Vendor setup
Register a business in Maine
The filing office, forms, steps and next stops for registering a business in Maine. Every line shows the official page it came from, and the day we read it.
The order to do it in
Choose a business type and get your EIN first. Then file with the state filing office below, and check your city and county before you start work.
Filing office
- Maine entities are filed with the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations (Interactive Corporate Services online). Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, as of
Forming an LLC
- A Maine LLC is formed by a Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6). Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, as of
- Certificate of Formation filing fee: $175 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, as of
Forming a corporation
- A Maine business corporation is formed by Articles of Incorporation (Form MBCA-6). Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, as of
- Articles of Incorporation filing fee: $145 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, as of
Annual or biennial report
- Maine LLCs and corporations file annual reports between January 1 and June 1 each year. The first one is filed the year after formation. Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, as of
- The legal annual-report filing deadline is June 1. Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, as of
- Domestic LLC annual report: $85 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, as of
- Domestic corporation annual report: $85 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, as of
Assumed name (DBA)
- Maine has no state filing for sole proprietor or general partnership trade names: they file with the municipal clerk where the business is located. Entities adopting an assumed name file Form ASUM-5 with the Secretary of State. Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, as of
- Assumed name statement (ASUM-5), domestic or foreign entities: $125 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, as of
State tax registration
- Register for a sales tax account through the Maine Tax Portal (“Register a New Business – Start Here”), or on the paper application. Maine Revenue Services, as of
State rules for pool, lifeguard and contractor work
These lines point to the state’s own rules. Whether one applies to your work is for the state to say, so confirm with the agency named in each line.
- Under Maine’s public pool and spa rule (10-144 CMR ch. 202), every public pool or spa must retain a pool supervisor who is a Certified Pool-Spa Operator, a Professional Pool and Spa Operator, or has equivalent training acceptable to the Department. Maine DHHS, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as of
City and county licences
City and county licences vary by place. Check with your city hall or county clerk before you start work.
Sources
- Limited Liability Company Forms Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. As of .
- Business Corporations Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. As of .
- Filing Requirement Reminders Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. As of .
- Trade Name Protection Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. As of .
- Sales, Use, and Service Provider Tax FAQ Maine Revenue Services. As of .
- 10-144 CMR Chapter 202, Rules Relating to Public Pools and Spas (eff. 9-1-2010) Maine DHHS, Center for Disease Control and Prevention. As of .
Official pages change. Each line shows the day we last read it.
Last checked