Find the Right Maine Business Record
Search a Maine corporation, LLC, nonprofit, partnership or registered mark by keyword or charter number, then verify the legal name, entity type, status, filing history, clerk or registered agent and principal home office.
This guide also explains the percent wildcard, former and assumed names, June 1 annual reports, Maine DBA paths, certificates, filing delays, reinstatement, revival and the records the corporate search cannot verify.
Fast answer
The Maine Secretary of State corporate search is free for viewing an Information Summary. Search a distinctive name word or a 10- or 11-digit charter number. Filing images, certified copies and status certificates are paid services.
What Do You Need From the Maine Registry?
The helper below is not a live database search. It identifies the shortest official path and the checks you should complete before opening a state service.
Find one company
- Search one or two distinctive words.
- Remove LLC, Inc. and punctuation.
- Use a partial word plus % when spelling is uncertain.
- Open the Information Summary and filing list.
Choose Keyword, Wildcard or Charter Number
Maine’s portal is simple, but the search is broader than it looks. A keyword query simultaneously checks legal names, former names, assumed and fictitious names, and registered-mark fields.
Exact text
Use when the legal or registered wording is copied from a reliable document.
Distinctive keyword
Best starting method when the entity ending or exact word order is unknown.
Wildcard search
Add % to a partial word when you know only the beginning or a likely fragment.
Charter number
Use the exact 10- or 11-digit Maine charter or mark number.
How the Maine percent wildcard helps
The percent sign represents unknown remaining characters. For example, searching Penob% can help when you are unsure whether the record uses Penobscot, Penobscott or another longer form.
Use one useful partial word rather than a long sentence. The portal recommends uncommon words or combinations of words to avoid hundreds of unrelated results.
Complete the Maine Corporate Name Search Step by Step
Use this sequence to identify the correct entity before relying on a status, address or filing.
Choose name or charter-number search
Use the keyword field for discovery. Use the charter-number field when a filing, invoice, certificate or prior search already provides the 10- or 11-digit number.
Enter only reliable wording
Start with one or two distinctive words. Remove commas, apostrophes and endings such as LLC, Inc., Corporation or Company when the full name fails.
Use % for uncertain or partial wording
Add the wildcard to a partial keyword rather than guessing every remaining character.
Compare all likely results
Match the legal name, filing type, charter number and jurisdiction. Similar names can belong to unrelated entities or reserved names.
Open the Information Summary
Confirm former and assumed names, filing date, status, clerk or registered agent, registered office and principal home office.
Select View List of Filings
Review the newest annual report, amendment, agent change, dissolution, reinstatement or other filing that affects your question.
Choose the correct final action
Only after reading the record should you file an annual report, order a filing image, request certification, buy a Certificate of Existence or download a form.
The official portal is the live final action after you understand the search methods above.
Decode Maine Entity and Name-Record Abbreviations
The filing code identifies the record you opened. Confirm it before applying LLC, corporation, nonprofit, reserved-name or registered-name rules.
What a Maine mark result shows
A mark Information Summary can display the owner name and address, mark number, filing date, expiration date, owner type and mark status. A state mark record is different from a business entity, a municipal trade-name filing and a federal trademark registration.
Read the Information Summary in the Right Order
The summary identifies the record; the filing list explains how the record reached its current condition.
| Record field | What it tells you | Common mistake | What to check next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal name | The current entity or mark name in the Secretary of State record. | Using a storefront or invoice name as the legal contracting party. | Review former, assumed and fictitious names. |
| Former names | Previous legal names associated with the same record. | Assuming an old contract belongs to a different company. | Open the amendment or name-change filing. |
| Assumed/fictitious names | Other names under which a registered entity operates in Maine. | Treating every DBA as a separate LLC. | Determine whether it is state assumed name, foreign fictitious name or municipal trade name. |
| Charter number | Maine’s 10- or 11-digit record identifier. | Confusing it with an EIN or tax number. | Use it for precise searches and annual reports. |
| Filing date | The date the entity or mark filing was accepted. | Assuming uninterrupted operations from that date. | Look for dissolution, cancellation, revocation or revival. |
| Filing type | The statutory entity or mark category. | Applying LLC rules to corporations, nonprofits or reserved names. | Use the matching form and annual-report fee. |
| Jurisdiction | The formation jurisdiction for a foreign entity. | Treating Maine registration as the original formation. | Verify the home-jurisdiction record when needed. |
| Status | The entity’s filing condition in the Maine corporate registry. | Treating good standing as proof of all licenses and taxes. | Read the status limitations and newest filing. |
| Clerk or registered agent | The person or commercial agent associated with statutory notices. | Assuming the agent owns the business. | Review officers, managers, partners and formation documents. |
| Principal home office | The main office address reported by the entity. | Assuming it is open to customers. | Compare transaction documents and the latest annual report. |
| List of filings | The accepted documents that created, updated, renewed or ended the record. | Relying only on the current summary. | Open the newest document tied to the issue. |
What Maine Good Standing Does—and Does Not—Prove
Maine defines good standing narrowly: statutory filing requirements with the Secretary of State have been met. The office does not verify all submitted information or investigate business practices.
Good standing supports
- The entity currently satisfies Maine SOS filing requirements.
- A Certificate of Existence or Good Standing may be available.
- The record is not presently shown as administratively dissolved or revoked.
- The status can be used as one part of a bank, licensing or transaction file.
Good standing does not prove
- Professional or municipal licensing
- Tax clearance or insurance
- Financial solvency or reputation
- Authority of the person contacting you
- Complete ownership or beneficial owners
- Absence of UCC liens, lawsuits or judgments
- Ownership of a trademark or payment account
Verify a Maine Business Before You Pay or Sign
Connect the record to the actual invoice, contract, website, representative and payment instructions.
Match these details
- Current legal name
- Charter number and entity type
- Domestic or foreign jurisdiction
- Status and filing date
- Clerk or registered agent
- Principal home office
- Newest annual report or amendment
- Documented assumed or municipal trade name
Verify separately
- Professional license
- Municipal business license
- Maine tax registration
- Insurance coverage
- UCC financing statements
- Bank-account ownership
- Authority of a salesperson or email sender
Worked example: the advertised name is missing
Pine Coast Home Services
No exact LLC or corporation result.
Search “Pine Coast,” partial wording with %, and municipal trade-name records.
Connect the brand to the real entity and verify any required license before paying.
No Result? Use This Maine Search-Recovery Order
Work through these checks before concluding that no business or trade-name record exists.
Find a Maine DBA, Assumed Name or Fictitious Name
Maine uses different filing paths depending on who is using the trade name. Do not send every DBA question to the state corporate office.
Use the municipal clerk
Maine has no state-level trade-name filing for an ordinary sole proprietorship or general partnership. File or search with the clerk where the business is located.
Use Form ASUM-5
A corporation, LLC, LP or LLP using a different business name can file a Statement of Intention to Do Business Under an Assumed Name.
Use a fictitious name when required
Form FICT-4 is for a foreign entity whose legal name is unavailable in Maine. It is not the normal DBA form for every business.
What Form ASUM-5 requires
| Requirement | Plain-English meaning | Common error |
|---|---|---|
| Exact legal entity name | Copy the name exactly from the Maine corporate record. | Entering only the brand or dropping punctuation from the legal name. |
| Assumed name | State the alternate name the entity intends to use. | Using the form to change the legal entity name. |
| Maine locations | List locations when the assumed name will not be used at every Maine place of business. | Leaving the location item blank when use is limited. |
| Foreign-entity details | Provide formation jurisdiction and Maine authorization date. | Using foreign-entity fields for a domestic Maine entity. |
| Authorized signature | The signer rules differ by corporation, LLC, LLP, LP and nonprofit. | Having an unauthorized employee sign. |
The current ASUM-5 form lists a $125 fee for a for-profit entity and $25 for a nonprofit corporation. A foreign-entity fictitious-name filing is listed at $40 on entity-form pages.
Check Name Availability and Reserve a Maine Name
Maine uses a “distinguishable upon the record” standard for active corporation, LLC, LP, LLP and mark names. Municipal sole-proprietor trade names are not included in that state-level comparison.
Search before filing
- Full proposed name
- Distinctive wording without the entity ending
- Partial wording with %
- Former, assumed and fictitious names
- Registered marks
- Municipal trade names where relevant
- Federal trademark records and established use
Do not confuse these actions
- A search does not reserve a name.
- A reservation does not form the entity.
- A state filing does not settle every trademark dispute.
- A municipal trade name is not a Maine LLC.
- A foreign registered name does not authorize business activity.
120-day reservation
A standard Maine entity-name reservation costs $20 and expires at the end of the 120-day filing period. The state warns that actual use is not recommended until the purpose for which the name was reserved is completed.
Foreign registered-name protection
A foreign entity can register a name without obtaining authority to conduct activities in Maine. The LLC fee table lists $20 per month for the months remaining in the calendar year and $200 for renewal. Registration protects the name only and must be renewed before December 31; it is not a qualification to transact business.
File the Maine Annual Report by June 1
Maine uses a statewide June 1 deadline for business corporations, nonprofits, LLCs, LPs and LLPs. The first report is due in the year after formation or Maine qualification.
First report is due between January 1 and June 1, 2027.
Near June 1, request a manual postmark or use registered/certified mail or a certificate of mailing.
The office may email a courtesy reminder, but the entity remains responsible even if no email arrives.
| Entity category | Annual-report fee | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic business entity | $85 | Includes common domestic corporations, LLCs and other business entities. |
| Foreign business entity | $150 | Use the Maine charter number assigned to the foreign registration. |
| Domestic or foreign nonprofit corporation | $35 | Nonprofit fee differs from the standard business-entity fee. |
Before submitting the report
- Confirm the exact legal name and charter number.
- Verify the entity type and current status.
- Review clerk or registered-agent information.
- Check principal or home-office details.
- Review people, officers, managers or partners requested by the report.
- Save the online acknowledgement or mailing proof.
- Recheck the filing list after processing.
Do not rely on a mailed reminder
The Division does not mail annual-report reminders. It may send a courtesy email from cec.corporations@informe.org, and the state warns that these messages often enter spam folders. Keep the entity email current and place June 1 on an independent calendar.
Application for excuse for an inactive corporation
A domestic business corporation or nonprofit corporation that is currently in good standing but is not conducting business may apply to be placed in an excused status before the next annual-report deadline. Once excused, it does not file annual reports until a certificate of resumption is submitted. This is not the normal option for an LLC, LP or LLP.
Understand Good Standing, Dissolution, Revocation and Revival
The next action depends on how the entity reached its present status. Reinstatement and revival are not interchangeable.
Good Standing
Required SOS filings are current. Continue separate license, tax and transaction checks.
Not in Good Standing
A filing problem or pending administrative action exists. Open the filing list and identify what is missing.
Administratively Dissolved
A domestic entity did not cure statutory filing problems. Ordinary reinstatement generally requires eliminating the grounds and confirming an available name.
Revoked
A foreign entity lost Maine authority for failure to meet statutory requirements. Determine the requalification or reinstatement path.
Dissolved or Cancelled
The entity ended through a voluntary or other legal filing. Open the ending document before assuming it can resume ordinary business.
Revival
A domestic dissolved entity may be revived for a specified purpose and period. Revival is not a generic substitute for ordinary reinstatement.
Reinstatement versus revival
| Process | Use it when | Important requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative reinstatement | A qualifying entity was administratively dissolved for an unresolved statutory filing problem. | Eliminate the grounds, confirm the name, file required reports and pay applicable fees. Common statutes allow a six-year ordinary reinstatement period. |
| Late reinstatement | Certain corporations, nonprofits or limited partnerships have been administratively dissolved for more than six years. | Additional authority, documentation and statutory conditions can apply. |
| Certificate of Revival | A dissolved domestic entity needs temporary revival for a stated purpose and period. | Domestic entities only; form asks for original filing date, entity type, agent at dissolution, purpose and required time. |
The current revival form lists $150 for a business entity and $25 for a nonprofit corporation.
What the Maine LLC Formation Form Actually Requires
A lookup visitor may also be checking whether a new LLC filing is complete. Form MLLC-6 shows the specific fields the state expects.
Core Certificate of Formation fields
- LLC name with an allowed LLC ending
- Immediate or later effective date
- L3C or professional-LLC designation when applicable
- Commercial agent and CRA public number, or noncommercial agent
- Physical registered-agent location—not only a PO box
- Registered-agent consent
- Signature of at least one authorized person
Submission details people miss
- Base filing fee is $175.
- Next-business-day handling adds $50 per entity.
- Same-business-day handling adds $100 per entity.
- One expedite fee applies to multiple documents for the same entity submitted together.
- Missing contact details can cause an erroneous filing to be returned.
- USPS and FedEx/UPS use different delivery addresses.
Change a Maine Clerk or Registered Agent Correctly
Form CLK/RA-3 is used for appointment or change of a clerk or registered agent for domestic and foreign entities. The signature requirement depends on what is changing.
Information the form requests
- Exact legal entity name
- Current clerk or registered-agent name
- Whether this is a new appointment or a change to existing information
- Physical street address for a noncommercial agent
- CRA public number and name for a commercial agent
- Foreign jurisdiction and Maine authorization date when applicable
Signature and fee rules
- A new appointment is signed by the authorized entity representative specified for that entity type.
- A change made by the existing clerk or agent follows the form’s existing-agent signature rule.
- A PO box alone is not a physical street address.
- For-profit filing fee: $35.
- Nonprofit filing fee: $15.
Use the online address service or CLK/RA-3?
| Your situation | Best starting action | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Existing noncommercial clerk or agent changes only their address | Use the online Change of Address Service. | The existing clerk or agent makes the change; it is not a new-agent appointment. |
| Entity appoints a different clerk or registered agent | Use Form CLK/RA-3. | The entity-specific authorized signer must sign and the new agent must consent. |
| Commercial agent changes its listing or represented entities | Use the CRA Listing Management Service. | An InforME subscriber login is required for management functions. |
| Foreign entity changes its principal or home-office address | Use the online Change of Address Service. | An authorized individual of the foreign entity submits the change. |
Prepare a Maine Paper Filing Without Avoidable Rejection
The customer contact cover letter attached to current Maine forms contains operational details that are easy to miss when users print only the legal form pages.
Complete the contact cover letter
- List every entity included in the submission.
- Provide a contact name and daytime telephone number or email address.
- Use one email for questions about this filing and, when desired, a separate email for annual-report reminders.
- Provide the return name and mailing address for the attested copy.
- Keep a full copy of the signed form, cover letter and payment record.
Avoid these submission mistakes
- Mailing only the legal form and omitting contact information
- Using a PO box where a physical agent address is required
- Sending an assumed-name form without the exact legal entity name
- Using the USPS address for FedEx or UPS
- Paying multiple expedite fees for documents filed together for the same entity
- Assuming expedited service cannot be delayed during the current backlog
Payment, handling and delivery choices
| Choice | Current official instruction | User tip |
|---|---|---|
| Standard payment | Check or money order payable to Maine Secretary of State, or credit card using the official voucher. | Write the entity name and form type in your records so the payment can be matched later. |
| 24-hour handling | $50 additional fee per entity for next-business-day service. | The current SOS notice warns that high volume may delay expedited work. |
| Immediate handling | $100 additional fee per entity for same-business-day service. | Confirm current acceptance hours before relying on same-day handling. |
| Multiple documents | Only one expedite fee is required when documents for the same entity or charter number are submitted together. | Bundle the documents and clearly identify the shared entity. |
| USPS | 101 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0101. | Near a deadline, obtain a manual postmark or tracked acceptance proof. |
| FedEx/UPS or in person | 6 E. Chestnut Street, 5th Floor, Augusta, ME 04330. | Do not address a private carrier package to the State House Station address. |
Order a Filing Image, Certified Copy or Certificate
Choose the document based on what the bank, agency, court, lender or transaction partner actually requested.
Information Summary
Use for free online review of the entity’s name, charter number, status, addresses and filing list.
Free to view or printOnline filing image
Use when you need to read one filed annual report, amendment, formation or ending document.
$3 per filing imageCertified filing order
Use when the recipient requires certification that the selected filing copy matches the state record.
Add $5 per certified order requestCertificate of Existence / Good Standing
Use to show qualifying entity filing status. Choose short form without amendments or long form with amendments when offered.
$30 for-profit / $10 nonprofitPlain copy by service schedule
Use for requested copies not purchased as portal filing images or when staff must retrieve unavailable records.
$2 per pageCertificate of Fact
Use when a specific recorded fact rather than general existence is required.
$30 for-profit / $10 nonprofitDownload and authenticity rules
- Purchased documents can be retrieved without charge for 15 days.
- A later search can produce changed results after an amendment or status update.
- Save the PDF and order details immediately.
- Use the authentication number on a certified document to verify it through the state service.
- Call the Division when an older filing image is not available online.
Check Whether a Maine Filing Has Been Processed
Do not rely only on delivery confirmation. The accepted filing should appear in the state record and filing list.
Search the entity name
Use the official corporate search and open the likely Information Summary.
Scroll to the filing list
Select View List of Filings and look for the submitted form type and acceptance date.
Compare the current processing banner
The main division page currently displays 40–55 business days and warns that high expedited volume can delay even expedited filings.
Use your contact information
When the expected period has passed, provide the entity name, submission date, delivery method, payment details and contact information to staff.
Need a Complete Maine Business List Instead of One Record?
The public search is for individual interactive lookups, not scraping. Maine sells standard entity lists, monthly new-entity lists and bulk database products.
| Product | Current listed price | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| All active entity and mark names | $100 | Broad name research across active corporations, LLCs, LPs, LLPs and marks. |
| All active business corporations | $150 | A current corporation-only list. |
| Domestic corporations only | $125 | Maine-formed corporation research. |
| Foreign corporations only | $25 | Out-of-state corporations registered in Maine. |
| Monthly new-entity category list | Generally $10 per category | Recently formed or registered entities. |
| Monthly corporate and UCC records | $600 | Authorized large-scale data use. |
Use the Correct Maine Government Tool
The corporate search answers entity-record questions. Use a different system when the task concerns municipal trade names, liens, licensing, taxes or registered agents.
Contact Maine Corporations With a Useful Question
Prepare the exact name, charter number, filing and submission details before calling or emailing.
Prepare before contacting support
- Exact legal, former or advertised name
- Charter number, if available
- Entity code and status
- Keywords and wildcard searches already attempted
- Filing type and submission date
- USPS, courier or online delivery details
- Payment or expedite reference
- The exact record, document or result you need
Final Maine Entity Verification Checklist
Complete this check before paying, signing, filing, ordering a certificate or representing that a business is properly identified.
Maine SOS Business Search FAQs
Is the Maine Secretary of State business search free?
Yes. Viewing and printing the Information Summary is free. Fees apply to filing images, certified copies, certificates, filings, business lists and bulk data.
Can I search a Maine LLC by name?
Yes. Enter a distinctive keyword from the LLC name. Remove LLC and punctuation when the full legal name fails, and use a partial keyword with the percent wildcard when spelling is uncertain.
What is a Maine charter number?
It is the 10- or 11-digit identifier assigned to the Maine entity or mark record. It is not a federal EIN, state tax-account number, professional-license number or UCC filing number.
Does the Maine search include former and assumed names?
Yes. The keyword search simultaneously checks legal names, former names, assumed names, fictitious names and registered-mark text fields.
What does Good Standing mean in Maine?
It means the entity has met statutory filing requirements with the Secretary of State. It does not prove tax clearance, licensing, insurance, solvency, complete ownership or the honesty of a transaction.
Why can’t I find a sole proprietorship in the state search?
Maine does not provide state-level entity registration for an ordinary sole proprietorship or general partnership. A trade name may instead be filed with the municipal clerk where the business is located.
When is the Maine annual report due?
The legal deadline is June 1 each year. The first report is due between January 1 and June 1 of the year after formation, incorporation or Maine qualification.
How much is a Maine annual report?
The official guidance lists $85 for domestic business entities, $150 for foreign business entities and $35 for domestic and foreign nonprofit corporations.
How do I obtain a Maine Certificate of Good Standing?
Open the correct Information Summary and select the Certificate of Existence or Good Standing option. The listed fee is $30 for a for-profit entity and $10 for a nonprofit corporation.
How do I know whether my Maine filing was processed?
Search the entity, open the Information Summary and select View List of Filings. Compare the accepted filing list with your submitted document and the current processing-time banner.
Freshness note: official portal behavior, fees, processing estimates and forms can change. This article was rechecked against Maine government search pages, service pages, live fee tables and current PDF forms on August 4, 2026. Confirm the final fee and current processing banner on the official action page before filing or paying.