How to Incorporate in Maine

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Incorporating in Maine is relatively easy.  This article should give you resources to understand how the incorporation process works in Maine, and to use the legal forms from the Maine Secretary of State to incorporate in Maine.

Though not required, it is advised that you check your corporate name for availability before filing any applications. . A preliminary check may be made on the Corporate Name Search (https://icrs.informe.org/nei-sos-icrs/ICRS?MainPage=x) page through the Maine Department of the Secretary of State Web site. One you find out if your corporate name is available, you can fill out Form NO.MBCA-1 7/1/2003, Application for Reservation of Name (http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/corp/formsnew/mbca1.pdf). The filing fee for the reservation of a name is $20 and the form and the fee can be mailed to: Corporate Examining Section, Secretary of State, 101 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0101. Names are reserved for a period of 120 days and may not be renewed.

One your corporate name is established, you can begin the process of filing your Articles of Incorporation. To do this you must fill out Form No.MBCA-6, Articles of Incorporation (http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/corp/formsnew/mbca6.pdf).  The filing fee for the articles of incorporation is $145. Maine does offer expedited filing for an additional charge. For 24 hour service the fee is $50., for immediate service the fee is $100. The completed form and fee can be submitted to: Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions, 101 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0101.

Maine requires and annual report to be filed every year to maintain a good standing. The first annual report must be filed between January 1st and June 1st of the year following the calendar year in which you incorporated. This can be done two ways - online or via mail. To submit your annual report online, simply go to the Annual Report Online Web site (https://www10.informe.org/aro/index_on.html) and follow the instructions from here. To create a preprinted annual report form, visit the Form Download Web site (http://www10.informe.org/aro/form_download.html), enter in your information and a report will be generated.

There are many companies that offer the service of filing these articles on your behalf, such as FileOnline  or LegalZoom.