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LLC Formation·Best Overall·Updated August 19, 2026

Best LLC Formation Services in Montana

Montana's $35 LLC fee is America's lowest. We tested 6 formation services to find which ones keep the rest of your bill just as small.

August 19, 202615 min read
Daniel Wong
Written byDaniel Wong
Legal & Compliance Analyst
6 services reviewed
Independently tested
Updated quarterly

Quick Comparison of All 6 Services

Compare pricing and ratings at a glance, then visit a service or read the full review below.

Montana

Sets the state fee and annual report below.

Include in every price

The agent is required in every state and the main reason provider prices differ. State fees go to the state and are identical with every provider.

Every price below is the full amount due, the $35† Montana filing fee is already in it. That fee goes to the state, not the company, and is identical whoever files for you. Only the provider's own fee varies. what the service charges $35† Montana state fee

NR logo

Northwest Registered Agent

4.8Best Overall
Registered agent free year 1, then $125 a yearAgent drops to $100 per state at five or more statesCancelling needs a phone call or email, not a dashboard click

Due today

$74

Registered agent included, free year 1State fees included

Then every year

$125

Z logo

ZenBusiness

4.5Best for LLC Formation
$0 formation with guided, beginner friendly setupAgent is $199 a year, and that is most of the real costThe $99 agent price is not for formation customers

Due today

$134

Registered agent includedState fees included

Then every year

$199

TB logo

Tailor Brands

4.2Best for Branding
$0 filing with logo and website tools built inWeekend support and a guided setupAgent $199 a year plus pre-checked trial add-ons

Due today

$234

Registered agent includedState fees included

Then every year

$199

F logo

FileNow

4.2Best for Speed
Cheapest filing fee on this list at $49Free agent year one if you take the $199 Premium planAgent costs $119 a year on the $49 Starter plan

Due today

$203

Registered agent includedState fees included

Then every year

$119

SF logo

Swyft Filings

3.2Best for Fast Filing
Fast filing is their whole promise, same day in most statesAgent is billed quarterly at $149, which is $596 a yearThat agent price is the highest on this list by a wide margin

Due today

$631

Registered agent includedState fees included

Then every year

$596

L logo

LegalZoom

2.8Most Recognized
Best known brand with a big legal document libraryAgent costs $249 a year against a $99 low on this listAggressive upsells during checkout

Due today

$284

Registered agent includedState fees included

Then every year

$249

† Articles of Organization are $35, plus $50 for each series member named in a series LLC. Montana files business documents through its online portal.

* Based on prices and renewal rates verified August 21, 2026. Provider and government fees change.

Compare every detailShow
Service
NR logo

Northwest Registered Agent

Best Overall
From $39
4.8
ZB logo

ZenBusiness

Best for LLC Formation
From $0
4.5
TB logo

Tailor Brands

Best for Branding
From $0
4.2
FN logo

FileNow

Best for Speed
From $49
4.2
SF logo

Swyft Filings

Best for Fast Filing
From $0
3.2
LZ logo

LegalZoom

Most Recognized
From $0
2.8

How We Chose the Best LLC Services for Montana

Montana's $35 filing fee is the lowest in the country. No state charges less. There is no sales tax and no franchise tax either. We judged each service on how it handles Montana's online-only filing, the $20 expedited option, and the free annual report with its $35 late fee. Providers that padded their own fees on top of state costs this low lost ranking points.

6

Services Tested Nationally

200

Hours of Research

50

States Covered

August 19, 2026

Last Updated

Full Reviews

1
NR logo
From $39
Best Overall

Northwest Registered Agent

A transparent LLC formation service that bundles a complete business identity (address, domain, email, phone, website) into a single $39 fee with no upsells.

4.8
Get Started

From $39 + state fees

Pricing Plans

Popular
$39

LLC Formation + Business Identity

+ state fees

  • Preparation and filing of Articles of Organization
  • 1 full year of Registered Agent service included
  • Operating Agreement draft

Northwest is our top pick for LLC formation. The $39 package carries a business address, domain, website, email, phone line and mail scanning, plus the filing itself and a year of registered agent service. Nothing is pre-checked. It is privately held, and the Corporate Guides know the state rules they are quoting. The dashboard is plain rather than polished. At $125 a year to renew, that is a fair trade.

Pros

  • Flat $39 formation fee with no tiered packages or hidden add-ons.
  • Full Business Identity included: business address, domain, email, website, and phone service.
  • Free year of registered agent service with privacy protection.
  • Free mail scanning (up to 5 documents) and renewal reminders.
  • Same-day filing with no extra rush fees.
  • U.S.-based Corporate Guides who actually answer the phone.

Cons

  • Customer support is not available on weekends.
  • Online cancellation process can be cumbersome.
  • Trial digital services auto-renew if you forget to cancel.

Best For: Founders who want a complete business setup (formation, address, domain, email, website, phone) in one flat-fee package with no upsells.

Read full review
Get Started

From $39 + state fees

2
ZB logo
From $0
Best for LLC Formation

ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness files your LLC for $0 and runs the clearest dashboard we have used. The add-ons are where it earns.

4.5
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

Pricing Plans

$0

Starter

+ state fees, does not renew

  • Name availability search
  • Articles of formation filing
  • Electronic document access
Popular
$199/yr

Pro

+ state fees, renews at $199/yr

  • All Starter features
  • Rush processing in 1 business day
  • Worry-Free Compliance included, not just a free year
$399/yr

Premium

+ state fees, renews at $399/yr

  • All Pro features
  • Registered agent service included
  • Advanced Compliance Protection

ZenBusiness runs the smoothest filing in this category. The setup walks a first-time founder through every step, and the dashboard chases your deadlines for you. Starter is $0 and never renews, so a founder who buys nothing else pays the state and stops. The catch sits beside it. Pro renews at $199 a year and Premium at $399, and on Starter the EIN, the operating agreement and the agent are each priced on their own. A strong pick if you want a polished filing and you read the cart before you pay.

Pros

  • Starter is $0, you pay only the state fee
  • The dashboard is the clearest we have used
  • Phone support runs 7 days a week
  • A free first year of Worry-Free Compliance on Starter
  • Good mobile app, 4.6 stars on iOS

Cons

  • Heavy push for add-ons at checkout
  • On Starter the EIN, the operating agreement and the agent each cost extra, $99, $99 and $199 a year
  • Renewals climb, Pro at $199 a year and Premium at $399
  • Auto-renewing subscriptions are hard to cancel

Best For: First-time founders needing an easy, guided, and affordable LLC setup

Read full review
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

3
TB logo
From $0
Best for Branding

Tailor Brands

Tailor Brands bundles logo design and a website into LLC formation, then charges $199 a year for the registered agent almost everyone needs.

4.2
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

Pricing Plans

$0

Lite

+ state fees

  • Filing of Articles of Organization
  • Standard processing, up to 14 business days
  • Business coaching program access
Popular
$199/yr

Essential

+ state fees

  • Everything in Lite
  • Expedited processing, 1 to 2 business days
  • Operating agreement creation
$249/yr

Elite

+ state fees

  • Everything in Essential
  • 1-year free domain hosting
  • AI-powered website builder

Formation is the free part. The logo and website builders are easy to use, and the guided setup is beginner friendly. The catch is checkout. Plan prices stay hidden until the end, a $39 a month bookkeeping trial comes pre-checked, and the registered agent most founders need costs $199 a year. That puts the real first-year cost at $199 plus your state's filing fee. If you want branding and formation together, it works. If you only need the LLC, Northwest files for a flat $39 with no upsells.

Pros

  • Free Lite plan covers the LLC filing and standard processing
  • Beginner-friendly dashboard that is easy to navigate
  • Built-in logo maker and website builder in one dashboard
  • Customer support available on weekends
  • Guided questionnaire walks you through setup

Cons

  • Plan prices stay hidden until the end of the questionnaire
  • Pre-checked $39 a month bookkeeping trial you must cancel yourself
  • Registered agent service costs $199 a year, more than budget rivals

Best For: First-time founders who want LLC filing and basic branding tools in one place.

Read full review
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

4
FN logo
From $49
Best for Speed

FileNow

FileNow guarantees 24-hour processing on all orders, but its lack of a free entry-level plan makes it less competitive for founders on a strict budget.

4.2
Get Started

From $49 + state fees

Pricing Plans

$49

Starter

+ state fee

  • Filing Articles of Organization / Incorporation
  • Unlimited Phone & Email Support
  • Electronic Delivery of State Documents
Popular
$199

Premium

+ state fee

  • Filing Articles of Organization / Incorporation
  • Unlimited Phone & Email Support
  • Electronic Delivery of State Documents

FileNow delivers a remarkably fast and straightforward LLC formation experience. We appreciate that 24-hour processing is standard across all plans instead of being an expensive add-on. The checkout process is completely transparent with zero pre-checked upsells or hidden fees. However, because the base plan costs $49 and does not include a registered agent, budget-conscious founders might prefer cheaper alternatives.

Pros

  • 24-hour order processing included on all plans at no extra cost
  • Transparent pricing with zero hidden fees or pre-checked subscriptions
  • Simple two-tier pricing makes choosing a package easy
  • Premium plan provides excellent value by bundling essential startup documents
  • Customer support is accessible via phone, chat, and email

Cons

  • No free formation tier available
  • Starter plan does not include registered agent service
  • Lacks advanced legal tools and ongoing compliance dashboards

Best For: Entrepreneurs who prioritize fast 24-hour processing and straightforward, transparent pricing.

Read full review
Get Started

From $49 + state fees

5
SF logo
From $0
Best for Fast Filing

Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings offers exceptionally fast processing speeds, but you must navigate a minefield of expensive upsells during checkout.

3.2
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

Pricing Plans

$0

Basic

+ state fees

  • Preparation and filing of LLC documents
  • Business name availability check
  • Standard processing (7-10 business days)
Popular
$199

Standard

+ state fees

  • Everything in Basic
  • Federal Tax ID (EIN) obtainment
  • Custom Operating Agreement
$299

Premium

+ state fees

  • Everything in Standard
  • Expedited processing (1 business day)
  • 2 months of unlimited attorney consultations

Swyft Filings lives up to its name by offering some of the fastest LLC formation times on the market. Their 5-step setup process is simple and easy for beginners to understand. However, their aggressive upsells and missing registered agent service make their $0 starting price highly deceptive. We recommend them only if you desperately need same-day processing and know exactly which add-ons to decline.

Pros

  • Exceptionally fast processing speeds
  • Streamlined 5-step application interface
  • Knowledgeable and responsive phone support
  • Basic package starts at $0 plus state fees
  • No confusing legal jargon during setup

Cons

  • Registered agent service is billed quarterly at $149, which is $596 a year
  • Aggressive multi-page upsell flow
  • Difficult cancellation process for ongoing subscriptions

Best For: Founders needing fast turnaround who can navigate heavy upsells.

Read full review
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

6
LZ logo
From $0
Most Recognized

LegalZoom

A famous name with an aggressive checkout process and expensive recurring fees.

2.8
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

Pricing Plans

$0

Basic

+ state filing fees

  • Articles of organization filing
  • Business name availability check
  • Digital welcome packet
Popular
$249

Pro

+ state filing fees

  • Everything in the Basic package
  • Operating Agreement
  • EIN registration
$299

Premium

+ state filing fees

  • Everything in the Pro package
  • Business attorney guidance (30-day subscription)
  • Bookkeeping tools (6-month subscription)

LegalZoom relies heavily on its brand recognition to charge premium prices for basic services. While the platform is easy to navigate and offers excellent legal document libraries, the checkout process is a maze of expensive upsells and auto-renewing trials. We do not recommend it if you are on a budget. You will end up paying significantly more for registered agent and compliance services than you would with competitors.

Pros

  • Highly intuitive platform that is easy for absolute beginners to navigate.
  • Access to a massive library of legal documents and forms.
  • Long-standing brand reputation provides reliability and peace of mind.
  • Customer support is available seven days a week.
  • Basic LLC formation is free excluding mandatory state fees.

Cons

  • Incredibly aggressive upselling for simple tasks like obtaining an EIN.
  • Registered agent fees are heavily inflated at $249 per year.
  • Checkout includes pre-selected free trials that auto-renew at high prices.
  • Standard processing times are slow unless you pay a $99 expedite fee.

Best For: Founders prioritizing brand recognition and access to an extensive legal document library.

Read full review
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

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What Makes a Good LLC Service for Montana Founders

Montana has no sales tax and no franchise tax. Few states are cheaper to run an LLC in. Neighboring Wyoming also skips income tax, but it still charges a $60 annual report fee.

Annual reports in Montana cost $0 if filed by April 15. File late and the fee is $35, the same amount you paid to form the company. Leave the report unfiled for 140 days past the deadline and state law lets the Secretary of State dissolve your LLC.

Montana requires all LLC filings to go through the Secretary of State's online portal. Paper filings are not accepted. Your formation service must file electronically, and the top services already do.

Montana allows Series LLCs, separate liability-protected divisions under one parent LLC. The state charges the usual $35 plus $50 for each named series member. Real estate investors holding several properties use this setup, and few states offer it.

Name reservations cost $10. Moving or cancelling one is free. Small courtesies like that fit the state's habit of charging as little as possible for paperwork.

What to Do After You File Your Montana LLC

  1. Get your EIN from the IRS (free, immediate online). You need it to open a bank account, hire staff, and file federal taxes. Apply directly at IRS.gov.
  2. Appoint and keep a registered agent with a physical Montana address. Your agent must live in Montana or be a business allowed to operate there. P.O. boxes are not accepted. Go 60 days without an agent and the state can dissolve your LLC, so this is not a box you check once.
  3. File your Annual Report by April 15 each year ($0 filing fee). On time, the report is free. After April 15 it costs $35, and at 140 days past the deadline your LLC is in line for dissolution.
  4. Draft an operating agreement. Montana does not require one. Banks and investors will still ask for it, and it protects your liability shield if your LLC is ever challenged in court.
  5. Check local licensing requirements. Montana has no general state business license. Your city or county may want one, and trades like construction, real estate, and food service carry their own state permits.
  6. Skip the BOI report. FinCEN exempted every company formed in the United States in March 2025, so a domestic Montana LLC files nothing. A final rule made that permanent on 14 August 2026. Only companies formed abroad still report. A letter asking for a fee to file one is a scam, and FinCEN says so.

Montana LLC Tax Overview

Montana has no sales tax. It has no franchise tax either. Personal income is taxed at two rates for 2026, 4.7% up to $47,500 of taxable income for single filers ($95,000 joint) and 5.65% above that. The top rate falls to 5.4% in 2027. For LLC owners selling physical goods, no sales tax remains Montana's biggest edge over nearly every other state.

Hidden Costs to Watch Out For in Montana

Horizontal bar chart of every Montana LLC fee from the 5 dollar certificate of existence to the 100 dollar one hour expedited processing, with the 35 dollar late annual report bar highlighted in gold
Every fee on Montana's LLC schedule, verified August 9, 2026 at sosmt.gov. On time, the annual report is free. Late, it costs as much as forming the company.
  • Late Annual Report Fee - The report is free on time. Filing after April 15 costs $35. Missing a free deadline is the most expensive habit a Montana LLC can have.
  • Expedited Processing Fee - Montana charges $20 for 24-hour processing on top of the $35 filing fee, or $100 for one-hour handling.
  • Reinstatement After Dissolution - If your LLC is dissolved over missed annual reports, coming back costs $35 plus another $35 for each missed year.
  • Foreign LLC Registration - Registering an out-of-state LLC to do business in Montana costs $70, double the domestic fee.
  • Good Standing Certificate - Montana charges $5 for a certificate of existence. Almost nobody beats that price.

Frequently Asked Questions About Montana LLCs

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

Montana charges $35 to form an LLC. No state charges less. All filings happen online. Add $20 for 24-hour processing or $100 for one-hour service. The annual report is free if you file by April 15, so ongoing state costs sit close to zero.

Does Montana require a registered agent for an LLC?

Yes. Your agent must live in Montana or be a business allowed to operate there, with a physical street address. P.O. boxes are not allowed. Go 60 days without an agent and the state can dissolve your LLC.

How long does LLC formation take in Montana?

Montana does not publish a standard processing timetable. Real-world reports range from a couple of days to about a week. Paid speed is guaranteed, though. The state processes your filing within 24 hours for $20, or within one hour for $100. Everything goes through the online portal.

Does Montana charge sales tax on LLC revenue?

No. Montana is one of only five states with no statewide sales tax. That draws e-commerce businesses and vehicle registrations. Sell to customers in other states, though, and you may still owe their sales tax under economic nexus laws.

What is the Montana LLC vehicle registration loophole?

Montana has no sales tax. So out-of-state buyers sometimes form a Montana LLC to title a vehicle or RV here and skip their home state's sales tax. The Montana side is legal. Your home state usually still expects use tax once the vehicle lives there, and several states audit for exactly this. Ask a tax professional before trying it.

About the Author

Daniel Wong

Legal & Compliance Analyst

Daniel grew up in the shadow of Silicon Valley but chose the legal route over engineering, working as a paralegal for a corporate law firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions. He realized that early-stage founders were constantly making catastrophic legal mistakes because they couldn't afford a $500/hour attorney, prompting his move to B2B media.

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