How quickly can I start a business (incorporate or form a LLC) in Maryland?
Posted by Cedulie Lauman Esq at Friday, December 14. 2007 and is filed under business start-ups,Tips 
Sometimes entrepreneurs find a deal that just can't wait. Perhaps it is a piece of property to purchase, or an existing business to acquire. Or maybe just an itch to start marketing under a particular business name. Whatever the reason, business owners sometimes require quick incorporation or LLC formation. The good news is that this can be done ASAP, although it triggers an additional governmental filing fee in the State of Maryland.
In Maryland, new entities (corporation or limited liability company) must file Articles with the State. The normal turn-around time is 6-8 weeks. However, for an additional fee, the State will process new filings on a faster "rush" basis. For some time, the State promised to process the initial paperwork in 24 hours, however, that time frame has stretched a bit and it realistically seems to take 2-6 days for processing of expedited fax requests. Still better than waiting two months, but prudence suggests that a new venture contact their attorney to get the ball rolling as quickly as possible.
As with many areas of life, you can get things done faster if you are willing to pay a bit more. (In my practice, I do not charge more in attorneys' fees for rush service, but fees are set by each individual business lawyer or law firm). Of course, it takes more than the initial Articles to run a business, and every company should make sure they have a complete Company Record Book with proper tax set-up and agreements governing the internal workings of the business before jumping into a major purchase.
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