation package ($29 + State Fees).
Get StartedStep 3: Choose Your Maryland Corporation’s Initial Directors
You must appoint at least one director who, among other things, will oversee your Maryland corporation until the first shareholder meeting.
The directors of a corporation are in charge of the adoption, amendment, and repeal of bylaws as well as the supervision, election, and removal of officers.
Later you will prepare an “Incorporator Statement” with complete names and addresses of each director and keep it in your corporate records book. For now, you only need at least one initial director to list on your Articles of Incorporation.
Step 4: File the Articles of Incorporation
Now that you have chosen a registered agent and at least one director, it’s time to make your corporation official by filing the Articles of Incorporation form with the Maryland State Department of Assessments & Taxation. This document will disclose some basics of your business for the public record, including:
- Corporate name, street address, and statement of purpose
- Corporate registered agent name, signature, and street address
- Number of authorized shares corporation is allowed to issue
- Corporate directors’ names and addresses
- Incorporators’ names and addresses
Filing Fee: $120
Filing Options
Submit the completed Articles of Incorporation form, along with the filing fee, using one of three options:
Mail or In-Person Delivery:
State Department of Assessments and Taxation
Charter Division
301 W. Preston Street; 8th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201-2395
Online: Maryland Business Express
Step 5: Get an EIN
The Employer Identification Number (EIN), or Federal Tax Identification Number, is used to identify a business entity. It is essentially a social security number for the company.
Why do I need an EIN? An EIN is required for the following:
- To open a business bank account for the company
- For Federal and State tax purposes
- To hire employees for the company
Where do I get an EIN? An EIN is obtained from the IRS (free of charge) by the business owner after forming the company. This can be done online or by mail.
To learn more about EINs, read our What is an EIN guide.
Maryland Corporation Operating Procedures and Housekeeping
Set Up a Corporate Records Book
Think of this as the hard-copy record book where all critical corporate documents are kept, like your Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, meeting minutes, stock certificate ledger, stock transfer documents, etc.
You should keep the corporate records book at your principal location. Corporate records book kits can be purchased online, or you can use a large generic binder to store your records.
Prepare Bylaws for Your Maryland Corporation
Bylaws are the rules that determine how your organization will be governed and run.
You can think about the bylaws as a constitution for your corporation. It makes the rules and priorities clear for everyone involved.
In your bylaws, be sure to include:
- How the corporation will be governed – the role of directors and officers
- How meetings are held, voting procedures, electing officers or directors
- How records will be kept and managed
- How disputes will be handled
- How bylaws will be added/amended in the future
NOTE: A corporation’s bylaws will supplement any rules set forth by the federal government or the state.
Ready to get started? Check out these bylaws templates which you can customize to suit the needs of your incorporated business.
Conduct Your First Board of Directors Meeting
An organizational meeting is the first official meeting of your corporation.
These are some of the things that are discussed in a typical organizational meeting:
- Taking attendance to show you have a quorum (minimum number needed)
- Appointing temporary officers, chairmen, secretary, etc.
- Adoption of the bylaws
- Adoption of conflict of interest policy
Don’t forget to record “minutes” of the meeting and have it signed by all attending directors. Here are some corporate minutes templates to help you get the ball rolling.
Protect Your Assets and Stay Compliant
In order to protect your assets and stay compliant after you start your Maryland corporation, you will need to:
Open a Bank Account For Your Maryland Corporation
There are two critical reasons to open a unique corporate bank account.
The first is that separating your personal assets from your business assets adds another layer of protection in the event that your business is sued.
The second is that syncing a single account with business accounting software will make managing your finances much easier.
Find Your Ideal Startup Bank
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Learn MoreEstablish and Build Your Business Credit Score
Building business credit involves a number of factors, including establishing your business’s fundability, getting listed with the most important business credit agencies, and establishing credit lines while keeping them in good standing to build your score.
A good business credit score can help with many things, including credit cards that are issued in your business’s name instead of depending on your personal credit score, better interest rates on loans, higher lines of credit, and more.
All of these factors help protect your personal assets by making your business the entity responsible for the liability instead of yourself.
Accounting For Your Corporation
It’s important to get your books in order, even if you haven’t officially opened for business. A well-managed accounting system will help you:
- Track your business finances, including bills, expenses, and income.
- Simplify and file your annual taxes.
You can maintain your accounting in two ways:
- Use a DIY accounting software. This can come with an increased risk of errors especially when starting a new business.
- Hire an accounting service. They can provide comprehensive advice to help optimize your bookkeeping and taxes as well as additional services such as payroll etc.
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Learn MoreGet Insurance for Your Maryland Corporation
The next step is to protect your corporation by getting business insurance. Depending on the type of corporation you’re operating, your insurance requirements and needs may vary.
So, what is business insurance exactly? Business insurance protects your corporation’s assets from losses that can happen naturally while doing business, such as property damage or lawsuits.
To learn more about the exact type of business insurance your corporation will need, visit our When to Get Insurance for Your New Business guide.
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Learn MoreResearch Business License Requirements
To operate your corporation, you must comply with federal, state, and local government regulations. The details of business licenses and permits vary from state to state, so make sure to research carefully and plan accordingly.
Find out how to obtain necessary licenses and permits for your business or have a professional business licensing service do it for you:
- Federal: Use the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guide.
- State: Use the Maryland Business Express website.
- Local: Contact your local county clerk and ask about local licenses and permits.
Simplify Your Business Incorporation
Discover top-rated online services that streamline the incorporation process, saving you time and ensuring accuracy.
Learn MoreWhat is an S Corporation?
An S corporation (S corp) is an incorporated business that is taxed as a pass-through entity. This means that S corps do not pay federal taxes on their business income. Instead, the business profits “pass-through” to the owners of the S corp, who are also known as shareholders. Then, the shareholders pay income tax and report their share of the profits in the form of salaries on their individual tax returns, which are then taxed.
In order to elect an S corporation status for tax purposes, corporations will need to file form 2553 Election by a Small Business Corporation. The form must be signed by all shareholders and must be filed within two months and 15 days after the start of the initial tax year.
To learn more, read our What is an S corporation guide.
Quick Links
Maryland Corporation Forms
Maryland Business Express
Maryland Business FAQ
Maryland Business Name Information