To start an LLC in Montana, pick a distinguishable name, appoint a registered agent with a Montana street address, and file Articles of Organization online with the Montana Secretary of State through the biz.sosmt.gov portal. The state filing fee is $35 as of October 2026, which makes Montana one of the cheaper states to form in.
After approval, write an operating agreement, get a free EIN from the IRS, and file an annual report by April 15 each year. Montana has waived the on-time annual report fee for 2026 and 2027, so the realistic minimum cost to form and keep a Montana LLC in good standing right now is the $35 filing fee.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Montana (2026)
If you’d rather not handle forming an LLC 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 LLC at a glance (2026)
| Item | Montana detail (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Montana Secretary of State, Business Services |
| Formation document | Articles of Organization |
| State filing fee | $35, plus $50 per series named in a series LLC (fee schedule) |
| How to file | Online at biz.sosmt.gov |
| Annual report | $20 if filed by April 15, $35 after; on-time fee waived for 2026 and 2027 |
| Name reservation | $10, held for 120 days (not renewable) |
| Registered agent | Required; Montana physical address, no P.O. box |
| Optional speed-up | $20 for 24-hour priority handling, $100 for 1-hour expedite |
Fees come from the Secretary of State’s Business Services filing fee schedule. Check it again before you file, since the office can change fees by administrative rule.
Step 1: Choose and check your Montana LLC name
Montana’s LLC statute, MCA 35-8-103, requires the name to include “limited liability company” or “limited company,” or one of the abbreviations L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC. “Ltd.” may stand in for “limited” and “Co.” for “company.” The name also cannot suggest the business is a corporation or another entity type.
The name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State’s records from existing corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, assumed business names and registered marks. Adding a plural, an article like “The,” or a different ending usually does not make a name distinguishable.
Search the Montana business database
Run a free search on the Secretary of State business search before you settle on anything. Our Montana business name search guide walks through the search screens and what the results mean.
Hold the name if you are not ready to file
A name reservation costs $10 and lasts 120 days under MCA 35-8-104. Montana does not let you renew it, so only reserve a name if you expect to file within about four months.
Check the domain, social handles and trademarks
A name that clears the state database can still be taken online. Search the matching .com and social usernames with Namechk, and if you need more ideas, try the business name generator. For a brand you plan to grow, search federal marks in the USPTO trademark database too.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent in Montana
Every Montana LLC must keep a registered agent. According to the Secretary of State’s registered agent help page, the agent needs a physical Montana address (a P.O. box does not qualify) and must be available during business hours to accept legal papers and official notices.
You can serve as your own agent if you live in Montana and are reliably at that address. Montana distinguishes commercial registered agents, which are registered with the state to serve many businesses, from non-commercial agents such as an owner or a friend. Changing your agent later is free in Montana: the fee schedule lists a statement of change of registered office or agent at no charge.
If you would rather keep your home address off public records, a professional agent is the usual fix. Mainstay Filing includes a Montana registered agent for the first year in its formation package. If you only need the agent and not the filing, Montana Registered Agent.co offers registered agent service at a flat $99 per year with an in-state street address.
Step 3: File Montana Articles of Organization ($35)
Montana takes LLC formations online through biz.sosmt.gov. You create an account, choose Articles of Organization for a domestic LLC, and pay the $35 fee by card. Series LLCs pay an additional $50 for each series named in the articles.
The articles ask for the information MCA 35-8-202 requires, including:
- The LLC name, with a compliant designator
- The complete mailing address of the principal office
- The registered agent’s name and Montana street address
- Whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed, and the names of managers or members
- The signature of an organizer
If timing matters, the fee schedule lists 24-hour priority handling for $20 and a 1-hour expedite for $100.
For a line-by-line breakdown of state and service costs, see the Montana LLC cost guide from Mainstay Filing.
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Montana does not ask you to file an operating agreement, but you should still write one. It records who owns what share, how profits are split, who can sign contracts, and what happens if a member leaves or dies.
Single-member LLCs benefit too. Banks often ask for an operating agreement when you open a business account, and a signed agreement helps show that the LLC is a separate business rather than a personal bank account under another name.
Step 5: Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is the federal tax ID for your LLC. You can apply free on the IRS EIN application and get the number when you finish the online form. You need one to hire employees, and most banks require it to open a business account even for a single-member LLC.
Third-party sites that charge for an EIN are not affiliated with the IRS. Applying directly costs nothing.
Step 6: File Montana annual reports and handle taxes
Montana LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State every year between January 1 and April 15, starting the year after formation. The schedule sets the fee at $20 when filed by April 15 and $35 after that date.
For 2026 and 2027, the Secretary of State has waived the annual report fee for businesses that file between January 1 and April 15. The late rate still applies if you miss the deadline, and an LLC that keeps missing reports can be involuntarily dissolved.
The Secretary of State has also warned about mailers that look official and charge $150 to “file” an annual report. File only through biz.sosmt.gov.
On taxes, a multi-member LLC is taxed as a partnership and a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity unless it elects corporate treatment. Montana has no general state sales tax, but employers and some industries register with the Montana Department of Revenue.
Step 7: Check licenses and permits
Montana does not issue a general statewide business license. Licensing depends on your activity and location: contractors, food businesses, alcohol sellers and many professions need state licenses, and many Montana cities run their own local business licensing.
Ask the city or county where you operate what they require, and see our guide to starting a business in Montana for the wider list of registrations.
Montana LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Montana?
The Montana Secretary of State charges $35 to file Articles of Organization as of October 2026, plus $50 per series for a series LLC. The annual report normally costs $20 when filed by April 15, but the on-time fee is waived for 2026 and 2027. Optional costs include a $10 name reservation and a professional registered agent.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Montana?
Montana does not publish a guaranteed turnaround for standard online filings, and review time depends on the office’s workload. If you need the LLC approved quickly, Montana offers 24-hour priority handling for $20 and a 1-hour expedite for $100 on top of the $35 filing fee.
When is the Montana LLC annual report due?
Montana annual reports are due between January 1 and April 15 each year, starting the year after your LLC was formed. The fee is $20 on time and $35 after April 15, although the on-time fee is waived for 2026 and 2027. File through biz.sosmt.gov rather than responding to mailed solicitations.
Can I be my own registered agent in Montana?
Yes. Any adult with a physical Montana street address who is available during business hours can be the registered agent, including an owner. Your address becomes part of the public record, and you need to be there to accept legal papers, which is why many owners hire a commercial registered agent instead.
Does a Montana LLC need an operating agreement?
Montana does not require you to file an operating agreement with the Secretary of State. Writing one is still wise: it sets ownership percentages, voting rules and what happens when a member leaves, and banks often ask to see it before opening a business account for the LLC.
Do I need a business license for a Montana LLC?
Montana has no general statewide business license. Licensing depends on your industry and location, so contractors, food businesses, alcohol sellers and licensed professions need specific state licenses, and many cities require a local business license. Check with your city or county before you open.
How do I look up who owns a Montana LLC?
Use the free business search on biz.sosmt.gov. Each record shows the LLC’s status, filing history, registered agent and the members or managers listed in its articles and annual reports. Searching is free, and you can also order a $5 Certificate of Existence if a bank or partner needs proof the LLC is active.
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