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LLC formation questions by state
Montana
Q&A · Montana
3 Best LLC Services in Montana (2026), Ranked
The LLC formation services to hire in Montana in 2026 are Montana Registered Agent.co ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and Registered Agent MT.org ($199), in that order. Montana takes $35 to file, and service fees run $397 to $597 over three years.
By the LLC Answered editorial team
Answers updated November 13, 2026
Our funding: LLC Answered is reader-supported. We may earn money when you buy through links on this page, and the companies we rank are our partners. Prices come from each company's own pages and official state sources.
Answer in four lines
Short reply
Cost to form
$35, at filing
Every year after
$20 each twelve months
Registered agent
Yes: the state demands it
Our ranking
Montana Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing then Registered Agent MT.org
Montana: our answer
The scoring is explained on this page .
#1
Our answer: this one
1. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for holding down three-year cost
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, plus the state fee
Why Montana Registered Agent.co? Simply put, forming the LLC costs $199 and covers the agent in year one, then $99 a year.
Of the two, it has the lower three-year cost, which is what we weigh first.
Set aside time for the annual report; it is not included.
What is bundled
Articles filed on your behalf A first year of agent service
Pluses
Then $99 yearly A free agent year at the start $199 over the state fee
Downsides
You will be filing the annual report yourself EIN application costs $99 extra
#2
Works nationwide
2. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who want upkeep done for them
$199 a year, plus the $35 state fee
Mainstay Filing comes next since the annual report is part of the $199 annual price, next to formation and the registered agent.
Montana Registered Agent.co is $200 less across three years, enough to rank higher.
Annual report filing is included, with the $20 state fee charged at cost.
What is bundled
Formation filed with the state Registered agent for a full year Annual report filed for you We mean the EIN: applied for State fees billed as charged
Pluses
Year two costs $199 No charge for the EIN application $199 a year, everything listed
Downsides
Montana Registered Agent.co renews for $100 less
#3
For Montana
3. Registered Agent MT.org: best for owners who handle their own reports
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, plus the state fee
Registered Agent MT.org comes next since forming the LLC costs $199 and covers the agent in year one, then $99 a year.
Set aside time for the annual report; it is not included.
The same published prices as Montana Registered Agent.co, so choose whichever you prefer.
What is bundled
Articles filed on your behalf A first year of agent service
Pluses
Then $99 yearly $199 over the state fee A free agent year at the start
Downsides
You will be filing the annual report yourself EIN application costs $99 extra
Compared in a table
# Who First year Later years 3-year cost Included
1
Montana Registered Agent.co $199 $99/yr $397 articles filed on your behalf; A first year of agent service
View Montana Registered Agent.co plans
Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2
Mainstay Filing $199 $199/yr $597 formation filed with the state; registered agent for a full year; annual report filed for you
View Mainstay Filing plans
Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3
Registered Agent MT.org $199 $99/yr $397 articles filed on your behalf; A first year of agent service
View Registered Agent MT.org plans
Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company prices on November 13, 2026, before state fees.
The questions, one by one
What does setup run in this state?
You owe the state $35, and a service adds $199.
Add up the state's fees from filing through year three and you get $75. source sosmt.gov (October 2026) on file
Who receives the LLC paperwork?
The Montana Secretary of State accepts the Articles of Organization; its approval is what forms the company.
Where the law says so: Mont. Code Ann. § 35-8-201. source sosmt.gov (October 2026) on file
Will the state insist on a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual, including an owner, or an entity in Montana.
source mca.legmt.gov (October 2026) on file
What does upkeep cost?
Stay current on the annual report, filed every year for $20. The state gives the due date as April 15; do not miss it.
The state's late fee is $15.
source sosmt.gov (October 2026) on file
Do I have to hire anyone to file?
Nothing stops you. With no service, your three-year bill is the state's $75.
That $397 to $597 over three years is the price of having someone else handle it.
Why this order?
Because of three-year price (36% of the weight): Montana Registered Agent.co is best there.
We weigh three-year price first and paperwork covered second, then three smaller tests.
You keep $200 over three years by choosing Montana Registered Agent.co instead of Mainstay Filing.
See the scoring
Montana rules at a glance
Requirement Answer Where it is from
LLC filing fee
$35 source sosmt.gov (October 2026) on file
Registered agent
Yes: the state demands it source mca.legmt.gov (October 2026) on file
Annual report
$20 every year source sosmt.gov (October 2026) on file
State fees, first three years
$75 Computed from the rows
The final row is a sum, not a state figure: filing fee, then years two and three of reports, then minimum tax where it applies.
Terms used above, defined
Registered agent Whoever the LLC names to receive lawsuits and official mail from the state, at a street address in that state.
Annual report A recurring state report that refreshes the LLC's public record, typically once a year.
A few more
Will they get my EIN for me?
It comes free with Mainstay Filing only. The others charge $99 (Montana Registered Agent.co) and $99 (Registered Agent MT.org).
Will I owe more if I am late?
$15, on top of the report fee.
What does each pick cost across three years?
Montana Registered Agent.co runs $397, Mainstay Filing runs $597, Registered Agent MT.org runs $397 (services only).
What is behind the figures?
Fees set by the state come from Montana's own publications; what services charge comes from their published prices.
Does the law require a service?
No. What you pay a service covers the labor and the agent role, not anything the state demands.
Which one do you pick in Montana?
Montana Registered Agent.co is first on three-year price, with Mainstay Filing and Registered Agent MT.org behind it.
Proof and sources
sosmt.gov | Montana Secretary of State fee | October 2026sosmt.gov | Montana yearly filing: Annual report | October 2026sosmt.gov | Montana yearly filing: Annual report | October 2026mca.legmt.gov | Montana report due date | August 2026mca.legmt.gov | Mont | August 2026sosmt.gov | Montana formation fee: Filing fee | October 2026mca.legmt.gov | Montana registered agent statute | October 2026November 13, 2026 price read: Montana Registered Agent.co pricing page
November 13, 2026 price read: Mainstay Filing Montana service page
November 13, 2026 price read: Registered Agent MT.org pricing page