LLC by State Guide

LLC by State Guide › Montana

The Montana LLC guide (2026)

A Montana LLC is formed by filing the Articles of Organization with the Montana Secretary of State. The state filing fee is $35. Montana LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due April 15, for $20. Every Montana LLC must keep a registered agent with a Montana street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

Montana LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$35
Formation document
Articles of Organization
Yearly filing
Annual Report, every year, $20
Due
April 15
Registered agent
Required. A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual, including an owner, or an entity in Montana.
Agent address
The address has to be an actual street address or rural route box number in Montana. A P.O. box alone is not enough.
Filing fee rank
1st lowest of 50 (0 states charge less, 49 charge more)

Montana compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
Montana$35$20 / yr
Idaho$100$0 report
North Dakota$135$50 / yr
South Dakota$150$55 / yr
Wyoming$100$60 / yr

All 50 states

How to form an LLC in Montana

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the Montana Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a registered agent: a commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual, including an owner, or an entity in Montana.
  3. File the Articles of Organization with the Montana Secretary of State and pay $35.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. Montana LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due April 15, for $20.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus Montana’s fees.

Best overall for a Montana LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus Montana’s $35 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

Montana LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Montana?

$35 to the state to file. Montana LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due April 15, for $20. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does Montana require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. Montana LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due April 15, for $20.

Do I need a registered agent in Montana?

Yes. A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual, including an owner, or an entity in Montana.

Can I form a Montana LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization directly with the Montana Secretary of State and pay the $35 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources