5 Best LLC Formation Services in Maine

Are you thinking about starting your own LLC in Maine? That’s awesome!

The list of things you need to handle as a business owner might seem endless, but there are certain things you have to prioritize, especially when it comes to legal matters concerning you and your business.

How you form your company today impacts how your establishment operates tomorrow – and every day thereafter.

An LLC designation offers small business owners a haven of sorts from company debt and legal liabilities.

Let’s review LLC basics, what it takes to form one in Maine, and 5 of the best LLC formation services in the state below.

Disclaimer: the rates and offerings below are subjected to changes made by the service providers

Basics of an LLC

A limited liability company (LLC) is a type of business structure that helps protect the personal assets of owners in situations where the organization owes money.

For example, if a business owner is sued and loses, the judge can’t order them to liquidate their savings account to pay the settlement.

LLCs are a great option for new businesses since they are easy to establish and provide entrepreneurs with more opportunities to raise capital.

While corporations distribute profits to investors depending on the number of shares each of them owns, an LLC allows members to adjust profit distribution to their preferences.

1. Tailor Brands

Tailor Brands is a leading business service provider that empowers new entrepreneurs with valuable tools and expert advice.

With more than 8,000 5-star customer reviews on Trustpilot and appearances on USA Today, Forbes, Market Watch, and more, business owners can be confident in the services they receive.

When you use Tailor Brands, you’ll get everything you need to start an LLC in just a few simple steps.

Services and Offerings

In addition to LLC services, we also provide comprehensive legal support for up-and-coming businesses, including but not limited to:

Pricing

The Maine LLC formation starts from $0 + state fees (which are $260 in Maine) for the “Lite” package. This package includes includes the LLC formation in 14 business days, and covers lifetime compliance alerts and customer support via email & phone.

The second option is the “Essential” package of 199$ (plus state fees) which includes LLC formation in just 2 business days, legal compliance and expedited processing services, preparation and filing of mandatory reports & operating agreement.

Last, is our “Elite” package which includes the same LLC formation legal compliance and expedited processing services, as well as a branding toolkit with 1-year free domain, DIY website, 8 free logos, digital business card and social media post maker. This package starts at $249 per year plus state fees.

Overall

Tailor Brands makes it easy to start your LLC and walks you through each step by providing expert guidance from start to finish. 

Whether you’re just getting set up, need help managing your business, or are looking to grow, you’ll find all the resources you need to start, manage and grow your business in one place.

 

2. Rocket Lawyer

Rocket Lawyer primarily began as a way for the average person to obtain affordable legal advice, but has since grown into a full-service provider that gives customers access to most things they need to establish their LLC.

Services and Offerings

Rocket Lawyer can provide entrepreneurs and startups with helpful services like:

This is ideal for business owners that want to do the majority of the heavy lifting themselves but may need access to contract templates or legal advice on a continuing basis.

Pricing

Overall

If you only need a few services to get your business set up, Rocket Lawyer’s membership model may not be optimal for your situation.

However, if you want to be able to message or call an attorney with a quick question, the ongoing charges may be worth it to you.

3. LegalZoom

LegalZoom is a popular resource for lightweight legal services and is ideal for entrepreneurs who feel confident in doing most of the hard work on their own.

Business owners who do need more support can upgrade to the Premium package with ASSIST and get unlimited 30-minute consultations with an attorney for the first 30 days.

Services and Offerings

LegalZoom is a good choice for businesses that also need ongoing legal representation.

Customers can choose from the following and more:

Pricing

Overall

LegalZoom offers a blend of a la carte and subscription services that enable new business owners to build their own support package.

Unlike Rocket Lawyer, which only provides entrepreneurs with access to attorney advice through a subscription plan, LegalZoom makes this an add-on that you can choose to purchase or not.

4. ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness advertises comprehensive services specifically for LLC formation, which can be helpful for entrepreneurs who know they want a limited liability designation and prefer to work with a provider that specializes in it.

While service costs recur annually, you can choose a Basic plan and upgrade only the services you need rather than your whole package if you prefer.

Services and Offerings

ZenBusiness allows entrepreneurs to choose their level of support and provides access to services like:

Pricing

Overall

ZenBusiness offers a straightforward business filing service that can help entrepreneurs get their new LLCs up and running in a few simple steps.

That said, the $0 Starter tier offers surprisingly few features and the Premium package costs almost $350 — every year.

5. Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings is a lesser-known service provider that prioritizes diverse business needs over specializing solely in LLC formation.

Services and offerings

Swyft Filings offers fast filing and a range of business creation services, including:

Pricing

Overall

Swyft Filings offers a la carte services that LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer don’t.

This allows business owners to purchase only what they need instead of paying for a monthly subscription to access a lot of services they won’t end up using.

Can You Form Your LLC in Maine by Yourself?

While LLC formation services are incredibly helpful at getting your business off to a great start, it’s possible to create a limited liability company on your own.

You’ll need to follow several steps, like:

    1. Choosing a business name in compliance with state law for LLCs
    2. Hiring a registered agent
    3. Filing your Certificate of Formation
    4. Getting an EIN from the IRS
    5. Creating your operating agreement
    6. Obtaining applicable permits or business licenses
    7. Opening a business bank account
    8. Keeping accurate financial records
    9. Filing your Annual Report

However, you will need to take the time to familiarize yourself all those requirements and fill in all the mentioned paperwork and the documentation needed. 

With this in mind, many business owners choose to use LLC formation services to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having a professional handle the bulk of the work. This, in turn, allows them to focus on other important aspects of growing their businesses while saving valuable time and resources.

Conclusion

Starting your own business is both exciting and nerve-wracking.

Even though you can go through the process of setting up your own LLC, it may be better to work with a professional and use help to handle the legal matters of starting a business.

Doing things correctly from the start can help set your company up for success and give you a foundation on which to expand.

LLC services can help reduce some of the red tape that comes with being an entrepreneur and gives you more time to focus on growing your business.

Make sure your business has everything in place for long-term gains by hiring a qualified LLC formation service to guide you.