The Maine Articles of Organization are the LLC forms that must be completed and filed with the state in order to incorporate an LLC.
We’ll walk you through the Maine LLC Articles of Organization filing process in three simple stages.
Obtain Your Formation Certificate
Fill out the Formation Certificate
Fill up and submit the Certificate of Formation.
Your Maine Certificate of Formation must be downloaded and sent in. In Maine, there are no online filing alternatives.
We will assist you with completing the Maine Certificate of Formation form in this stage.
To finish each Article, you will need to know the following information:
Name of the Entity
Type of Entity
Name of the Registered Agent and the Address of the Registered Office
Date of Filing
A unique and clever company name is crucial, but it is not as necessary as a legally valid name.
When selecting a name for your company, you must ensure that the name:
fulfils Maine’s naming standards
is not currently in use by another Maine company
Your business name must contain the words “limited liability company” or “limited company” or one of its acronyms (LLC, L.L.C., L.C., LC).
Obscene language is not permitted in your name.
Your name cannot be used to encourage abusive or illegal behaviour.
Your name cannot fraudulently imply a connection with governmental entities.
To include any of the following terms in your name, you must first get permission from the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions: savings, savings bank, bank, banker, banking, trust, trust company, trust and banking business, and credit union (or any plurals or variations).
Your name must be distinct from any other current company in the state. Maine reserved names are included. We will assist you with this step in the section below on how to find a company name.
The words “Low-profit Limited Liability Company,” “L3C,” or “13c” must appear in the name of a low-profit LLC.
Is your name legal in Maine? Check the Maine Secretary of State’s website to see if the name you choose isn’t already taken.
If relevant, you must specify whether your LLC will be classified as a low-income or professional LLC.
We suggest that you check to see whether your company’s name is accessible as a web domain. Even if you don’t intend to create a company website right away, you may wish to purchase the URL to prevent others from doing so
A registered agent receives and transmits legal paperwork on behalf of your LLC. When you form your Maine LLC, you must provide your registered agent and registered office address.
Your registered agent may be someone over the age of 18 who resides in Maine. During normal business hours, your registered agent must always be present at the registered office.
The Certificate of Formation must mention the effective date.
After you’ve submitted your Certificate of Formation, you should do the following:
Make a Business Agreement
Obtain an EIN
Establish a Business Bank Account
Purchase Licenses and Permits
A Maine LLC Operating Agreement is a legal document that details your LLC’s ownership structure and member functions.
Although an Operating Agreement is not necessary in Maine to incorporate an LLC, it is a good idea to have one. You may begin drafting your operating agreement before, during, or after filing your Certificate of Formation.
Your operating agreement will be held in the private business records of your LLC; you will not submit it with the state.
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your LLC’s equivalent of a social security number. If you want to recruit staff or create company bank accounts, you’ll need an EIN.
You may get your EIN for free by using the IRS website, fax, or mail. Read our What is an EIN article to discover more about EINs and how they might benefit your LLC.
It is critical to use specific business banking and credit accounts to safeguard your company’s corporate veil. When you combine your personal and company accounts, your personal assets (house, vehicle, and other possessions) are at danger if your LLC is sued.
When forming an LLC, you should consider if your company requires any licences or permissions to operate legally. On the federal level, a few corporate operations need licences and/or permissions.
Learn how to secure the licences and permissions required for your company, or hire an expert to handle it for you:
Federal: For federal business licences and permits, see the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
State: Visit Maine’s Business Licensing homepage to apply for or learn more about licences, permits, and registration.
Local: Inquire with your county clerk regarding local licences and permissions.