Initial Fees and Licenses in Maryland
If you're going to operate your business in Maryland, when you start up you're likely to incur filing fees and licensing fees depending on the type of business you run and your business form (corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership or limited liability company (LLC)).
Corporations. If you're doing business as a domestic corporation (a corporation incorporated in Maryland) in Maryland, you will be subject to the following fees when you start up. The following are requirements and payments by domestic corporations to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation:
The organization and capitalization fee for a domestic corporation is based on the amount of the total par value of your capital stock. This fee is due at time of incorporation or when you increase your corporation's amount of capital stock. (Capital stock is the total amount of stock authorized for issue by a corporation.)
| Aggregate Par Value of Capital Stock | Fee |
| not over $100,000 | $20 |
| over $100,000, but not over 1,000,000 | $20, plus $1 per each $5,000 (or fraction of $5,000) over $100,000 |
| over $1,000,000, but not over $2,000,000 | $200, plus $10 for each $100,000 (or fraction of $100,000) over $1,000,000 |
| over $2,000,000, but not over $5,000,000 | $300, plus $15 for each $500,000 (or fraction of $500,000) over $2,000,000 |
| over $5,000,000 | $390, plus $20 for each $1,000,000 (or fraction of $1,000,000) over $5,000,000 |
In addition to the capitalization fee that the state of Maryland charges a corporation, you will have to pay the fees according to the following schedule:
| Document | Fee |
| articles of incorporation | $100 |
| articles of amendment | $100 |
| articles of share exchange | $100 |
| articles of consolidation or merger | $100 |
| articles of dissolution (including cost of publication) | $100 |
| annual report for stock corporation | $300 |
If you're doing business as a foreign corporation (a corporation incorporated somewhere other than in Maryland) in Maryland, you will be subject to various initial fees when you start up. As a foreign corporation, you must also file certified copies of the corporation charter or certificate of incorporation to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. The various fees are as follows:
| Document | Fee |
| registration of name for a calendar year | $100 |
| qualification to do intrastate business | $100 |
| certified statement of amendment, merger, or dissolution | $25 |
| annual report for stock corporation | $300 |
Limited liability companies (LLCs). If your company is either a domestic or foreign limited liability company (LLC), the following are some of the documents that you may have to file with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation:
| Document | Fee |
| articles of organization | $100 |
| registration of a foreign LLC | $100 |
| certificates of correction (domestic) | $25 |
| certificate of amendment (foreign) | $100 |
| certificate of merger (foreign) | $25 |
Licenses and fees. Maryland requires that you obtain a license and pay a fee if you are operating certain types of businesses in the state. Below is a partial list of some of the types of businesses required to obtain a license. Be sure to check with the state to make certain that you are complying with the license requirements for your particular profession.
- barbers and barber schools
- certified public accountants
- construction
- detectives, private
- electricians
- employment counselors
- finance companies (premium)
- frozen dessert manufacturers
- hawkers and peddlers
- home improvement contractors and salespersons
- insurance
- lawyers
- pharmacies and pharmacists
- plumbers
- securities brokers-dealers, agents




