Best Registered Agent Services in Maryland

Maryland is a relatively small but commercially active state located in the middle of the East Coast. It is one of the original 113 states located in the heart of a large populated and commercial complex that stretches from Maine to Virginia.

Despite the state's small size, it is very appealing for new business creation. Authorities are not only attracting investors to work in services, tourism, or agriculture in the state, but they are actively encouraging foreign businesses to register here.

Best Registered Agent Services in Maryland

A Registered Agent in Maryland is an individual or entity who will be a contact person for your business or non-profit organization. He or she receives all documents, including legal notices and service of process on behalf of your company.

Under Maryland law, your resident agent has to be physically located in Maryland (not just have a mailing address here) and be available for service of process at all hours without interruption.

It's important to choose a reliable agent when starting an LLC in Maryland so that you receive all the documents and notices on time.  Otherwise, you risk finding out about the lawsuit too late, resulting in losing in court by default.

With few exceptions, all corporations, LLCs, and non-profit organizations in Maryland are required to have a statutory agent. They are responsible for providing up-to-date agent contact information to the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). This is how you will maintain your good reputation.

According to the official information provided by SDAT and the Maryland secretary of state, an agent for sevice of process is not necessarily a professional service, it can be any individual over 18 years old, permanently residing in the state.

But experienced business people understand that an individual can be absent, sick, or simply taking a day off when you have important documents to send.

At the same time, a professional statutory agent is a company that will have no such problems. Moreover, you will get additional services. The best Maryland registered agent for service of process will also help you with timely and competent submission of state reports, payment of taxes, and maintenance of a good business reputation.

Registered agent in Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore is the state capital of Maryland and one of its largest cities. Baltimore and the five central counties (the four Baltimore suburbs and Montgomery) are combined to form Central Baltimore, which can be described as a long, continuous metropolitan area with a significant concentration of business.

If you want a registered agent to be located in Baltimore, the easiest way is to check on the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) website to see if the company you are interested in is located in Baltimore. There is also a handy Maryland registered agent search. This is how you can get a list of companies that provide registered agent services in Baltimore.

Registered agent in Salisbury, Maryland

Salisbury has a major port. That's why certain types of businesses are concentrated in this area. They are often related to commerce, logistics, and shipping. You can also find a registered agent office here if that is crucial to you. But the number of options is much smaller than in the capital. Also, in 2022, there is no need for in-person contact with a resident agent because all documents are instantly scanned and sent online.

So, you can be in Salisbury, and your agent might have an office in Oakland. By the way, many local companies with low prices prefer to open offices in smaller communities where they can save money on buying or renting an office. They don't always have a high reputation and a lot of experience, which is why their prices can start at $49.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest is by far the best registered agent service Maryland has to offer, according to our experts.

The company not only offers all the necessary services of a statutory agent for LLC in Maryland, which are required by Maryland state laws, but also has quality customer support. Moreover, the service is based on a user-friendly platform.

Pros

• High level of professionalism and quality customer support;
• The service is user friendly, the interface is simple, and the system is reliable;
• The team includes competent accountants, lawyers, and entrepreneurs;
• Functioning in the business services market for over 20 years;
• The cost is only 125 dollars annually;
• Free registered agent services for 1 year if a business is registered with Northwest (starting at $39);
• Extensive business consulting services in a wide range of areas.

Cons

Despite the lots of benefits, customer support could be better, especially when prompt and direct answers are needed.

Overall

Northwest offers everything you need from a resident agent in Maryland. The customers are provided with a company mailing address to be used for business purposes, confidentiality, and data protection.

In addition, Northwest will assist you effectively with company incorporation, DBA selection and registration, articles of organization, operating agreement, etc. A calendar of annual report notices, etc. will also become available to you. Therefore, it will always be easy for you to submit your reports because you will keep all the deadlines. Without exception, all of your documents are stored in the scanned form in the cloud storage within the company's online portal.

Harbor Compliance Registered Agent

Harbor Compliance will be an excellent choice if the cost of the agent is critical, as it is $26 cheaper annually compared to the Northwest agent.

Pros

• Easy management of the online system;
• Responsiveness in customer service;
• Presence of everything you need;
• Cost is no more than $99*;
• The account manager of a dedicated type.

Cons

• Lack of advice on how to do business.

An efficient customer service team helps figure out a lot of issues.

But, unlike Northwest, the answers will only deal with ongoing maintenance. The experts at Northwest and many other competitors also help sort out annual reports, bookkeeping, and many of the complexities that businesses face when they start out.

In addition, the company does not scan and send you all the documents, but only those that are important and legally relevant, while Northwest scans all the paperwork.

Overall, the quality of service is good, though not perfect.

Overall

Excluding the Northwest statutory agent, Harbor Compliance stands as the leader. The service is provided at affordable prices. An additional benefit is the account manager who works with clients, providing assistance with questions regarding registered agents. But it's not analogous to Northwest's small business advice.

Thus, Harbor Compliance for $99 annually is a great choice for a business in Maryland if the budget is tight.

ZenBusiness Registered Agent

The popular service ZenBusiness provides services related to creating and registering an LLC. You can register a company for as little as $39, which is very cost-effective. The website is very easy for clients. The customer support work is excellent. The annual basic package includes a free year of statutory agent services, accountant advice, etc.

While researching Maryland resident agent reviews, it is evident that ZenBusiness is characterized by numerous positive reviews and high trust ratings. The support staff is friendly and easy to work with. According to many clients, they have been able to save time and money with the involvement of ZenBusiness professionals.

Pros

• Cost-effective: the services of a registered agent cost $99 per year;
• Excellent customer support;
• The cost is one of the lowest in terms of starting a business and includes an extensive list of useful value-added services as part of the plan;
• Free registered agent services are provided for one year if you open a business with ZenBusiness.

Cons

Providing a registered agent at ZenBusiness is not their main service. They primarily focus on registering new companies. Other services can be ordered separately if the need appears.

Overall

ZenBusiness is considered to be one of the most popular providers of business formation and registered agent services in the United States. One year of free statutory agent service in every business registration package and the cheapest agent option for $99 should be considered an attractive offer of the company. You are given everything you need according to the law of Maryland. But you will have to pay $50 extra for notifications about important events.

LegalZoom Registered Agent

Another popular option for a resident agent in Maryland is LegalZoom. The company offers a full range of services, including reminders regarding important dates, as well as expert help. In addition, LegalZoom includes $1-million-insurance against identity theft. However, an agent for service of process will cost you $299 a year.

Pros

• The largest network of business services in the United States;
• There is a strong multi-level protection against identity theft and leaks;
• Legal services are offered as a package. As a result, the company will become not only a legal agent but also a personal or business legal advisor;
• Significant experience and numerous clients.

Cons

• Overall, customer reviews are average, including both positive and negative;
• The excessive cost of registered agent services -  $299 annually;
• The cost of a statutory agent is not included in any of the 1st year business registration plans, as numerous competitors do;
• Registered agent services are not the main focus of the company's business and require better optimization.

Overall

If you want to protect yourself from hacker attacks, we advise you to sign up for LegalZoom's document processing service. You'll know that your confidential information will be protected. In addition, LegalZoom is a well-known brand in the state of Maryland.

In this case, ordering a registered agent service is easy and convenient. During several decades of operation, the company has studied all the market intricacies. If you do not mind the rather high price, and you want to use premium services, LegalZoom will turn out to be a very good registered agent for you.

Rapid Registered Agent

Rapid Registered Agent represents a registered agent service that covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The company attracts customers with a multitude of features in packages, different notification options, and easy access to the information they need online.

Pros

• Fixed cost for 1 year;
• No hidden fees;
• No additional services are imposed;
• No faxing fees for customers;
• Availability of Maryland business forms for quick and easy filing;
• Tips on submitting documentation to Maryland;
• The fee of only $100 for 1 year;
• Work is done across the country.

Cons

There is a lack of reviews, despite the company's operation since 2007. This is the reason why the company cannot compete with the leaders of this ranking, although in all other respects, the Rapid Registered Agent service offering is very attractive.

Overall

The range of additional services is literally astounding. There is no extra charge for text notifications. If you're overwhelmed with stacks of documents, autofill will help. This company is also worth paying attention to because the prices and services are appealing. However, there is too little information on the quality and features of the work.

Rocket Lawyer Registered Agent

Rocket Lawyer offers not only registered agent services in Maryland but also a wide range of legal services. If you are interested in ongoing legal support, check out this company.

This company has a lot of experience and has helped more than 800 thousand companies start businesses. They can assist you in creating an LLC or corporation, getting a DBA, drafting Articles of Incorporation and Operating Agreement, registering all documents in any of the states in compliance with all laws and state statutes. But Rocket Lawyer's main service is legal assistance.

Pros

• Professionalism. The company employs real experts who have studied all the specifics of the law in the state where you want to work;
• High credibility rating;
• Many positive reviews;
• Assistance in starting a business in any state, subscription to various legal packages;
• One plan has a year of free registered agent services.

Cons

• Only the premium business formation package includes a year of registered agent services at no charge. In other cases, you have to pay for it separately.
• The cost of registered agent services is average but not the most affordable - $149.99 per year.

Overall

If you need basic Maryland registered agent services, Rocket Lawyer won't seem like the most cost-effective option, as you can find the same list of services from reliable providers much cheaper.

But if you're also interested in a subscription to legal services, Rocket Lawyer looks quite attractive. First, you'll pay for the entire list of services you need from one company. Secondly, when you order legal advice, you can get a discounted price for the help you need. So, when ordering the Premium package for legal support, you will get a 25% discount on the registered agent services. In this case, the price of assistance becomes profitable.

Rocket Lawyer has been in the business services market in the United States since 2008. During this time, it has become one of the most reputable and popular legal and business assistance providers on the market. The company has thousands of positive customer reviews, with a large portion of them being related to business registration and registered agent assistance.

Therefore, if your business will need ongoing legal support, it makes sense to explore Rocket Lawyer's offerings and order resident agent services here.

SunDoc Filings Registered Agent

SunDoc Filings is another popular company that not only provides discount Maryland registered agent services in many states but also assists in business formation and provides professional legal support. 

With this company, you can get help in establishing any kind of business in Maryland, assistance in solving legal issues, as well as a comfortable and reliable service of a statutory agent. Your agent will timely inform you about receiving documents, provide you with a mailing address, and always help with legal advice.

Pros

• The company is a national registered agent, works in all U.S. states, and provides bulk discounts if you need services in more than one state;
• There are many useful services, directories, and other helpful resources;
• The customer support level is excellent.

Cons

SunDoc Filings' main disadvantage is the price of Maryland registered agent service, which is $159 per year. It is higher than the competition.

Overall

At SunDoc Filings, registered agent service in Maryland includes meeting all legal requirements, as well as providing your business with a mailing address in Maryland, mail forwarding service, scanning all documents, storing them in the company's own cloud service, and timely notifications of all important events.

Registered Agent Services in Maryland: General Conclusions

If you are opening a business in the state of Maryland, you will need a registered agent in advance. The state offers a convenient online registration service for everyone, but you'll need to provide the state with your agent's contact information. That's why it's best to decide before you start filling out the online forms.

We believe that the best registered agent service offer in Maryland is Northwest. With this company, you will get the best value at a favorable cost. 

Your criteria may not coincide with the choice of our experts, so it is better to study all the offers in this rating, as well as visit the websites of the companies. The information in this article is current as of 2022, so check the data because it may change over time.

If you need a reliable and cheap service, Harbor Compliance or ZenBusiness are worth investigating. If ongoing legal advice is important to your business, consider Rocket Lawyer. 

You can also choose one of the smaller local agents in Maryland. But be sure to study their offers.

Our rating did not include any of these companies, as we often encountered hidden fees when studying them. Also, sometimes, the number of reviews and their experience made us hesitant.

Benefits of Using a Maryland Registered Agent Service

If your Maryland corporation is looking for a resident agent, it is always tempting to choose an individual, such as your own employee, as your agent. But the cost savings is rarely significant for the business because the services of a registered agent cost from $99 a year and sometimes even cheaper. On the other hand, a person without professional knowledge and experience will simply be able to receive and transmit documents, and you won't get any other help.

Also, he or she may suddenly fall ill or leave the state. If the court documents arrive, you won't even know about it. In addition, you are likely to lose the process, and it will also have a negative impact on your reputation.

Choosing real professionals will help you get such benefits:

• Peace of mind. You'll always know if important documents are arriving. Many companies will also remind you of deadlines for reporting, tax payments, and license renewals;
• Privacy. Your agent data is always in the public domain. This may turn out to be inconvenient, especially if you specify your home office as an address; 
• No spam. A lot of unwanted letters are always sent to a public address. A reliable agent sorts them out and gives you only the papers you really need;
• You have the flexibility to work on your own schedule. You can choose when you want your business to work. Your registered agent will be available during business hours instead of you or your employees. And you can have days off or vacations;
• Reputation preservation. If you or your employee becomes a registered agent, it is possible that you will have to accept service of process when you have customers in your office. This can damage the reputation of the business.

The Best Registered Agent: How We Choose

In order to choose the best Maryland registered agent, we selected more than 60 companies and carefully studied their offers. We do this work in several steps:

1. Reviews. This stage is very important and provides a lot of information. It is worth studying all information on websites with reviews and ratings, as well as Facebook and other social networks. This way, you can quickly screen out questionable companies that do not have reviews or collect a lot of warnings about fraud or other problems in working with clients;
2. Website Analysis. The website of any business is the most important stage of acquaintance with the company. If the site is inconvenient, non-informative, or simply does not work, it means that the company either does not care about its reputation at all, or in 2022, still does not understand the full value of Internet technologies. Cooperating with such companies is often inconvenient. It is also important to check how detailed the description of services is, whether the prices are in the public domain, and how easy and convenient the ordering process is;
3. Communication with real customers. This is a very useful screening method that many people ignore. You should not hesitate to call or write to people who leave reviews about cooperation with the company. Our experts learn a lot of useful information this way, which you will not find in the public domain;
4. Contacting Support Service and the Sales Department. We practically check the responsiveness and competence of the company's specialists. We ask them complicated questions and assess their responsiveness and the level of consultations. Also, at this stage, we can identify the existence of hidden fees.

Why You Can Trust Our Choice

Our service has been specializing in ratings of business service companies for quite some time now. We study offers related to business registration, registered agent services, and other types of business support. Our experts are constantly monitoring prices on the market, as well as studying changes in laws in different states, including Maryland.

This allows us to evaluate not only the level of customer confidence in a particular company but also to understand how the value and cost of their services correspond to each other.

How We Select the Best Registered Agent Services

To select the best Maryland registered agent, we started with 60 companies, and at every stage, we eliminated some of them until only 7 best companies remained. The clear leader was Northwest Registered Agent.

This company offers the help that businesses need to operate under the law and has one of the best and most responsive customer support teams in the Registered Agent industry.

Northwest does have expensive premium services, but the company's value-added services are very attractive. Often, even competitors' premium packages don't include such a comprehensive and convenient list. They include a notification calendar, data privacy, scanning all of your mail, and storing it in the cloud. And this all comes for only $125 a year.

That's why we recommend newcomers to the business choose Northwest as the best value, quality, and professionalism in the state of Maryland.

Conclusion

So, we've tried to describe in as much detail as possible how to find a registered agent in Maryland. You can either listen to our advice or do your own research.

Our rating is nothing more than a recommendation, which is especially useful for business novices. But often, to find the best registered agent for a corporation in Maryland, you will have to do your own research, taking into account your needs. Still, we hope that a brief analysis of the best companies that operate in the state of Maryland will help you in this case as well.

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