How to search Maine records
- Search by partial name; the results list both current and prior names.
- Open the record for the charter number, status and filing date.
- Use the "Additional Addresses" link to see the clerk or registered agent.
Open the official Maine search
Maine SOS, corporation and LLC search
Maine Secretary of State Business Entity Search
Maine does not keep its business register in a Secretary of State office. People who type "Maine Secretary of State business entity search" are looking for the Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions and its Corporate Name Search. It is free to search by name or charter number, and the step-by-step instructions above walk through it.
Maine Entity Search
An entity search of the Maine business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because Maine expects an annual report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Maine Corporate Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "state of Maine corporation search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
Maine LLC Search
Run the Maine LLC search with the exact name, then note the charter number. Forming a Maine LLC costs $175 and the annual report is $85. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
Maine Business Name Search
A Maine business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Maine lets you hold a name for 120 days for $20. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
One deadline for everyone: June 1
Maine sets a single annual report date for every entity, June 1, and charges $85 for LLC reports. That simplicity has a cost: penalties start the day after, and continued failure leads to administrative dissolution. The Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions handles business filings alongside elections, and its name search is an older, plain form that still returns results quickly.
Maine filing facts
| Record number | Charter number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $175. Certificate of Formation. |
| Recurring filing | Annual report, $85, yearly |
| Due | June 1 |
| Name reservation | $20 for 120 days |
| Agency phone | 207-624-7752 |
What a Maine LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $175 | $0 | $175 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $85 | $85 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $85 | $85 |
| Three-year state total | $345 | ||
Clerks, agents and assumed names
Older Maine records use the word clerk for what other states call a registered agent, and the Additional Addresses link shows who it is. Assumed names for LLCs and corporations are filed with the state. Maine sells only a names list in bulk, for $100, as noted in data downloads by state.
Checking a Maine company
Search by partial name, open the record for the charter number and status, then use Additional Addresses for the clerk or registered agent. Maine's June 1 date means records change most in late spring, so a company that looks current in March may have missed this year's report by July.
How Maine compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | $175 | $85 | Yearly | $20 |
| New Hampshire | $100 | $100 | Yearly | $15 |
| Vermont | $155 | $45 | Yearly | $20 |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $500 | Yearly | $30 |
Before you rely on a Maine result
- Annual reports filed after June 1 carry a late penalty, and continued failure leads to administrative dissolution.
- Maine assumed names for LLCs and corporations are filed with the state.
Bulk Maine business data
Sold by the state. $100, names only.
Searching beyond Maine
Registries next to Maine: New Hampshire business search, Vermont business search, Massachusetts business search.
Maine business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maine?
The state filing fee is $175. Certificate of Formation. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $85 a year in state fees.
When is the Maine annual report due?
Maine calls it the annual report. It costs $85, it is filed yearly, and it is due June 1.
Can I reserve a business name in Maine?
Yes. A name reservation costs $20 and holds the name for 120 days.
When is the Maine annual report due?
June 1 every year for all entities. The LLC fee is $85.
Is the Maine business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Corporate Name Search costs nothing. The Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Maine?
The Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. Its business line is 207-624-7752, and its free search is the Corporate Name Search.
What number identifies a business in Maine?
Maine assigns each entity a charter number. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all Maine businesses?
Only by buying it. $100, names only.
Sources
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