Big Sky Country is a great place to live – and a great place to do business. With no state sales tax and a very low overall tax burden, Montana is very business-friendly. Plus, relatively low cost of living makes it easier to attract talent, and keeps business costs down.
Are you looking to start a Montana business? This guide is for you. We’ll cover how to start a business in Montana, from the initial planning stages all the way through to the day to day operations of your company.
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Decide on a business idea
First and foremost, you’ll need to decide what kind of business you want to start. Chances are you already have something in mind, but if not, here are some things to consider:
- What are you talented or naturally skilled at? Could this talent make you well suited to a certain type of business?
- What business does your community need? Have you talked to people to find out?
- What are you interested in? Can you combine any of your passions with a business idea?
- Is this going to be a full time business, or more of a side hustle?
These are questions to ask yourself when deciding on a business idea. Once you have decided, move on to the next step.
Plan your Montana business
Now it’s time to start planning. This means coming up with a business plan, naming your business, researching locations, and more. There’s a lot to cover here, so let’s break it down:
Select a business name
Selecting the name for your new Montana company is the first concrete step to take. And it’s a step that you should take your time with, as what you name your company is very important.
You want to find a name that is appropriate and relevant to your business and industry and ideally select a name that is also memorable for your customers.
The name you select must also comply with Montana’s business name rules. The most important rule is that the name you choose must be unique, meaning that it’s not already in use by another company in Montana. To confirm this, you can conduct an online Montana business name search.
There are other important rules to consider, including:
- Names for LLCs need to contain “limited liability company”, or select approved abbreviations such as “LLC” or “L.L.C.”
- Names for corporations need to contain “corporation”, “incorporated”, or select approved abbreviations such as “corp” or “inc”
- The use of certain financial words, such as “bank” or “trust”, may require additional written permission
- Other rules may apply. See the full legal rules here.
Once you find the right name for your business, you can move on to the next step. Or, if you’d prefer to think about it for a while, you can reserve the business name for 120 days by filing the Application for Reservation of Business Name.
Montana trade names
While planning the name for your business, it’s wise to consider the use of trade names. Otherwise known as DBAs or assumed names, these are secondary names that can be used in the day to day operations of your business. You register trade names after your business is formally established. Learn more about Montana DBAs here.
Register a domain name
Once you choose a name, you should immediately register a domain name for your new business. In most cases, getting a .com domain name is ideal, but there are many other extensions (.biz, .net, etc.) that are worth considering.
You can use a tool like Namechk to search for an available domain name and find a great deal on the registration cost. You may find that your desired names are taken, so you may need to get creative.
Complete market research
Once you have an idea, you’ll want to do some market research. You want to gain a better understanding of who your customers – and competitors – are. You can achieve this by conducting online research, running focus groups, sending out surveys, and more. There are also companies that can help you complete market research, for a fee.
Select a business location
Unless you plan to run a remote/virtual business, you will need to find a physical location for your company. Research commercial property in your area, and take note of typical costs. For customer-facing businesses (retail and some services), location is very important, so take your time in selecting the right area for your business.
Create a business plan
You will now need to create a detailed business plan for your new venture. This plan is helpful for your own purposes, and will also be necessary in order to obtain funding from a bank. A good business plan should contain these elements:
- Finances: How much funding does the business need to get started? How many sales does it need each month to break even on expenses?
- Product: What do you plan to sell? Is it a product or a service? What problem does your business solve, and how is it distinct from your competitors?
- Marketing: How will you drive sales? What marketing and sales efforts do you plan to employ? How much money will you set aside to fund marketing efforts?
- Staff & partnerships: How many people will you need to hire, and what skill sets do they need to have? Will you have any partnerships or arrangements with other local businesses?
If you need help, you can find business plan templates online that will help walk you through the steps you need to take to draft a detailed business plan. If you plan to seek funding, you may also wish to call your bank to see what they require in terms of business plans.
Decide on a business structure
Before you form your business as a legal entity, you will need to decide which business structure you will use. There are a few different types of businesses, each with its own pros and cons.
Sole proprietorship
Sole props are single-person operations. Examples include freelancers, gig economy workers, and consultants. A sole proprietorship business is very easy and inexpensive to form, and tax reporting is also fairly simple. As a sole proprietor, your business taxes are reported as part of your personal tax return.
The downsides to a sole prop are that you cannot hire employees, and you don’t have the legal liability shield that something like an LLC or corporation would provide. 100% of the debts and liability of a sole proprietorship go to the sole owner: you.
Partnership
A general partnership is an unincorporated business structure similar to a sole proprietorship, except with two active owners/participants. Partnerships do not have liability protection.
Limited liability company (LLC)
A limited liability company, or LLC, is a popular choice for business owners because it provides liability protection to the owners. It separates the business from the owners, which means the personal assets of owners will not be at risk if the company gets sued or goes into bankruptcy.
LLCs are also a bit easier to form than corporations. Even so, there is definitely more work involved with an LLC than there is with a sole proprietorship.
Corporation
A corporation is owned by its shareholders and is a separate entity. There are a few different types of corporations (C-corp, S-corp, etc), with the main differences being the way they are treated tax-wise.
Corporations are more regulated than LLCs, which makes them more attractive to outside investors. For this reason, most large companies are corporations. The downside is that it takes more effort, and more paperwork, to form a corporation.
Nonprofit
A nonprofit is a legal entity that is set up with charitable status, meaning that its goal is not to make a profit, but rather to address a certain cause. Nonprofits are funded by donations, rather than investors, and are subject to many regulations. They are exempt from most forms of taxation, although tax returns must still be filed.
Register your business in Montana
Next, it’s time to actually register your company and form a new business entity. You will need to work with the Montana Secretary of State’s department for this process.
Alternatively, you can save some time by using a business formation service. Some great options include Northwest Registered Agent, ZenBusiness, and Bizee.
These companies specialize in helping entrepreneurs start new businesses. They walk you through the entire business formation process, ensuring that everything is handled accurately and efficiently. It will cost a bit extra to use one of these services, but for most entrepreneurs, the convenience is well worth the cost.
The specifics of starting a Montana company depend on the type of business you are forming. That said, the basic steps include:
- Naming your company
- Choosing a registered agent (this individual or company is responsible for receiving legal documents on behalf of the business)
- Filing paperwork with the state
- Obtaining business licenses and permits if necessary
- Applying for an EIN from the IRS
If you choose to not use a formation service, you’ll simply need to complete the necessary steps on your own. More instructions for each business entity type are found below.
Form a Montana sole proprietorship
Follow these steps:
- Decide if you will operate under your legal name, or use a trade name
- If you use a name other than your own, you may need to register a fictitious name
- Apply for a business license and/or other necessary permits from local governments (city/county)
- More information here
Form a Montana LLC
Follow these steps:
- Name your new LLC (see notes above)
- Choose a Montana Registered Agent (or use a service such as Northwest Registered Agent). This agent is responsible for receiving notice of lawsuits and other important items, on behalf of your business
- File the LLC Articles of Organization online, and pay the $70 filing fee
- Draft an LLC operating agreement
- Apply for an EIN with the IRS
Form a Montana corporation
Follow these steps:
- Decide on your desired corporate tax structure (S corp or C corp)
- Name your new corporation
- Choose a Registered Agent for your business (or use a service)
- Hold an organizational meeting and appoint directors
- File the Montana Articles of Incorporation online, and pay the $70 filing fee
- Apply for an EIN from the IRS
Our picks of the best registered agent services
Apply for business licenses and permits
Registering your business and forming an LLC or corporation is an important part of starting your business – but in order to operate legally, you will likely also need to obtain certain permits and/or business licenses.
The specifics vary depending on the type of business you are running, as well as your location. For example, restaurants will need health permits, bars will need liquor licenses, and medical service providers will need various professional licenses and federal permits. You will need to research the specifics that relate to your business type.
There are different requirements at each level of government:
- Local: Cities and counties may require certain business licenses or permits. Contact your county clerk for details.
- State: Montana may require additional permits and/or licenses in order to operate legally in the state. Check the Licensing Page on the MT Small Business Development Center website or the Montana Department of Revenue licensing page for more information.
- Federal: Federal permits/licenses may be required for certain regulated industries, such as construction, medicine and legal services. Check the Small Business Administration (SBA) guide for more details.
At this time, you should also apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). An EIN is a federal tax ID that is required to hire employees. You can apply for an EIN online with the IRS – the application is free and quick.
Secure funding
For most businesses, some startup funding will be necessary in order to get started. In step #2, you should have calculated your funding needs while drafting a business plan. Use this information to determine how much funding you need to raise.
For bootstrapped companies, you may be able to get by with your own personal savings, or some seed investments from friends and family. If your funding needs are small, this is likely your best route.
If your business plan indicates that substantial funding is needed, you will likely need to apply for a loan and/or a grant.
- Small business loans are offered by banks, credit unions and other lenders. They can range from as little as a few thousand to hundreds of thousands. Specifics will depend on your business, as well as your personal creditworthiness. Most small business loans are issued in a lump sum, and paid back on a monthly basis, with interest.
- Small business grants are offered by government agencies and some nonprofits. They are essentially business loans that don’t need to be paid back – but they usually have substantial fine print. It’s worth looking into, however, as there may be grants available, particularly for businesses serving an important social need, or for underprivileged entrepreneurs starting their first business.
Set up your business finances
Beyond securing funding, there are other routine tasks that you need to take care of to get your business’ finances in order. This includes:
- Opening a business checking account. You should have a separate business bank account that you use solely for business purposes. You can open this account at most banks, credit unions and financial institutions. Call ahead to see what documents will be required to open this account.
- Open a business credit card or line of credit. This is not strictly necessary, but most businesses can benefit from having a business credit card, and/or a business line of credit. This can be used for day-to-day expenses and purchases, and may also earn you some rewards.
- Set up your accounting system. As a business owner, you will need to keep very detailed records about all revenue and expenses. To do this, you’ll want to set up the proper foundation from day one. This could be investing in an account software such as QuickBooks or Xero, hiring a bookkeeper, or at the very least establishing a spreadsheet to track everything. If you do not have any accounting experience, it’s wise to hire a professional to help.
- Purchase business insurance. Most businesses should have some form of liability insurance, and potentially other forms of business insurance as well. Insurance policies can help protect your equipment and buildings from costly damage, and help shield your company from liability if a worker or customer is injured or otherwise harmed. Speak with a local business insurance provider to get started.
Create a business website
In this day and age, having a solid web presence for your business is very important. And social media profiles, while important, are no replacement for an actual website. You will want to build a professional business website that you can use to drum up business, inform your customers, and stay connected with your clientele.
The simplest way to build a website is to use a website builder from a web hosting provider. When you register a new domain name, look for a provider that also offers web hosting and a site builder, so that you can purchase everything at once and get your site set up quickly.
Our picks of the best website builders
Hire employees
Unless you plan to operate a solo business (with you as the only worker), you will likely need to hire employees. To do this, you will need a federal employer identification number (EIN), which is a free tax ID number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Once the IRS issues your EIN, you should now focus on fulfilling state-level requirements for employers. When you hire someone, you will need to report the new hire within 20 days of the date of hire.
You will also need to register for and begin paying unemployment insurance tax, as well as withholding tax. There will likely be other tax filing responsibilities, as well – check with your CPA for details.
At this point, you also should look into setting up your payroll system – whether you handle it yourself, or use a payroll service.
Run and grow your business
Now it’s time to get down to business and engage with the day-to-day activities that are sure to bring your business success. This means marketing your products and services, maintaining good relationships with your return customers, and setting yourself apart from the competition.
Montana business FAQs
Still have questions about running a business in Montana? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions.
What are some business resources in Montana?
Entrepreneurs in Montana have a range of useful resources available to help their companies. A great place to start is the Montana Small Business Development Center (SBDC), an organization that provides free business advisor services, webinars and training, and many other useful resources. SCORE is another great resource, with branch offices in Billings, Bozeman and Helena. Finally, the Montana District Office of the US Small Business Administration (SBA) is well worth exploring.
What is the minimum wage in Montana?
The Montana minimum wage is $8.75 per hour, as of 2021. It is subject to a yearly increase to cover increases in the cost of living. The increase is calculated every year based on the consumer price index (CPI), and the minimum wage is adjusted accordingly. Check with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry for the latest information.
Keep in mind that it is possible for individual cities or counties to impose their own minimum wage laws that may exceed Montana’s minimum wage. Check with local government officials in your area to ensure your business is compliant with all local rules.
What business taxes does Montana have?
There are a variety of business taxes that firms in Montana may be subject to. The state has no sales tax, but employers will be subject to unemployment insurance tax, withholding tax, corporate income tax (or alternative gross sales tax for smaller firms), and others. There may also be local tax requirements for cities or counties that your company operates in. Check with the Montana Department of Revenue or your accountant for details.
How do I dissolve an LLC or Corporation in Montana?
If you want to close your business, you must “dissolve” it. To do this, you will need to file voluntary dissolution paperwork with the Montana Secretary of State. You may also need to close your tax accounts and complete other steps.
The process differs slightly for LLCs compared to corporations. It’s recommended to work with a CPA for this process, as it can be complex.
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