Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.
Yes, you can be your own Registered Agent in Maryland as long as you meet the state requirements.
(Unfortunately, most Registered Agent Services and LLC filing companies hide this information.)
We explain the pros and cons below so you can make your own decision.
What is a Maryland Registered Agent?
A Registered Agent is a person or a company who receives legal documents and notices from the state for your LLC.
If your business is involved in a lawsuit, the Maryland Registered Agent will accept Service of Process for your LLC. This is when legal documents are delivered to or “served on” your business.
Note: Some states call the Registered Agent a Resident Agent or Statutory Agent. These all mean the same thing, so we always call it a Registered Agent to keep it simple.
Special offer: Hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), and you'll get a free year of Registered Agent service.
(Why is Northwest the best? Read our Northwest Registered Agent review)
Who can be a Registered Agent in Maryland?
There are three options for who can be your Maryland Registered Agent:
- You can be your LLC’s Registered Agent
- A friend or family member can be your LLC’s Registered Agent
- You can hire a professional Registered Agent Service for your LLC
What is a Maryland Registered Agent Service?
A Maryland Registered Agent Service is a company that you pay to be your LLC’s Registered Agent in Maryland.
(A Registered Agent Service is also called a Commercial Registered Agent.)
The Maryland Registered Agent Service receives Service of Process for your LLC and forwards it to you electronically or by mail. Some Registered Agent Services also offer additional LLC services, like forming your LLC for you.
Maryland Registered Agent Requirements
All Maryland Registered Agents are required to be available at a physical street address in the state during normal business hours.
(Note: The Registered Agent’s address is called the Registered Office. The Registered Office address and the name of the Registered Agent will go on your LLC paperwork.)
If the Registered Agent is a person, they must be over 18 years old and have a physical address in Maryland. PO Boxes aren’t allowed.
If the Registered Agent is a company (a Registered Agent Service), it must be authorized to do business in Maryland.
Should you be your own Registered Agent in Maryland?
It depends. While being your LLC’s Registered Agent can save you money, there are some potential risks.
Let’s discuss the pros and cons of being your own Maryland Registered Agent.
Pros of being the Registered Agent for your LLC:
- You save money.
- It’s one less online account to keep track of if you don’t hire a Registered Agent Service.
- Documents go directly to you. You don’t have to wait for someone to forward or email them.
Cons of being the Registered Agent for your LLC:
- You might miss an important notice or legal document. This could happen if you travel often or forget to check your mail.
- Registered Agent information is public record. Companies can use public records to send you junk mail, or post your address online.
If you aren’t bothered by your address being public, being your own Registered Agent is a great way to save money.
Should I hire a Maryland Registered Agent Service?
You should hire a Registered Agent Service if:
- You don’t live in Maryland
- You don’t have a friend or family member who lives in Maryland
- You live in Maryland, but don’t want to list your personal address, or don’t want to be your own Registered Agent
Our recommendation for a Maryland Registered Agent Service
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent.
Northwest has been the best Registered Agent Service in the business for over 20 years, and they have excellent customer service. They’re also the service we use for our own LLCs.
Hiring Northwest Registered Agent will also keep your address off of public records. This is our favorite Northwest feature. And no other Registered Agent Service offers this.
How to keep your address off public records
Northwest is a national Registered Agent Service, and lets you use their address throughout your entire LLC filing in all 50 states and D.C. This can keep your address off public records.
For example, you can list their address for any or all of the following:
- Principal office address
- Mailing address
- LLC Members or Managers address
- LLC Organizer address
(Note: The list above is an example. Some states have more address fields than others. Wherever there is an address field on the LLC filing, you can list the Northwest address if you’d like. This can keep your address off public records.)
Any mail that Northwest receives gets scanned and uploaded to your online account.
Need to save time? You can also hire Northwest to form your LLC.
Special discount for LLC University® readers
Northwest usually charges $100 + state fees to form a Maryland LLC. But they offer a special price (60% off) for LLC University® readers.
Special offer: Hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), and you'll get a free year of Registered Agent service.
(Why is Northwest the best? Read our Northwest Registered Agent review)
Maryland Registered Agent FAQs
What should I look for in a Registered Agent Service?
| Service of process: | Do they forward documents by mail? Do they scan and email them? |
| General business mail: | Will they accept general business mail sent to your LLC? Most Registered Agent Services will only accept Service of Process. |
| LLC Formation: | Will they form your LLC with the state? How much do they charge beyond the state filing fee? |
| Annual Report or other services: | Do they offer Annual Report filing or other services you can buy? How much do they charge for these? |
| Cost: | How much do they charge for the stand-alone Registered Agent Service? Most Registered Agent Services charge $100 to $300 per year. |
| Customer Support: | Do they have great customer support? Read some online reviews of the service or call and ask a few questions. |
Is a Registered Agent liable in Maryland?
No, a Maryland Registered Agent is not liable for any of the LLC’s lawsuits or debts.
Accepting documents on behalf of the LLC does not bring the Registered Agent into a lawsuit.
If you are the Registered Agent and someone sues your LLC, they are still only suing the business entity. The Registered Agent does not get sued. That’s true even if you are the Registered Agent and the owner of the LLC.
And only the LLC gets sued – not you, as the individual owner. That’s because an LLC protects your personal assets.
How do I choose a Registered Agent in Maryland?
Choosing the right Registered Agent for your LLC depends on your specific business needs.
We’ll guide you through your options and how to choose a Registered Agent, so you can confidently pick the best one for your LLC.
Where do I list myself as the Registered Agent?
The name and address of the Maryland Registered Agent goes in the LLC filing paperwork.
Every state requires an LLC to list a Registered Agent and Registered Office (the Registered Agent address). This information goes on public record, so that a process server, if needed, can serve your LLC.
Is a Registered Agent a Member of a Maryland LLC?
No, a Maryland Registered Agent is not automatically an LLC Member (aka owner).
Meaning, just listing someone as a Registered Agent doesn’t make them a Member of your LLC.
Learn more: Registered Agent vs LLC Member
Registered Agent Service:
If you hire a Maryland Registered Agent Service, they won’t be a Member of your LLC.
You:
If you are a Member of an LLC and you want to be your own Registered Agent, then that is totally okay. In that case, you are both a Member of the LLC and the Registered Agent for the LLC.
Friend or family:
If a friend or family member is your LLC Registered Agent, they can be a Member of your LLC (if you make them one). But they aren’t automatically a Member just because you list them as the Registered Agent.
Who can be a Maryland Registered Agent and an LLC Member?
| Who: | Can they be the Registered Agent? | Can they be a Member of the LLC? |
|---|---|---|
| You | Yes, if you live in the state where you formed your LLC | Yes, always |
| Friend or family | Yes, if they live in the state where you formed your LLC | Yes, if they co-own the LLC with you |
| Registered Agent Service | Yes | No, never |
Should I have a Registered Agent in Maryland?
Yes, a Maryland Registered Agent is necessary. State law requires someone to be available to accept Service of Process for your LLC.
You must list a Registered Agent on your LLC paperwork. And then you must continuously maintain (keep) one on file with the state as long as your LLC exists.
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
Matt,
I think the Registered Agent is a waste of money. I have had a RA for more than 12 years and have never gotten an email from the person other than to collect the next year fee. I am interested in being my on RA. My business doesn’t do much of anything anymore. I work for a large company and don’t have the time to farm for my business therefore the fees I pay to MD every year is such a waste.
I thought about shutting down all together but figure when I retire, I might want to work for myself so I hold on to the company. I have gone thru all of your listed information and it appears that if you live in MD, formed your business in MD and have a physical address you meet the MD requirements, is that about right. Please share what else is required to become a RA.
-Barbie-
Hi Barbie, I definitely hear you. As long as you’re a resident of Maryland and have a physical address in Maryland, you can be the Registered Agent (aka Resident Agent) for your company. And you can make that change by filing the Resolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent form by mail. Or you can file online via Maryland Business Express: Make Changes to Your Business. Regardless of which filing method you chose, there is a $25 fee. And once the state processes the change, you can then contact your existing Registered Agent Company and cancel their services. Hope that helps!
It is my understanding that the registered agent must be available between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays. So you can be your own RA, if you work from home during those hours. You hadn’t made that clear in your article or in response to the person who asked.
Hi Laurel, the “9am to 5pm” rule isn’t an official rule (statute) in Maryland. It’s just used as a general guideline within the industry, since the Registered Agent does need to be available in order to accept Service of Process for an LLC. And Service of Process is typically delivered during business hours. And yes, if you work from home (and/or are generally available), you can certainly be your own Registered Agent. Additionally, there are no “Registered Agent police” making sure you’re home all the time. And getting Service of Process is also quite rare. Hope that helps.