In this blog I'm sharing good news for any small business based in Maryland or any business that does business in Maryland as a foreign entity. 

For a long time, we've been counseling our clients that, for purposes of the state's requirement that every business registered to do business or registered as an entity in Maryland have a principal office, that office essentially had to be a brick-and-mortar location. That has changed as a result of the most recent General Assembly session of the Maryland legislature in 2026.

Very recently, the Maryland legislature passed a bill that will become law, although we don't yet know when it will become effective. The bill allows businesses to use what is called a commercial mail receiving agency as their principal office address.

Again, we've been counseling clients against using these types of addresses for many years. I think small business owners have spoken up to the legislature, the legislature has responded, and now small businesses—and this is especially great news for businesses with remote offices—can use what is called a commercial mail receiving agency for their principal office address.

The commercial mail receiving agency does have to have a street address, and it still cannot be a U.S. Postal Service post office box. But this really opens the door to greater availability of principal office locations for businesses.

Please reach out to us with any questions.