The essentials · Montana
3 Best LLC Services in Montana (2026): Simply Ranked
At a glance
- Filing fee
- $35, paid once
- Afterward
- $20 yearly
- Registered agent
- Required: yes
- Ranked first
- Mainstay Filing, Registered Agent MT.org then Montana Registered Agent.co
Montana, ranked
Prices come from each company's own page. Method.1. Mainstay Filing: best for handing off upkeep
Annual price $199, renewal price $199. State fee extra
Mainstay Filing comes first because $199 a year pays for formation, the registered agent and the annual report, and renews at $199.
Over three years this costs $200 more than Registered Agent MT.org. More filings are handled for you.
The annual report is filed for you. Montana still charges $20, billed at cost.
Includes
- The formation filing
- Registered agent for a year
- Annual report filed for you
- EIN application
- State fees at cost
Good
- No fee for the EIN application
- Renews at $199
- $199 a year covers filing, agent and report
Against
- Registered Agent MT.org renews for $100 less
2. Registered Agent MT.org: best for staying local
$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year
Second place: Registered Agent MT.org, since $199 forms the LLC, and the agent renews at $99.
The price leaves out the annual report.
Includes
- The LLC, filed
- Agent for year one
Good
- The first agent year is included
- Renewal $99
- Formation fee $199
Against
- Your own task list gains the annual report
- EIN not included ($99)
3. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for another local option
$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year
Third place: Montana Registered Agent.co, since $199 forms the LLC, and the agent renews at $99.
The price leaves out the annual report.
It charges what Registered Agent MT.org charges.
Includes
- The LLC, filed
- Agent for year one
Good
- Renewal $99
- The first agent year is included
- Formation fee $199
Against
- Your own task list gains the annual report
- EIN not included ($99)
Side by side
| # | Company | Start | After year one | Three years | Includes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | the formation filing; registered agent for a year; annual report filed for you | View Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Registered Agent MT.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | The LLC, filed; agent for year one | View Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Montana Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | The LLC, filed; agent for year one | View Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
The facts
How much to start an LLC in this state?
$35 to the state. $199 more if a service files for you.
Over three years the state collects $75, filing included. from sosmt.gov, October 2026, kept short
Which form, and where?
You submit one filing, the Articles of Organization, to the Montana Secretary of State.
Law: Mont. Code Ann. § 35-8-201. from sosmt.gov, October 2026, kept short
Must the LLC name 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.
from mca.legmt.gov, October 2026, kept short
What comes after formation?
Expect the annual report every year, $20. Its date, set by the state, reads April 15, which you should keep in view.
Miss the date and pay $15 more.
from sosmt.gov, October 2026, kept short
Can I file it myself?
Yes. Your three-year bill is the state's $75.
Hiring help adds $397 to $597 across three years.
Why this order?
On work included (27%), Mainstay Filing leads.
Two checks carry most of the weight: three-year cost (38%) and work included (27%).
The annual report falls due every year in Montana. Only the first pick files it.
What Montana requires to form an LLC
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| LLC filing fee | $35 | from sosmt.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Registered agent | Required: yes | from mca.legmt.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Annual report | $20 every year | from sosmt.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Three-year state total | $75 | Sum of the rows above |
Questions
Who files the EIN application?
Add-on prices for the EIN application: $99 from Registered Agent MT.org, $99 from Montana Registered Agent.co. Mainstay Filing includes it.
What if the report is late?
A late report costs $15 more.
What are the three-year totals?
Mainstay Filing costs $597 and Registered Agent MT.org costs $397 and Montana Registered Agent.co costs $397, services only.
Where do the figures come from?
State fees come from Montana's official documents. Service prices come from each company's price page. Both are dated here.
Must I use a service?
Not required. The state takes filings from owners.
Which LLC service should I use in Montana?
Mainstay Filing ranks first. One yearly price, $199, includes formation, the registered agent and every annual report. After it, Registered Agent MT.org and Montana Registered Agent.co.
References
- Entry for Montana Secretary of State fee: read at sosmt.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Montana yearly filing: Annual report: read at sosmt.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Montana yearly filing: Annual report: read at sosmt.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Montana report due date: read at mca.legmt.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Mont: read at mca.legmt.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Montana formation fee: Filing fee: read at sosmt.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Montana registered agent statute: read at mca.legmt.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- The Mainstay Filing Montana service page, on November 13, 2026
- The Registered Agent MT.org pricing page, on November 13, 2026
- The Montana Registered Agent.co pricing page, on November 13, 2026