How do you make your business operational in Maine? Registering your business is one way but that is only half of the work done. You will have to apply for a business license or permit depending on the type of business you have. Once you have the required permit or license, you can operate your business from anywhere in the state.

Maine Business License Requirements

How do you obtain a business license in Maine? Does your business require a license or a permit? Who is the issuing authority for these licenses or permits? These are some of the important questions that you might be confronted with and hence, we have created a guide that will help answer some of these questions.

Let us look at a step-by-step approach towards acquiring a Maine company license or a permit.

Step-1: Identify the Industry or Type of Business

Which industry is your business entity a part of? It is important to know that the state of Maine does not provide licenses to all types of businesses. Some of the businesses may require local permits or business license in Maine issued by city or county authorities. The nature of permit or license issued by the state depends on the type of industry. Some of the industries or type of businesses wherein a license is issued by the state include:

• Gaming Industry
• Liquor
• Agriculture Industry
• Food Establishment

You are probably asking: What type of Maine company license or permit is issued by county or city authorities? This depends on the city or county where your business has been registered or is established or plans to operate from. Let’s look at the following examples to understand this well:

PORTLAND, MAINE

If you are planning to set up your business in Portland then the business license and permits are issued for the following industry or type of business:

• Circus License
• Massage Establishment
• Mobile Food Service
• Temporary Food Service
• Transient Sellers Permit
• Outdoor Dining Public or Private Property

There are several other businesses that will require a Maine company license or permit issued from the county or city office.

BATH, MAINE

If you are planning to set up your business in Bath then the business license and permits are issued for the following industry or type of business:

• Gasoline
• Pin Ball & Gaming Machines
• Disposal – Commercial
• Transient Sellers of Consumer Goods
• Victualer – Mobile Food Service
• Victualer – Restaurant

There are several other businesses that will require a Maine company license or permit issued from the county or city office.

Step-2: Apply for a Business License

Now that you know the type of business or the industry, it is time to understand the application procedure. The processing and the fee for a Maine company license vary according to the industry or type of business and where the business is situated. Here is an example that will help you understand how the process works:

PORTLAND, MAINE

If you are planning to set up a Mobile Food Service in Portland then here is the information regarding the business license:

• The Application Fee: $45
• Health Inspection Fee: $150.00
• Food Truck License Fee: $546
• If you are planning to operate in the “Night” (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) then there is an extra fee of $218

Business License is issued by: Permitting and Inspections Department

License Expiry and Renewal: Expires annually on March 31

MAINE STATE LICENSE

If you are planning to set up a Retail Food Establishment in the state then here is the information regarding business license in Maine:

• Establishment with 0 to 10 employees: $20
• Establishment with 11 to 25 employees: $50
• Establishment with 26 or more employees: $150

Business License is issued by: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry

Division of Quality Assurance and Regulations

License Expiry and Renewal: The license issued is for a one year period and expires annually

In order to procure the correct business license in the state of Maine, it is extremely important to approach the right licensing authority.

If you require any information regarding registration of your business in Maine, please feel free to call us on 702-871-8678.

Order LLC now  Order INC now

Maine is famous for its picturesque waterways and seafood cuisine and is probably the reason why lobstering and ground-fishing industries are on the rise. This is not all; tourism as well as outdoor recreation also play an integral role in improving the economy of the state. Some of the top companies operating in Maine include MaineHealth, Unum, L.L.Bean, Hannaford Supermarkets, CMMF, IDEXX, Pike Industries, and Bath Iron Works among others. So, if you were to form a corporation in Maine, how best could you go about incorporating your business?

We are there to help you incorporate your business entity in Maine. We are one of the top registered agents and are familiar with all incorporation processes pertaining to the Maine State and can provide information and assistance for a successful set up of your business!

Maine LLC Registration and Formation

LLC company formation in Maine is governed by Title 31, Chapter 21 of the Maine Limited Liability Company Act. The procedure for registration and formation of LLC is as follows:

Step#1: Maintain a registered agent

One of the essential steps towards LLC company formation in Maine is hiring and continuously maintaining a registered agent. Each business entity in the state is required to maintain a registered agent pursuant to MRS Title 31 §1661. We would take this opportunity to share with you the fact that we are one of the top registered agents in the state and have been responsible for over 11,494 businesses set up in Maine.

We are in compliance with all regulations in the State of Maine.

Step#2: Name Reservation/Registration

A business name is integral to the existence of any business entity and without a proper name an LLC or any other business entity will not be registered in the state. A domestic entity can reserve their name for a period of 120 days pursuant to MRS Title 31 §1509. The name reservation application has to be submitted to the Secretary of State. The naming requirements for company formation in Maine highlights the fact that the chosen business name should be distinguishable from the name of any other entity on the records of the secretary of state.

Step#3: Certificate of Formation and Statement of Foreign Qualification

Registration documents for LLC company formation in Maine are separate for domestic and foreign business entities and so are the fees. If you are planning to form a domestic LLC then you will have to file “Certificate of Formation” pursuant to MRS Title 31 §1531. If you are planning to form a foreign LLC in the state then you will be required to file a “Statement of Foreign Qualification” pursuant to MRS Title 31 §1622. The registration documents have to be submitted to the secretary of the state.

We can file the form on your behalf as your registered agent in the state and provide you with certified copies of the LLC registration.

In case, you have any questions regarding how to form a Maine business, feel free to call us on 702-871-8678.

Maine Corporation Registration and Formation

How do you form a corporation in Maine? The incorporation of domestic and foreign business entities is governed by Title 13-C of the Maine Business Corporation Act.. The process of incorporation is as follows:

Step#1: Maintain a Registered Agent

One of the important steps towards company formation in Maine is hiring and maintaining a registered agent in the state. Each business entity in the state is required to maintain a registered agent pursuant to 13-C MRSA §1507.

We would take this opportunity to share with you the fact that we are one of the top registered agents in the state and have been responsible for over 11,494 businesses set up in Maine. We are in compliance with all regulations in the State of Maine and will assist you to form a corporation in Maine.

Step#2: Name Reservation/Registration

A business name is crucial to the existence of any business entity and without a name; a business corporation will not get registered in the state. A domestic entity can reserve their name for a period of 120 days pursuant to 13-C MRSA §402. A foreign Maine Corporation can register their name with the Secretary of State pursuant to 13-C MRSA §1506. The naming requirements highlights the fact that the chosen business name should be distinguishable from the name of any other entity on the records of the secretary of state.

Step#3: Articles of Incorporation and Application for Authority

If you are planning to form a Maine business entity then preparing and filing the right business formation documents is important. The documents are different for domestic and foreign entities.

If you are planning to form a domestic Maine Corporation then you will have to file “Articles of Incorporation” pursuant to 13-C MRSA §202. If you are planning to incorporate a foreign business entity in Maine then you will be required to file an “Application for Authority” pursuant to 13-C MRSA §1503. The registration documents have to be submitted to the secretary of the state.

We can help in streamlining the process of company formation in Maine by filing documents on your behalf through the online process or through an expedited process.

If you have any questions regarding Maine incorporation or LLC formation, you can simply visit the Maine Business formation page.

Order LLC now  Order INC now

The economy of Maine is supported by both agriculture and industries. The agricultural economy is being driven by eggs, poultry, cattle, dairy products, apples, wild blueberries, maple sugar, and maple syrup. Industries in Maine focus primarily on lumber and wood products, paper, leather products, electronic equipment, textiles, food products, and bio-technology. If you want to set up a company in Maine then it does not have to necessarily be an industry, it can be services as well.

Why Choose Maine for Incorporation?

Maine has witnessed a growth in small and medium sized enterprises with almost 2,087 companies involved in exporting goods and generating $2.3 billion. The top industries in terms of small business employment include Health Care and Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Manufacturing, and Other Services (except Public Administration).

Now let’s take a look at some of the salient benefits that are responsible for fueling growth of small businesses:

• Maine Opportunity Zones: This is a program aimed at small and medium sized enterprises. If you set up a company in Maine opportunity zone then your business would be eligible for a variety of abatements, credits, and deductions. There are 32 such zones Map of Opportunity Zones.
• Business Equipment Tax Exemption (“BETE”) Program: The BETE program has been implemented to provide 100% property tax exemptions to qualified businesses.
• Pine Tree Development Zone Program (PTZ): The PTZ Program offers eligible businesses an opportunity to almost eliminate state taxes for a period of ten years. In order to enjoy the benefits of the PTZ program, you will have to set up a company in Maine and in eligible sectors like Biotechnology, Financial Services, Information Technology etc.

How do you incorporate in Maine?

Is there a specific process for company incorporation in Maine? What documents do you require and who processes these documents? These are some of the questions that you will be confronted with and hence the following steps will provide you with information on how incorporation works in Maine:

Type of Business

What type of businesses can you form in Maine? The type of domestic or foreign business entities that can be incorporated or formed in the state include General Partnership, Corporation, S-Corporation, Limited Liability Company, Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, and Nonprofit Corporation. The first step towards company incorporation in Maine is to identify the type of business you want to set up.

Business Entity Name

What is the next step towards incorporation in Maine? The next step is to identify and reserve a name and this can be done as follows:

• Naming Requirements: The naming requirements for LLC should be pursuant to MRS Title 31 §1508 while that of a business corporation should be pursuant to 13-C MRSA §401. The name of each limited liability company must contain words like “Limited Liability Company” or abbreviations like “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. A corporate name must contain words like “corporation”, or “incorporated” or abbreviations like “corp.” or “inc.”
• Business name search: You need to search for a business name that is not in use currently. You can conduct a name search here.
• Name Reservation: Once you have identified business entity name, you can reserve the name with the Secretary of State for a period of 120 days. The forms are different for LLC (MLLC-1) and Corporation (MBCA-1).
• Name Registration: If you are foreign entity planning to set up company in Maine then you will be required to register business name with the Secretary of State. The forms are different for LLC (MLLC-2) and Corporation (MBCA-2).

Choose a Registered Agent

In the state of Maine, every business entity states whether a Business or Professional Corporation or a Limited Liability Company is required to maintain a registered agent governed by MRS Title 31 §1661. We are one of the respected registered agents in Maine and will be responsible for initiating company incorporation in Maine through processing of all your documents including “Articles of Incorporation” for domestic corporations and “Application for Authority” for foreign corporations.

Articles of Incorporation and Application for Authority

The process of incorporation and the fee varies according to the type of business entity you want to form.

• If you are planning to form a domestic corporation (For profit), then you will have to file “Articles of incorporation” pursuant to 13-C MRSA §202.
• If you are planning a foreign business incorporation in Maine then you will be required to file an “Application for Authority” pursuant to 13-C MRSA §1503.

In order to streamline the process we can file documents on your behalf through the online process or through an expedited process.

Date Stamped Copies

As a part of the process of company incorporation in Maine, we will ensure, you receive date-stamped and filed copies that verifies the state has filed as well as formed your corporation.

Costs and Fees associated with Maine Incorporation

What would it cost to set up company in Maine? Check Fees here!

Order LLC now  Order INC now

Once your company is set up, you will need:

1. Tax ID (EIN) – free over the Internet or phone.
2. Yearly Requirements and Fees for Washington DC companies – Initial Repots on Corporation and LLC are filed at different times. Then reports are due ever two years. For Corporations, if you file your articles before April 15, the report is due the same year. If you file your articles after April 15, you file your reports the next year. For LLCs the reports are due any time in the first year that you file your articles. Then they are due every two years after that. The cost for a Corporation and LLC is $300.00 and we only charge $15 to file for you..
3. Company Minutes & Stock Certificates – are included in incorporation. You will have access to documents generated on your client account.

District of Columbia additional services

• Registered Agent
• Annual Report
• EIN (Tax ID)
• More Additional Services

• Why Washington DC?
• Washington DC Registered Agent
• Washington DC Annual Requirements
• DC Code, Division V, Title 29: Corporations, Chapter 1 – To find the statutes go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/states/dc.html – Click on DC Code then scroll down to the appropriate Title.

• Why Washington DC?
• Washington DC Registered Agent
• Washington DC Annual Requirements
• DC Code, Division V, Title 29: LLCs, Chapter 10 – To find the statutes go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/states/dc.html – Click on DC Code then scroll down to the appropriate Title.