Best LLC Formation Services in Montana

Montana has no sales tax and no franchise tax, which gives it one of the lowest ongoing cost profiles of any state for LLC owners. Compare that to neighboring Wyoming, which also has no income tax but still charges a $60 annual report fee.

Annual reports in Montana cost $0 and are due by April 15 each year. If you miss the deadline, there is a $15 late fee, and if you still have not filed by December 1, the state will administratively dissolve your LLC.

Montana requires all LLC filings to go through the Secretary of State's online portal. Paper filings are not accepted. This means your formation service must submit electronically, which most top-tier services already do.

Montana allows Series LLCs, which let you create separate liability-protected divisions under one parent LLC. This is useful for real estate investors holding multiple properties. Not many states offer this structure, and neighboring Idaho and North Dakota do not.

Name reservations in Montana last 120 days and cost $10, giving you four months to finalize your formation. That is twice as long as the 60-day window most states provide.

1. Get your EIN from the IRS (free, immediate online). You need this to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. Apply directly at IRS.gov.
2. Appoint a registered agent with a physical Montana address. Your agent must be an individual resident of Montana or a business entity authorized to operate in the state. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
3. File your Annual Report by April 15 each year ($0 filing fee). Montana does not charge for annual reports, but missing the deadline triggers a $15 late fee. Fail to file by December 1 and your LLC will be dissolved.
4. Draft an operating agreement. Montana does not legally require one, but banks and investors will ask for it. It also protects your limited liability status if your LLC is ever challenged in court.
5. Check local licensing requirements. Montana has no general state business license, but your city or county may require one. Certain professions like construction, real estate, and food service have their own state-level permits.
6. File your BOI report with FinCEN. As of 2024, most new LLCs must submit a Beneficial Ownership Information report to the federal government within 90 days of formation. This is a federal requirement, not a Montana one.

• Expedited Processing Fee - Montana charges $20 for 24-hour expedited processing on top of the $35 filing fee.
• Reinstatement After Dissolution - If your LLC is dissolved for missing annual reports, reinstatement costs $35 plus all delinquent annual report late fees ($15 each).
• Foreign LLC Registration - Registering an out-of-state LLC to do business in Montana costs $70, double the domestic formation fee.
• Good Standing Certificate - Montana charges only $5 for a certificate of good standing, one of the lowest rates in the country.