Starting a business in Montana comes down to five moves: choose a legal structure, pick a name, register with the Montana Secretary of State through the biz.sosmt.gov portal, get a free EIN from the IRS, and open the state tax and license accounts your business needs. Forming an LLC or a for-profit corporation costs $35 in state filing fees as of October 2026.
Montana is one of the cheaper states to keep a company running. There is no general sales tax, and the Secretary of State currently waives the annual report fee for reports filed between January 1 and April 15.
Updated October 2026.
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Best Business Formation Services in Montana (2026)
If you’d rather not handle forming a business in Montana yourself, these are the services we recommend, in order. The table compares price and what’s included.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | Montana Registered Agent.co | Montana registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Registered Agent MT.org | Montana registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Montana. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. Montana Registered Agent.co
Montana Registered Agent.co is a Montana registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Registered Agent MT.org
Registered Agent MT.org is a Montana registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Montana at a glance (October 2026)
| Item | Montana detail |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Montana Secretary of State, Business Services |
| How to file | Online at biz.sosmt.gov (card or e-check) |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $35 ($50 extra per series in a series LLC) |
| Corporation Articles of Incorporation | $35 |
| Annual report | Free if filed January 1 to April 15; $35 after April 15 |
| Name reservation | $10, held 120 days, not renewable |
| Assumed business name (DBA) | $20, valid 5 years |
| State sales tax | None (8% tax applies to lodging) |
| Minimum wage | $10.85 per hour; $11.20 from January 1, 2027 |
Fees come from the Secretary of State fee schedule and help center. Mainstay Filing also keeps a breakdown of Montana LLC costs.
Which business structure fits a Montana startup?
The structure decides who is liable for business debts, how profits are taxed, and what you file with the state. Montana recognizes the usual options:
- Sole proprietorship. One owner, no state formation filing, and no separation between you and the business. If you trade under any name other than your own legal name, register it as an assumed business name.
- General partnership. Two or more co-owners sharing profits and personal liability. A written partnership agreement is not required by the state but is worth having.
- Limited liability company (LLC). The most common choice for small Montana businesses. Members get liability protection, the IRS taxes a single-member LLC like a sole proprietorship by default, and the paperwork is light. Our guide to starting an LLC in Montana covers the filing in more detail.
- Corporation. Better suited to companies that plan to issue stock or raise outside investment. Montana taxes C corporations at 6.75% of net income, with a $50 minimum, according to the Department of Revenue.
If you are unsure, an LLC is the usual starting point: it costs the same $35 as a corporation to form, and you can later elect S corporation tax treatment with the IRS without changing your state entity.
How do you choose and check a business name in Montana?
Your LLC name must include a designator such as “Limited Liability Company”, “LLC” or “L.L.C.”, and corporations need a word such as “Corporation”, “Incorporated” or an abbreviation of one. The name also has to be distinguishable from every other entity already on file.
Run three checks before you commit:
- State records. Search the Montana business database, or follow our Montana business name search guide.
- Domain and social handles. A name that is free with the state may already be taken online. Check the .com and the main social platforms at once with Namechk.
- Trademarks. Search the USPTO database so you are not building a brand on someone else’s registered mark.
Need ideas first? The business name generator suggests names and shows which ones have matching domains.
If you want to hold a name before filing, Montana charges $10 for a reservation that lasts 120 days and cannot be renewed under MCA 35-8-104. A sole proprietor or partnership trading under a brand name files an assumed business name (Montana’s version of a DBA) for $20. The registration lasts five years and can be renewed in the 90 days before it expires, per MCA 30-13-206.
Who can be your Montana registered agent?
Every Montana LLC and corporation must name a registered agent with a physical street address in Montana, where lawsuits and official state mail can be delivered during business hours. The agent can be you, another adult who lives in the state, or a commercial registered agent service.
Serving as your own agent is free but puts your home address on the public record and ties you to that address during the day. Out-of-state owners need a Montana agent regardless. Formation services such as Mainstay Filing include a Montana registered agent for the first year in their package.
How do you register a business with the Montana Secretary of State?
Montana handles formations online. The Secretary of State’s help center describes the process:
- Create a user account at biz.sosmt.gov.
- Open the Forms menu and choose the domestic form for your entity type, such as Articles of Organization for an LLC.
- Complete every required field, including the registered agent, principal office address and the names of organizers or incorporators.
- Pay the fee by credit card, debit card or e-check: $35 for an LLC or a profit corporation.
- Wait for the office’s review. Once the filing is approved, you receive an email explaining how to download your approved documents from the portal.
Out-of-state companies that want to do business in Montana use the portal’s foreign registration forms instead. Sole proprietors and general partnerships do not file formation documents, though they still need an assumed business name if they use a trade name.
After approval, LLC members should sign an operating agreement. Montana does not collect it, but it sets out ownership, voting and what happens if a member leaves, and banks often ask for it.
Get a free EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is the federal tax ID for your business. You need one to hire employees, open most business bank accounts and register for Montana withholding. Apply free on the IRS website; the online application issues the number at the end of the session. Single-member LLCs with no employees can sometimes use the owner’s Social Security number, but most banks still want an EIN.
Which Montana taxes do you register for?
Montana’s tax setup is simpler than most because the state has no general sales tax, as the Department of Revenue confirms. A few accounts still apply to many new businesses:
- Withholding tax. Employers open a withholding account through the Department of Revenue’s TransAction Portal (TAP) or with Form GenReg by mail. Have your EIN, the date your first Montana employee started, your legal name and any assumed business name ready, per the withholding account page.
- Lodging taxes. Hotels, short-term rentals and other lodging businesses collect an 8% tax (a 4% lodging facility use tax plus a 4% sales tax on accommodations) and need a seller’s permit before they open, according to the lodging facility tax page.
- Income tax. LLC profits usually pass through to the owners’ Montana individual returns. C corporations file Montana corporate income tax at 6.75%.
- Unemployment insurance. Employers register with the Department of Labor and Industry through UI eServices for Employers.
Hiring brings a few more duties. Montana’s minimum wage is $10.85 per hour and rises to $11.20 on January 1, 2027, according to the Department of Labor and Industry. Report new hires to the state’s new hire reporting program, and arrange workers’ compensation coverage before the first employee starts.
Do you need a business license in Montana?
Montana has no general statewide business license. Licensing depends on what you do and where you do it:
- Professional and occupational licenses (contractors, cosmetologists, real estate agents, health professionals and dozens more) come from the Department of Labor and Industry’s licensing boards.
- Department of Revenue licenses cover regulated products such as alcohol and tobacco, and the seller’s permit for lodging.
- City and county licenses are set locally. Billings, Missoula, Bozeman and other cities have their own business license and zoning rules, so contact the city clerk or county office where you will operate.
The Montana Small Business Development Center network offers free advising and can help you identify the licenses for your industry.
Set up banking and insurance
Keep business money separate from personal money from day one. Open a business checking account with your approved formation documents, EIN and operating agreement. Mixing funds makes bookkeeping harder and can weaken the liability protection an LLC or corporation provides.
Insurance needs vary by industry. General liability covers most customer-facing businesses, professional liability suits consultants and service providers, and commercial auto applies if you drive for work. Workers’ compensation is the one most Montana employers must carry.
How do you keep a Montana business in good standing?
Montana LLCs and corporations file an annual report with the Secretary of State every year. According to the help center, the office waives the fee for reports filed between January 1 and April 15, and the fee is $35 after April 15. Domestic entities must file by December 1, and foreign entities by November 1.
The report confirms your principal office, registered agent and leadership. If nothing changed, you can file a “no change” report without logging in. Keep your registered agent current between reports too, so that legal papers and state notices reach you.
Should you build a website for your Montana business?
A simple website with your own domain makes a new business easier to find and look established. Register a domain that matches your business name as soon as the state approves your filing, then pick a builder that fits your budget.
FAQs
How much does it cost to start a business in Montana?
As of October 2026, the Montana Secretary of State charges $35 to file Articles of Organization for an LLC or Articles of Incorporation for a profit corporation. A sole proprietorship has no state formation fee, but a trade name requires a $20 assumed business name registration. Local licenses, professional licenses and insurance add to the total depending on the industry.
Does Montana have a sales tax?
Montana has no general sales tax, so most retailers and service businesses do not collect sales tax on their sales. The main exception is lodging: hotels, motels and short-term rentals collect an 8% tax made up of a 4% lodging facility use tax and a 4% sales tax on accommodations, and they need a seller’s permit from the Department of Revenue.
When is the Montana annual report due?
Montana LLCs and corporations file an annual report each year through biz.sosmt.gov. The Secretary of State currently waives the fee for reports filed between January 1 and April 15, and the fee is $35 after April 15. The help center sets a final deadline of December 1 for domestic entities and November 1 for foreign entities.
Do I need a general business license in Montana?
No. Montana does not issue a general statewide business license. You may still need a professional or occupational license from the Department of Labor and Industry, a Department of Revenue license for products such as alcohol or tobacco, and a city or county business license where you operate. Check with your local clerk before opening.
Can I be my own registered agent in Montana?
Yes. Any adult with a physical street address in Montana can serve as the registered agent for their own LLC or corporation. The address becomes public record, and someone must be there during business hours to accept legal papers. Owners who live out of state, or who prefer privacy, usually appoint a commercial registered agent instead.
How do I register a DBA in Montana?
Montana calls a DBA an assumed business name. You file it online with the Secretary of State at biz.sosmt.gov for $20. The registration lasts five years and can be renewed during the 90 days before it expires. An expired assumed business name cannot be renewed, so you would need to file a new application.
What is the minimum wage in Montana in 2026?
Montana’s minimum wage is $10.85 per hour in 2026, according to the Department of Labor and Industry. It rises to $11.20 per hour on January 1, 2027. Montana adjusts the rate each year for inflation, so employers should check the department’s posted rate every January.
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