Starting a Business in Maine: 13-Step Guide

Maine is a great state for residents and visitors alike. Its abundance of natural beauty, its rocky coastline, forests, and rolling mountains make it perfect for outdoor recreation. And let’s not forget the seafood! Maine is known for having some of the best lobster and clams!

Despite these and many other strengths, Maine can be a challenging state for doing business, though it does score high on business friendliness and education. Also, the state’s tourism sector is strong year-round — that’s why Maine is called “Vacationland” — and offers considerable opportunity. It’s possible to start a successful business just about anywhere, as long as you carefully plan and develop your idea.

That’s where we come in! This step-by-step guide lays out all the information you need to begin your entrepreneurial adventure in Maine.

Maine Business Profile Overview

• Number of Small Businesses – As of 2021, there were 150,593 small businesses in Maine((https://cdn.advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/30142530/Small-Business-Economic-Profile-ME.pdf)).
• Number of Small Business Employees – Small businesses in Maine employed 293,313 workers.
• Economy Growth Rate – The Maine economic growth rate from 2020 to 2021((https://www.statista.com/statistics/187889/gdp-of-the-us-federal-state-of-maine-since-1997/)) in terms of real GDP was 4%
• Median Income – The median income for individuals self-employed at their own incorporated businesses was $49,992 in 2017((https://cdn.advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/23142650/2019-Small-Business-Profiles-ME.pdf)). For individuals self-employed at their own unincorporated firms, this figure was $25,413.

Biggest Industries in Maine

By 2022 revenue((https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/economic-profiles/maine/))

• Life Insurance & Annuities -$10.5b
• Hospitals – $8.4b
• Gas Stations with Convenience Stores – $6.1b
• New Car Dealers – $4.9b
• Supermarkets & Grocery Stores – $4.8b

1. Choose a Business Idea to Start in Maine

The crucial first question is, what sort of business would you like to run? You may have several ideas in your head, or maybe you haven’t gotten that far. Either way, it’s wise to look closely at the state itself and at your own abilities to best determine which areas might offer the most opportunity. 

To develop a business idea, you could:

1. Look for market gaps or problems that need solving. Maybe your neighborhood lacks a good cafe, or the state’s farm industry needs modernization.  
2. Follow your passion. What do you love? What are you great at? 
3. Look at what’s trending in Maine and which industries are key to its economy. Maine has a strong tourism sector, with visitors heading to the state for its beaches and mountains, cultural attractions, and local shopping and dining options. Paper and lumber and food processing are also strong industries.

Once you have a few ideas in mind, do some homework to decide if your ideas are feasible. Here are some things to consider when choosing a business idea:

• Capital requirements – How much will you need? Do you have access to funds?
• Time requirements – How long will it take for you to start selling?
• Industry trends –  Is the industry growing or shrinking? 
• Profit potential – How much money can you realistically make?
• Lifestyle factors – Running a business is hard work. Are you ready?

2. Hone Your Idea

Once you’ve chosen a business idea, get more specific in your evaluation of the opportunity. Consider the why, what, how, and who.

Why? Identify an Opportunity

First, consider the viability of the business idea you have in mind. Here are three questions to consider:

• Is there an opportunity in the market?
• Will your idea provide value to customers? 
• Will people want to buy it? 

Starting a business requires investment, so it’s unwise to just assume profitability. Make it a point to conduct research and ask people you know and trust what they think of your idea.

What? Determine Your Products or Services

The next thing to do is define your offerings. Ask yourself:

• Which products or services will I sell?
• How will I offer them: website, physical store/office, or both? 

You may consider offering related products or services to increase purchase sizes and boost overall value for customers. This step is going to define how your business will look to customers and why they will buy, so take your time and be sure. 

How Much Should You Charge? 

Before determining your price list, get to know your competitors. Visit the shops and websites of companies that offer similar products or services — see what they’re selling and at what prices and use this to inform your decisions. 

If you have a direct competitor, it’s a good idea to choose a competitive price point. Run the numbers to find your break-even price, then determine your mark-up and final price point.   

You’ll also need to consider how to position your product. Are you going to offer a lower-priced alternative, a la Walmart, or are you going to position your business as more high-end, like a Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware? 

Once you’ve locked on a pricing system that works for you, you’ll need to test it to see if this is attractive to your target market.

Who? Identify Your Target Market

Knowing your target market is crucial to successful sales and marketing. This is where customer profiling comes in handy.

The first thing to do is figure out whether you’re selling to consumers or businesses. If you choose consumers, determine which people are most likely to buy, by looking at:

• Demographics – Age, gender, income, location
• Psychographics – Attitudes, values, interests, tastes

Knowing your customers will allow you to shape your messaging and know where to place your marketing. For example, based on who your customers are and what they like, are they more likely to be on Facebook or TikTok?

If you are selling to businesses, first determine what kinds of firms will be interested in what you’re offering. Next, figure out the relevant decision-maker within these companies — it may be a VP, IT manager, or head of sales — and adjust your marketing accordingly.

3. Choose a Business Name

Your business name is your business identity, so choose one that encapsulates your objectives, services, and mission in just a few words. You probably want a name that’s short and easy to remember. 

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
• The name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords in the name, such as “meats” for a butcher, boosts SEO
• Choose a name that allows for expansion: “Jim’s Bakery” over “Jim’s Cookies”
• Avoid location-based names that might hinder future expansion
• Use online tools like the Step by Step business name generator

Once you have a few potential names, check the Maine Secretary of State’s corporate name search to see if the name is available to register. You should also check that the name you want to register conforms to Maine’s Corporation Act for naming requirements.

It’s also a good idea to check for nationally trademarked names, to ward off any potential problems later if your business expands, and check the availability of related domain names using Domain Name Checker tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Once you’ve found a name that clears these hurdles, go ahead and reserve the name. Here is the Name Reservation Request form for the state of Maine ($20 filing fee). The form can be submitted to the Maine Department of the Secretary of State.

4. Create a Business Plan

Drawing up a business plan may seem like a daunting task, but it’s an essential step in creating a successful business. The plan will function as a trail map to guide your startup through the launch process and maintain focus on your key goals. A business plan also enables potential partners and investors to better understand your company and its vision.

• Executive Summary: Brief overview of the entire business plan; should be written after the plan is complete.
• Business Overview: Overview of the company, vision, mission, ownership, and corporate goals.
• Product and Services: Describe your offerings in detail.
• Market Analysis: Assess market trends such as variations in demand and prospects for growth, and do a SWOT analysis.
• Competitive Analysis: Analyze main competitors, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, and create a list of the advantages of your services.
• Sales and Marketing: Examine your companies’ unique selling propositions (USPs) and develop sales, marketing, and promotional strategies.
• Management Team: Overview of the management team, detailing their roles and professional background, along with a corporate hierarchy.
• Operations Plan: Your company’s operational plan includes procurement, office location, key assets and equipment, and other logistical details.
• Financial Plan: Three years of financial planning, including startup costs, break-even analysis, profit and loss estimates, cash flow, and balance sheet.
• Appendix: Include any additional financial or business-related documents.

5. Register Your Business with the Maine Secretary of State

Choosing your business location is an important decision because it can affect your taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. But you’ve already decided to launch your business in Maine, so we can check that box. 

Choose your business structure

Businesses come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your business shapes your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so it’s important to choose wisely. 

Other than filing for a federal tax ID, most businesses do not need to register with the federal government to become a legal entity. However, you will need to appoint a registered agent if you are starting an LLP, LLC, Corporation, or Non-Profit in Maine. A registered agent is responsible for receiving all legal paperwork from the Maine Secretary of State. An easy and quick way to get a registered agent is to use ZenBusiness’s online registered agent service.

The most popular business entity types are outlined below.

Sole Proprietorship

Sole proprietorship is the most simple and straightforward structure, and therefore the most common for small businesses. It is an unincorporated business, with no legal distinction made between the business and the owner. As a sole proprietor, all income goes to you, but you are also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. 

In Maine, you do not need to register your sole proprietorship with the state.

General Partnership

General partnership is similar to sole proprietorship, but with two or more people forming the company. Again, they keep the pre-tax profits but are jointly liable for any losses or liabilities. In a general partnership, each partner is known as a general partner and has unlimited liability. 

Like a sole proprietorship, it’s not necessary to register a partnership with the state in Maine.

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

This business structure is popular with lawyers, accountants, and architects. It is more formal than a general partnership and allows each partner to limit their liabilities and share management responsibilities according to an agreement between the partners. This can be a good choice when one or more partners want to invest in the business but have little or no management responsibility. 

Here are some resources:

• Limited Liability Partnership Act in Maine.
• Certificate of Limited Liability Partnership to form an LLP in Maine.
• Additional information and forms about LLPs in Maine.

There is a $175 filing fee to register an LLP with the Maine Secretary of State.

Corporation

The next step up is a corporation, in which the company is a separate legal entity from its owners. In this structure, the owners are not personally liable for losses, but take their profits through shareholder dividends.

If you choose to create a Maine corporation, you will also need to decide whether you want to form a C corporation or an S corporation. Here are some resources:

• Maine Business Corporation Act.
• Articles of Incorporation for forming a corporation in Maine.
• Additional information and forms about corporations in Maine.

There is a $145 filing fee to file your Articles of Incorporation with the Maine Secretary of State.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company (LLC) combines characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships. As the name suggests, the owners are not personally responsible for liabilities or debts. As an LLC, you’ll need to choose whether you want to be taxed as an LLC or as an S Corp. 

Although LLCs are more straightforward to set up than a corporation, Certificate of Formation must be filed with the state for the LLC to become a legal entity.

Here are some resources:

• Maine Limited Liability Company Act. 
• Certificate of Formation for an LLC in Maine.
• Additional information and resources for LLCs in Maine.

There is a $175 filing fee to file your Certificate of Formation of an LLC with the Maine Secretary of State.

As mentioned above, you will also need to appoint a Maine registered agent. Your registered agent will be responsible for receiving paperwork from the state. 

Nonprofit

Finally, you may be interested in a nonprofit if your business idea has a social purpose. A non-profit organization is a legal entity organized and operated for a public or social benefit, as opposed to a business formed to generate a profit for its owners. Here are some resources:

• Maine Nonprofit Corporation Act.
• Articles of Incorporation for a nonprofit in Maine.
• Additional information and resources for nonprofit organizations in Maine.

There is a fee of $40 for filing Articles of Incorporation for a nonprofit in Maine.

6. Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting a Maine Employer Identification Number or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business operations will occur over the period of a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you are completing them correctly.

Corporations in Maine pay taxes on a graduated scale. Rates range from 3.5% for income up to $350,000 and go up to 8.93% for income over $3.5 million. Business taxes are administered by Maine Revenue Services. There is more information on business taxes in Maine on their website here.

7. Fund Your Business

After creating your business plan, you should know how much money you’ll need to launch your business. Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans: This is the most common method, but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans: The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan.
• Government grants: A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Venture capital: Offer potential investors an ownership stake in exchange for funds, keeping in mind that you would be sacrificing some control over your business.
• Crowdfunding: Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal: Self-fund your business via your savings, the sale of property or other assets, and support from family and friends.

Some resources for small businesses in Maine:

• The Maine Small Business Development Center has resources for small businesses in the state and can help provide information to different grants and other financial programs. 
• The Maine Small Business Advocate is an independent service that helps small businesses navigate the regulations in Maine for small businesses. 
• SCORE is a network of business mentors in Maine who can help a new entrepreneur navigate how to get funding and other questions. The Women’s Business Center has business coaches and training for women entrepreneurs and business owners.

8. Apply for Maine Business Licenses/Permits

You may need certain business licenses and permits to comply with Maine law. These vary based on location. Here are some resources:

• SBA information on federal licenses and permits
• Maine business licenses and permits.
• Maine counties portal with info on licenses and permits at a municipality level.

Your city, town, or county may also have additional requirements, such as signage and zoning permits. Speak to representatives of your local governments about licensing requirements.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes. You might consider a license compliance package from a filing firm such as MyCorporation or MyCompanyWorks, or hire an attorney via Avvo or FindLaw.

9. Open a Business Bank Account

Before you launch your business you’ll need somewhere to put the money you make, and that requires opening a bank account.

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you run your business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer business account options, just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to consider your options to choose the best plan that works for you. Once you choose your bank, you’ll need to bring your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and any other legal documentation that proves your business is registered.

The Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions is responsible for supervising state-chartered financial institutions. Their website contains some information regarding financial institutions and safe financial practices.

10. Get Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some of the different types of insurance to consider:

• General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of any of the above insurance types.

11. Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential software and tools

New businesses need to have the right tools and industry-specific software in place to help them manage their operations effectively.

One of the most important tools for a new business is an inventory management system, which allows them to track their inventory levels, monitor sales, and reorder products when necessary.

Another essential tool is a customer relationship management (CRM) system, which helps businesses manage their interactions with customers and prospects, and track sales leads.

Other useful software for new businesses might include payroll software, project management tools, and marketing automation software. By investing in the right tools and software, new businesses can streamline their operations, save time and money, and ultimately increase their chances of success.

Accounting

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks, Freshbooks, and Xero. 
• If you are unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial. 

Develop your website 

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using services like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace. This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google.

Online Marketing

Online marketing is crucial for new businesses as it provides a cost-effective way to reach a wider audience and build brand awareness. With a well-planned online marketing strategy, new businesses can establish their presence, attract potential customers, and compete with established players in their industry.

Here are some powerful digital marketing strategies for small businesses:

• Social media is a great tool for promoting your business because you can create engaging posts that advertise your products:
  • Facebook: Great platform for paid advertising, allows you to target specific demographics, like men under age 50 in the Portland area. 
  • Instagram: Same benefits as Facebook but with different target audiences. It’s a very good platform for creative businesses. 
  • TikTok: This social media platform has over 1 billion monthly active users and it is used primarily by a younger demographic.
  • LinkedIn: the most effective place for B2B marketers.
• Google and Yelp: For businesses that rely on local clientele, getting listed on Yelp and Google My Business can be crucial to generating awareness and customers.
• Email marketing/newsletter – Send regular emails to customers and prospects. Make them personal. 
• Start a blog – Start a blog and post regularly. Change up your content and share on multiple sites.
• Paid ads on social media – Choose sites that will reach your target market and do targeted ads.
• Pay–per-click marketing – Use Google AdWords to perform better in searches. Research your keywords first.
• Influencer marketing – Pay people with large social media followings to promote your product/service. You can find micro-influencers with smaller followings and lower rates.
• Make a podcast – This allows you to make a personal connection with your customers.
• Offer a free download – Offer something of value to download from your website to capture emails.
• Create infographics – Post infographics and include them in your content.
• Post a video – Post a video about your product/service. Use humor and maybe it will go viral!
• Do a webinar – Share your expertise online with a video seminar.

Take advantage of your website, social media presence and real-life activities to increase awareness of your offerings and build your brand. 

Traditional Marketing

Traditional marketing is any form of marketing that uses offline media to reach an audience. Some options include:

• Competitions and giveaways – Generate interest by offering prizes for customers who complete a certain action.
• Signage – Put up eye-catching signage at your store and website.
• Flyering – Distribute flyers in your neighborhood and at industry events.
• In-Person Sales – Offer your product at local markets, trade shows.
• Cold calling – Close more sales with less stress.
• Sponsor events – You can pay to be a sponsor at events that are relevant to your target market.
• Limited edition – Offer a one-time version of your product of service.
• Seek out referrals – Offer incentives to generate customer referrals to new clients. 
• Press releases – Do press releases about new products, sales, etc.
• Billboards – Repeat exposure to a business message.
• Testimonials – Share customer testimonials about how your product or service has helped them.

12. Build Your Team

As your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles and positions. But before you begin the hiring process, you should first consider the essential positions for your line of work. 

What levels of management and employees will you have? What is your pay scale? Costs are always an issue for a startup, but you need to make sure that you pay enough to hire people with the right skills and experience.

It’s a good idea to create a hiring plan. First, determine which hires you’ll need to launch, then the future hires you’ll need as the business gets going. Be cautious and selective when hiring people for any role.

In Maine, you need to report new hires. This can be done through the new hire portal or the new hire report form of the Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery.

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include publishing a job ad on LinkedIn, Facebook or Jobs.com. You might also use a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed, Glassdoor, or ZipRecruiter. Finally, you could hire a recruitment agency to help you find talent.

13. Start Making Money

With everything in place, you’re now ready to throw open the doors on opening day! When you do, you’ll want some customers coming in. Here’s how to find them.

Focus on Your USPs

Make sure to highlight the unique selling propositions, or USPs, of your products and services. Customers may already want your offerings, so your job is to convince them to pick you over your competitors.

Here are some good selling points that you can capitalize on:

• High-quality materials 
• Top value items, competitively priced
• Easy to use 
• Convenient and time-saving 
• Ideal for your target market

Understand Your Sales Channels

Make sure that you are selling through the right channels. You know your target customers by now – where and how are they most likely to buy? Do they buy online or in stores? 

If you don’t have a store, you can find partner stores where your products can be sold. You can sell both online and directly but focus your efforts on the channel that matches your target market’s buying behavior.

If you’re selling to businesses, your sales channels may be online or they may involve direct sales calls. Again, understand the buying behavior of the decision-maker within the business.

Grow with Marketing

Help clients find you more easily by placing your marketing where they are likely to find it. With the right marketing strategies in place, a business can reach new audiences, build brand awareness, and ultimately grow its customer base and revenue.

Effective marketing can help businesses differentiate themselves from competitors, establish a strong online presence, and engage with customers through various channels such as social media, email marketing, and advertising.

By investing in the right marketing tactics and continually analyzing and optimizing their efforts, businesses can position themselves for long-term growth and success.

You’re now ready to start your successful business in Maine, but you might want to bookmark this page, just in case.

FAQs

Is Maine a good place to start a business?

Earlier in this guide, we saw that Maine ranked low in the US as a state for business. The infrastructure is the top challenge for doing business in Maine. However, starting a business has so many different factors that determine its success. Therefore, with careful consideration and planning, an entrepreneur can find success in Maine or anywhere.

How much does it cost to register your business in Maine?

The cost to register a business in Maine depends on the entity type. Fees for registering a business in Maine are as follows: $175 for an LLP, $145 for a corporation, $175 for an LLC, and $40 for a nonprofit.

Do I need to register my business in Maine?

If you are starting a sole proprietorship or partnership, you do not need to register your business. However, if you start an LLC, LLP, corporation, or nonprofit, you do need to register your businesses with the Secretary of State.

What does it take to start a business in Maine?

There are a number of steps to start a business in Maine—that’s why we wrote this guide! Go back and review the different steps, which include: choose and hone your idea, pick a name, build a business plan, get funding, register your business and for taxes, apply for licenses and permits, open a business bank, get insurance, prepare to launch, build your team, and start making money!