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Registered Agent Services·State Rankings

Best Registered Agent Services in Montana

Every Montana LLC must appoint a registered agent with a physical street address in the state.

Updated June 24, 2026·8 services compared
Daniel Wong
Written byDaniel Wong
Legal & Compliance Analyst
Privacy Protection
Compliance Alerts
Fast Doc Forwarding

8

Services Tested

120+

Research Hours

50

States Tested

Every Montana LLC must appoint a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. Commercial registered agent services in Montana typically cost between $99 and $299 per year, and most include document scanning and compliance alerts.

Montana does not charge a fee for annual reports, but missing the April 15 deadline triggers a $15 late fee and, if still unfiled by December 1, administrative dissolution of your LLC. A registered agent service with a reliable compliance calendar can prevent your company from being dissolved over a report that costs nothing to file.

Montana Registered Agent Services at a Glance

Service
NR logo
Northwest Registered Agent
Best Privacy
$125/yrPrice never goes up$100 per state per year at five or more states
4.8
Get Started →Read review
ZB logo
ZenBusiness
Best Platform
$99 first yearRenews at $199/yr after that$199/yr flat if bundled with LLC formation
4.5
Get Started →Read review
HC logo
Harbor Compliance
Best Multi State
$99 first yearRenews at $149/yr after that
3.4
Get Started →Read review
RL logo
Rocket Lawyer
Membership Required
$374/yrPrice never goes up$125 for the agent plus the $249 Plus membership it requires, the cheapest tier that qualifies
3.3
Get Started →Read review
LZ logo
LegalZoom
Industry Giant
$249/yrPrice never goes up
3.0
Get Started →Read review
B logo
Bizee
Free First Year
$149/yrPrice never goes upFree the first year if Bizee forms your LLC
3.0
Get Started →Read review
SF logo
Swyft Filings
Most Expensive
$596/yrPrice never goes upBilled $149 every quarter, per state and per entity, so $596 a year
2.9
Get Started →Read review
IA logo
Inc Authority
Best Free Start
$249/yrPrice never goes upOne year of service, priced above the $199 value the same page claims
2.6
Get Started →Read review

Full Reviews of the Best Registered Agents in Montana

Our Top Pick, Best Registered Agent in Montana
#1
NR logo

Northwest Registered Agent

Best Privacy
$125annual fee
4.8
Get Started

Starts at $125/yr · No setup fees

Northwest Registered Agent is our top recommendation for privacy-minded founders. They shield your home address on public records and process legal mail the same day it arrives. The stable $125 renewal rate saves you money long-term. We highly recommend them if you want reliable compliance without the endless upsell pitches.

Pros

  • Same-day document scanning
  • Privacy by Default shields your address
  • Knowledgeable US-based Corporate Guides
  • Flat $125 annual fee with no surprise hikes
  • Includes 5 free digital mail forwards per year

Cons

  • Requires a $39 fee if bundling with LLC formation
  • Optional compliance add-on uses negative-option renewal
  • Customer support is only available during business hours

Best for: Founders valuing privacy, consistent pricing, and human support over rock-bottom initial costs.

Same-day

Response Time

All 50

States Covered

Read full review
Get Started

Starts at $125/yr · No setup fees

#2
ZB logo

ZenBusiness

Best Platform
$99annual fee
4.5
Get Started

Starts at $99/yr · No setup fees

ZenBusiness delivers a premium registered agent experience tailored perfectly for first-time founders. We love the modern dashboard and the rare inclusion of weekend customer support. The main drawback is the $199 annual renewal fee, which is pricier than some budget competitors. We highly recommend ZenBusiness if you value an easy-to-use digital portal and fast document delivery over securing the absolute lowest long-term price.

Pros

  • Immediate document scanning and upload to your dashboard
  • Clean, modern, and highly intuitive digital dashboard
  • Customer support available on weekends
  • Shields your personal home address from public records
  • Excellent user reviews across Trustpilot and app stores

Cons

  • Annual renewal rate increases to $199 after the first year
  • Cancellation requires contacting support via phone or chat
  • Frequent upsells for additional compliance and financial tools

Best for: First-time founders wanting a stress-free, all-in-one compliance dashboard

Immediate upload

Response Time

All 50

States Covered

Read full review
Get Started

Starts at $99/yr · No setup fees

#3
HC logo

Harbor Compliance

Best Multi State
$99annual fee
3.4
Get Started

Starts at $99/yr · No setup fees

Harbor Compliance undercuts every national rival in year one at $99, and their multi-year plans keep that rate locked. Documents are delivered same day through the Entity Manager portal with unlimited storage, and service of process triggers a phone call, not just an email. The catch is the $149 renewal and a platform that is clearly built for compliance teams first, so solo founders who want something lighter may prefer Northwest's flat $125 with no year-two surprise.

Pros

  • $99 first year is the lowest introductory price among national providers
  • Same-day document delivery with a phone call when service of process arrives
  • Unlimited document storage in their Entity Manager portal
  • Multi-year plans lock the $99 rate, two years for $198 or three for $297
  • Covers all 50 states plus DC and Puerto Rico

Cons

  • Renewal jumps to $149 a year after the introductory rate ends
  • The platform is built for compliance departments, which can feel heavy for a single-state solo founder

Best for: Multi-state operators and compliance-heavy businesses that want the lowest locked-in national rate

Same day

Response Time

All 50

States Covered

Read full review
Get Started

Starts at $99/yr · No setup fees

#4
RL logo

Rocket Lawyer

Membership Required
$374annual fee
3.3
Get Started

Starts at $374/yr · No setup fees

Rocket Lawyer advertises its registered agent at $125, and that number is real but incomplete. The footnote on its own page says the service requires a Plus or Pro membership. Standard at $149 does not qualify, so the cheapest route is Plus at $249, and a founder who wants only a registered agent pays $374 in year one and every year after. If you already pay for Plus for the legal documents and attorney access, $125 on top is reasonable. If you do not, almost every other agent on this page is cheaper.

Pros

  • Backed by a large, well reviewed legal platform
  • Covers all 50 states
  • Bundles with attorney access and document tools you may already be paying for
  • The agent fee itself renews at the same $125

Cons

  • The $125 agent price requires a Rocket Lawyer Plus or Pro membership
  • Standard at $149 does not qualify, so the cheapest real path is Plus at $249, making the true floor $374 a year
  • The membership requirement is disclosed only in an asterisk footnote
  • The most expensive way to buy a registered agent on this page apart from Swyft Filings

Best for: Businesses that already pay for a Rocket Lawyer membership and want the agent bundled in

Same day

Response Time

All 50

States Covered

Read full review
Get Started

Starts at $374/yr · No setup fees

#5
LZ logo

LegalZoom

Industry Giant
$249annual fee
3.0
Get Started

Starts at $249/yr · No setup fees

LegalZoom delivers on the core promise of a registered agent by scanning documents promptly and offering a clean, unified dashboard. However, at $249 per year, it is one of the most expensive options on the market. The aggressive upsells and notoriously difficult cancellation process make it hard to recommend for bootstrapping founders. We suggest this service only if you already use LegalZoom for other legal services and prioritize platform consolidation over cost.

Pros

  • Prompt document scanning with immediate email alerts
  • Highly trusted, publicly traded brand name
  • Includes a compliance calendar for state deadlines
  • Extensive customer support hours including weekends
  • Unlimited cloud storage for business documents

Cons

  • Extremely high annual fee of $249
  • Cancellation process requires proof of new agent to stop billing
  • Constant upsells for bookkeeping and advisory services

Best for: Founders prioritizing brand name and platform consolidation over price

Same day

Response Time

All 50

States Covered

Read full review
Get Started

Starts at $249/yr · No setup fees

#6
B logo

Bizee

Free First Year
$149annual fee
3.0
Get Started

Starts at $149/yr · No setup fees

Bizee delivers a fast, modern registered agent dashboard at a competitive $149 per year. Same-day scanning ensures you never miss a critical legal notice. However, we found their customer support lacking and the cancellation process unnecessarily difficult. We only recommend Bizee if you are bundling it with their free LLC formation package.

Pros

  • Unbeatable $0 LLC formation package includes a free year of registered agent
  • Clean and intuitive online document dashboard
  • Same-day document scanning for rapid notification
  • Physical addresses available in all 50 states
  • Immediate text and email alerts for legal notices

Cons

  • Difficult cancellation process requires a phone call or chat session
  • F rating with the Better Business Bureau due to unresolved complaints
  • Aggressive upsells for compliance and virtual address services

Best for: Entrepreneurs seeking the absolute lowest cost to form an LLC ($0 + state fees)

Same-day

Response Time

All 50

States Covered

Read full review
Get Started

Starts at $149/yr · No setup fees

#7
SF logo

Swyft Filings

Most Expensive
$596annual fee
2.9
Get Started

Starts at $596/yr · No setup fees

We do not recommend Swyft Filings for registered agent services. The company advertises a $149 fee, but this is charged quarterly, resulting in a staggering $596 annual cost. While their dashboard is clean and document scanning is fast, the service is ultimately outsourced to a third-party partner. Better alternatives offer superior in-house service for a fraction of the cost.

Pros

  • Fast same-day document scanning
  • Clean and intuitive online dashboard
  • Helpful customer support for initial setup
  • Standard privacy protection for your home address
  • Automated compliance reminders included

Cons

  • Exorbitant $596 true annual cost
  • Misleading $149 quarterly billing structure
  • Difficult cancellation requiring phone calls
  • Outsourced to a third-party partner

Best for: Business owners prioritizing filing speed over ongoing value

Same-day

Response Time

All 50

States Covered

Read full review
Get Started

Starts at $596/yr · No setup fees

#8
IA logo

Inc Authority

Best Free Start
$249annual fee
2.6
Get Started

Starts at $249/yr · No setup fees

Inc Authority bundles its registered agent service with a free LLC formation package, so you pay nothing for the first year. The catch is that they do not publish a renewal price anywhere on their site, and cancellation is phone only during business hours. We recommend this service only for founders who need the absolute lowest upfront cost and plan to switch agents before year two.

Pros

  • Free registered agent service for the first full year
  • Fast digital document scanning and immediate notifications
  • Online portal included at no extra cost
  • Covers all 50 states
  • Decades of industry experience since 1989

Cons

  • No renewal price published anywhere on their site, so year two is a number you only learn after you are already using them
  • Aggressive upsells during checkout and via phone calls
  • Cancellation requires a phone call during business hours

Best for: Budget-conscious founders who want a $0 setup and will switch agents later.

Digital delivery

Response Time

All 50

States Covered

Read full review
Get Started

Starts at $249/yr · No setup fees

Ready to protect your privacy?

We recommend Northwest Registered Agent for Montana. Required by law.

Get Started

What Makes a Good Registered Agent for Montana Businesses

Montana publishes your registered agent's name and street address in its online business entity database. Anyone can search this at sosmt.gov, which means your home address will be visible if you serve as your own agent.

The annual report is free but carries a harsh penalty. Montana charges $0 to file your annual report, yet an LLC that fails to file by December 1 faces administrative dissolution. A good registered agent service will send you reminders well before that April 15 deadline so you never reach the danger zone.

Montana only accepts online filings through the Secretary of State's portal. Your registered agent cannot submit paper documents on your behalf, but services like Northwest will forward any state correspondence they receive at their Montana address to you digitally the same day.

How to Choose a Registered Agent in Montana

If you are forming a new Montana LLC, a bundled registered agent deal can save money in year one. Bizee and ZenBusiness both include a free first year of RA service with their formation packages, though renewal prices jump to $119 and $199 respectively. If you only need a registered agent and already have your LLC, a standalone service like Northwest at $125 per year is simpler and has no price surprises at renewal.

Montana's compliance calendar is light. There are no post-formation filings, no franchise tax, and no state sales tax. The only recurring obligation is the free annual report due April 15. That makes compliance dashboard features less critical here than in states like California, where a Statement of Information is due within 90 days. Focus your decision on price, scanning speed, and whether the service has a real Montana office.

If you are still deciding how to form your LLC, check our guide to the best LLC formation services in Montana to compare bundled deals that include registered agent service.

Hidden RA Costs to Watch For in Montana

  • Free-Year RA Renewals - Bizee jumps to $149/yr and ZenBusiness to $199/yr after the promotional first year ends, which can catch you off guard if you only looked at the initial quote.
  • Change of Agent Filing - Montana charges no fee to change your registered agent online, but some RA services charge $50 or more to handle the switch on your behalf.
  • Mail Forwarding Add-Ons - Several services charge $50 to $150 per year extra for physical mail forwarding beyond standard legal document scanning.
  • Dissolution Reinstatement - If you miss the December 1 cutoff and your LLC is dissolved, reinstating it with the Montana Secretary of State costs $15 plus potential back-filing obligations.

Montana Business Compliance Overview

Montana has no sales tax and no franchise tax, but it does impose a state income tax on LLC profits that flow through to members. Your annual report is due April 15, the same day as federal tax returns, so a registered agent service that sends early reminders helps you avoid the $15 late fee and the risk of administrative dissolution by December 1.

What to Do After Setting Up Your Registered Agent

  1. Confirm your registered agent appointment in the Montana Secretary of State's online portal at sosmt.gov. Your agent's name and address should appear on your LLC record immediately after formation.
  2. Apply for your EIN with the IRS. This is free and can be done online at irs.gov. You will need it to open a business bank account and file taxes.
  3. Open a business bank account using your Articles of Organization and EIN. Montana banks will typically also ask for your Operating Agreement.
  4. Set a calendar reminder for April 15 to file your free annual report with the Secretary of State. Missing this deadline results in a $15 late fee, and failing to file by December 1 leads to administrative dissolution.
  5. Register with the Montana Department of Revenue if your LLC will have employees or owes state income tax. This is separate from your Secretary of State filing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Montana Registered Agents

Does Montana require a registered agent?

Yes. Under Montana Code Annotated § 35-8-104, every LLC formed or registered in Montana must maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. The agent must be available during normal business hours to accept legal documents, and P.O. Boxes do not qualify.

Can I be my own registered agent in Montana?

You can, as long as you are a Montana resident with a physical street address and are available during business hours. The downside is that your home address will appear in the Secretary of State's public database. A commercial service costs as little as $99 per year and keeps your personal address off public records.

How much does a registered agent cost in Montana?

Commercial registered agent services for Montana LLCs range from $99 to $299 per year. Northwest Registered Agent charges $125 per year with no hidden fees. Bizee and ZenBusiness offer a free first year if you bundle RA service with LLC formation, but renewals are $119 and $199 respectively.

What happens if my Montana LLC has no registered agent?

If your registered agent resigns or your LLC lacks a valid agent, the Montana Secretary of State can refuse to accept filings for your company. You also lose the ability to receive service of process, meaning lawsuits could proceed without your knowledge. Continued failure to maintain an agent can contribute to administrative dissolution.

About the Author

Daniel Wong
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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