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Written by: Coralee Bechteler
Coralee is a business writer with experience in administrative services, education, and software testing.
Edited by: David Lepeska
David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.
Published on August 16, 2022
Updated on April 9, 2024
If you’re starting an LLC in Maine, 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 Maine? 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.
Here we summarize our top picks of business formation services in Maine.
Best Value
Best Registered Agent Service
Best Turnaround Time
Best for Small Budget
Best Legal Assistance
Best for Variety of Business-Essential Services
Best for Speedy Processing
For Maine-based entrepreneurs looking to set up an LLC, ZenBusiness offers various plans tailored to your needs. By purchasing the Starter plan, you will get a business name availability search in Maine and full formation support — at the price of $0 plus Maine state fees.
The Pro plan costs $199 plus Maine state fees and includes everything in the Starter plan plus an operating agreement template, an EIN, annual compliance service, and rush filing in the state of Maine.
ZenBuziness’ Premium plan is priced at $349 plus Maine state fees. This comprehensive package provides all Pro plan services, a business document template library, domain name, website, and email.
ZenBusiness stands out as the premier choice for Maine LLC filing due to its cost-effective base service, which encompasses LLC filing in Maine and a 100% accuracy guarantee starting at $0 plus state fees.
Notably, ZenBusiness is recognized as a Public Benefit Corporation, positioning it as a for-profit company with community goals mirroring those of nonprofits.
Besides LLC formation in Maine, ZenBusiness offers an array of add-on services, from registered agents to indispensable business tools. Although these can elevate the expenses, the company historically has been commended for its exceptional service, as evidenced by positive reviews from satisfied Maine customers.
ZenBusiness offers valuable services for budding entrepreneurs. While registered agent services are an add-on, their excellent customer support, user-friendly site, and positive reviews make them a top choice.
Northwest’s Maine LLC plan, priced at $39 plus Maine state fees, provides comprehensive services, including business formation within Maine, free registered agent services for one year specific to Maine, a business address, an operating agreement tailored to Maine’s regulations, and some additional perks.
The inherent value of this plan is evident, especially for Maine business founders, as it comprises registered agent services and an operating agreement tailored to Maine — both of which are paramount for operating seamlessly within the state.
However, it’s worth noting that even if you opt out of the registered agent services for your Maine LLC, the full plan price remains unchanged.
The company’s core expertise, suggested by its name, “Northwest Registered Agent”, is predominantly in offering registered agent services. Specifically for Maine LLCs, they promise more personalized customer support and swift correspondence notifications, ensuring that Maine businesses stay compliant and well-informed.
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent because of their transparent pricing, outstanding customer service, and a commitment to maintaining your privacy. They pride themselves on personalizing their approach to meeting your registered agent needs, which are their specialty.
In Maine, Swyft Filings offers a Basic package for just the state fees. This covers company name verification, preparation of Maine-specific Certificate of Formation, and state document filing. Customers also get online document access and lifetime support.
For $199 plus Maine state fees, the Standard package includes everything in the Basic, plus a custom operating agreement for Maine LLCs, an EIN, banking resolution services, and organizational minutes for your first Maine LLC meeting.
The Premium package, at $299 plus Maine state fees, builds on the Standard. It offers expedited Maine filing, a business document library, Maine-specific compliance notifications, a domain and website, and a digital LLC kit that features a company “seal”, ownership ledger, and custom certificates.
Swyft Filings is renowned for its superior customer support, evidenced by positive reviews from Maine business founders.
Swyft Filings offers fast processing but doesn’t include registered agent services in their packages, making additions somewhat costly. However, they provide good value overall and strong customer support.
The free Silver package includes the preparation and filing of the articles of organization, unlimited name searches, business tax consultation, business banking account offer, and lifetime compliance alerts, with free registered agent services for a year. Lifetime company alerts mean that Bizee will remind you of any reporting due dates based on your Maine requirements. You’ll also get access to a personalized online dashboard and unlimited phone and email support.
The Gold package includes all the services included in the Silver package, plus an operating agreement template, banking resolution, an EIN tax number, and the filing of IRS Form 2553, which allows LLCs to reap the tax benefits of an S Corporation. It costs $199.
The Platinum package, at $299, includes everything in the Gold package with the advantage of free expedited filing, as well as a domain name and business email. You’ll also receive access to business contract templates, which can be extremely helpful for new business owners in Maine. There are over 25 different contracts, all created and reviewed by attorneys.
Bizee provides substantial value, especially with their Silver package that costs only state fees and includes a year of registered agent service. For first-time entrepreneurs looking to save, Bizee stands out in the competition.
LegalZoom’s Basic plan, for just Maine state fees, offers a business name availability search within Maine and a comprehensive business formation service. Clients receive robust customer support, a digital welcome packet, and a business website tailored for their Maine LLC. Additionally, you can access your formation documents online anytime, ensuring Maine entrepreneurs have everything at their fingertips.
Priced at $249, the Pro plan builds upon the Basic plan’s offerings by introducing an operating agreement tailored for Maine LLCs, an EIN, a business license guide specific to Maine regulations, and initial phone consultations with specialists well-versed in Maine’s business landscape.
The Premium plan, at $299, not only includes all Pro plan services but also offers Maine LLC founders the perk of unlimited 30-minute attorney consultations and alterations to your Maine LLC for 30 days. This package ensures dedicated, hands-on guidance from a business attorney familiar with Maine’s legal nuances.
LegalZoom sets itself apart by offering an array of additional legal services and documents, ensuring that Maine businesses have comprehensive support and resources.
LegalZoom’s services are easy to use and they offer great customer experience. They offer a wider variety of legal services and have been in business for more than 20 years. Overall, they’re a great one-stop shop for all of your business formation and legal needs.
Tailor Brands’ Lite plan, priced at $49 plus Maine state fees, facilitates your business formation with the state of Maine and adheres to standard state processing times specific to Maine.
The Essential plan, at an annual cost of $199 plus state filing fees, enhances the offerings by including annual compliance service suited for Maine LLCs, a customized operating agreement for Maine, and expedited processing to hasten the Maine business formation process.
The Elite plan, for $249 annually (in addition to state fees), is tailored for Maine businesses, providing a domain name, eight distinct logos suitable for various Maine industries, a business website builder, and a selection of extra tools.
What sets Tailor Brands apart, especially for new Maine LLCs, is its emphasis on modern business tools, such as a logo maker, website builder, and domain name, ensuring Maine businesses get a strong digital start.
Tailor Brands’ plans are a decent value, but the main reason that we chose them for the list is the extensive business tools they offer. If you can overcome their aggressive sales tactics, you can access a variety of services to meet all your business needs.
Filenow’s Starter plan, priced at $49, is customized for Maine businesses and includes company compliance alerts geared towards Maine regulations, a tax consultation tailored for Maine LLCs, and a dedicated business bank account for your Maine enterprise.
Their Premium plan, for $199, enhances the Maine business experience by offering a free year of registered agent services within Maine, an operating agreement structured for a Maine LLC, an EIN, a banking resolution suitable for Maine standards, business contract templates in line with Maine’s legal nuances, and a swift 24-hour processing specifically for Maine business formations.
What makes Filenow stand out, especially for Maine LLCs, is their quick processing times tailored to Maine’s pace and a confidence-backed money-back guarantee. The value of their Premium plan is especially noteworthy for Maine entrepreneurs.
Filenow’s Premium plan is an exceptional value based on what you get for the price. It’s less expensive than similar plans offered by competitors. They also offer fast turnaround times, and a money back guarantee.
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.
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 feel 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.
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.
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.
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