Maryland Business Express
Maryland Business Express is an inter-agency collaboration that can help you start or grow a business in the state. The site contains 150 resources that are provided by thirteen state agencies. By following the links in the resources section, you will be able to find answers to your business questions. You can also find information about obtaining a business license and applying for a tax account.
Trade name search
When you are deciding on the name for your business, you will want to check if the name is available. You can do this through the Maryland Business Express name search database. This will allow you to see if your chosen name is available for use on social media platforms and websites. It will also let you know if you need to reserve the name with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation.
You should also check to see if there are any other similar names in Maryland. This is because you might not be able to register your trade name if it is already taken. Performing a thorough name search will not ensure that your trade name is accepted, but it will let you know whether someone else has already registered the name. Once your name is registered, you will receive an official letter from the SDAT confirming that it has been accepted.
Establishing a tax account
Whether you run a small business or operate a large corporation, establishing a tax account in Maryland is an important step in establishing your business. It makes your finances separate from your personal finances and looks more professional. Moreover, it helps protect your personal assets from potential legal issues and makes tax filing easier.
The first step in establishing a tax account for your business in Maryland is to register your business with the state. This requires filing fees and annual reports. You also need to appoint a resident agent to accept service of process.
Forming a corporation
If you have decided to form a corporation in Maryland, the first step is to create a corporate bylaws document. These bylaws will govern the corporation, and they are often required by financial institutions. The incorporator or initial directors can create these documents, and they should be recorded in the company’s internal records. Once they are complete, the incorporator should sign them. The official corporate record may be stored at the business’ principal place of business or somewhere else that is secure for the purposes of protecting company records.
The next step in forming a corporation is choosing a trade name. In Maryland, a trade name is a word, symbol, or name that distinguishes a business from another. A trade name must be unique and not be the same as a trademarked phrase. A Maryland business name should be descriptive and easy to understand. Some examples of recognizable business names are Perdue Farms and Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Establishing a sole proprietorship
If you own a small business in Maryland, you may want to consider establishing a sole proprietorship. This type of business allows you to run it yourself, but it does have certain requirements. For one, you must apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). This is a nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to your business. This number is used to identify your business for tax purposes, and you need it to report employee income.
Another advantage of a sole proprietorship is that there is less paperwork to worry about. The process is very simple and there are very few requirements to meet. Typically, a sole proprietor is not required to register with the state, but it will be necessary to obtain a federal tax ID.
Forming an LLC
To form an LLC in Maryland, you must first complete the Articles of Organization, which must be filed with the state Department of Assessments and Taxes. You will need to pay a $100 filing fee. The Maryland Business Express Portal makes it easy to file your LLC’s Articles of Organization online. To file, all you need is your business name, an active email address, and a credit card.
You must also obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN), or EIN. This is like a social security number for businesses, and is used by the Internal Revenue Service to identify them. An EIN may also be called a Federal Employer Identification Number or a Federal Tax Identification Number.