Skip to content
Formation Facts

What the state wants, and what it costs.

LLC cost guide · Montana

Montana LLC Fees (2026): What the State Charges and the 3 Best LLC Services

For anyone starting a limited liability company in Montana this year, 2026, we would go with Mainstay Filing ($199), Registered Agent MT.org ($199) and Montana Registered Agent.co ($199), in that order. Montana charges $35 when you form the LLC and $20 every year when you file the annual report. Compared with the other 49 states over three years, that ranks 5th.
Briefing by the Formation Facts team

Montana: key figures

5th

on the 50-state list of three-year state fees

The lowest total gets rank 1. See every state side by side

  • Fee the state takes at filing

    $35

    sosmt.gov; we confirmed it in October 2026

  • Annual report

    $20 / yr

    Deadline, as the state states it: April 15. sosmt.gov; we confirmed it in October 2026

  • Cost of missing the deadline

    $15

    sosmt.gov; we confirmed it in October 2026

  • What the state collects in 3 years

    $75

    Formation, then two more years of reports

Montana: the services we would choose

Five weighted criteria set the order (see the method): three-year fees 33%, filings covered 26%, and then renewal terms, fit with Montana rules and a clear state fee.

Our #1

1. Mainstay Filing: best for one price for filing and ongoing upkeep

$199 a year; $234 at checkout pays the state for you

Mainstay Filing ranks first for you since you pay $199 once a year, and in return the formation, the registered agent and the annual report are all taken care of.

Compare it with Registered Agent MT.org and the three-year bill is $200 higher, with more of the filings handled.

Your annual report is filed as part of the price, and you pay the state's $20 at cost.

What your money gets you

  • Prepares your formation papers and files them
  • Acts as your registered agent all year
  • Prepares and files your annual report
  • Applies for your EIN
  • The state fee stays at the official amount

What works

  • It takes care of your EIN too
  • $199 at renewal, with no increase
  • $199 a year with nothing left out

What to weigh

  • Your yearly bill is $100 larger than at Registered Agent MT.org
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

One state

2. Registered Agent MT.org: best for Montana LLCs on a shoestring

$199 for formation; $99 in later years

Next comes Registered Agent MT.org, because formation costs $199 above the state fee, and the agent is $99 from year 2.

Set time aside for the annual report every year.

What your money gets you

  • Takes care of the formation paperwork
  • First year of agent service

What works

  • $99 a year after that
  • A formation fee of $199
  • The first agent year is free

What to weigh

  • The annual report lands on your desk each time it is due
  • The EIN is not in the price ($99)
Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

One state

3. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for LLCs that only operate in Montana

$199 for formation; $99 in later years

Last on the list is Montana Registered Agent.co, because formation costs $199 above the state fee, and the agent is $99 from year 2.

Set time aside for the annual report every year.

It ties with Registered Agent MT.org on price.

What your money gets you

  • Takes care of the formation paperwork
  • First year of agent service

What works

  • $99 a year after that
  • A formation fee of $199
  • The first agent year is free

What to weigh

  • The annual report lands on your desk each time it is due
  • The EIN is not in the price ($99)
Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Montana picks in one table

RankWhoYou pay in year 1Then per yearTheir fees across 3 years
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Registered Agent MT.org$199$99/yr$397Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Montana Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Prices as shown on November 13, 2026. Montana charges $35 to file, apart from what any provider bills.

Montana LLC cost calculator

Pick how many years you want to total and which provider you would use. What the state takes is built from its own schedule: $35 when you form, then the annual report from year 2.
Choosing Mainstay Filing means paying $672 over 3 years, made up of $75 for the state and $597 for the service.

How Montana compares with the states near it in the ranking

RankStateThree-year state fees
1stMissouri$50
1stNew Mexico$50
5thMontana$75
6thHawaii$76
7thIowa$80
LLC costs by state lines up every state, starting with the lowest cost.

Montana filing fee for 2026

To form the LLC you send the Articles of Organization and $35 to the Montana Secretary of State (Mont. Code Ann. § 35-8-201). The providers below hand it along without a markup.

The annual report in Montana, 2026

Montana expects the annual report every year and charges $20 for it, with the due date given as April 15. Miss it and you owe $15.

Why the first pick is first

Mainstay Filing wins on upkeep the price covers, which counts 26%, and Registered Agent MT.org is next.

Registered Agent MT.org costs less, but you would still have to file the annual report.

Montana LLC service questions

How much will Montana charge me to form an LLC?

Montana charges $35 to file. Our picks charge $199 in year 1.

What will I pay for the Montana annual report?

You pay $20, every year, and the deadline reads April 15. Filing late costs $15.

Is Montana a low-cost state for LLCs?

Montana ranks 5th of 50 on three-year state fees, at $75. Rank 1 is the lowest total.

Will I need a registered agent in Montana?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Which LLC services does this page rank?

Mainstay Filing ($199), Registered Agent MT.org ($199) and Montana Registered Agent.co ($199), in order, beginning with the first pick.

Which LLC service should I choose?

Start with Mainstay Filing: $199 a year gets you filed, gets you a registered agent and gets your annual report sent in. Then look at Registered Agent MT.org and Montana Registered Agent.co.

You may also want

Where this briefing comes from

  1. Want to double-check Montana Secretary of State fee page and fee? Go to sosmt.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
  2. Want to double-check Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source? Go to sosmt.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
  3. Want to double-check Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source? Go to sosmt.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
  4. Want to double-check Montana report due date? Go to mca.legmt.gov, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
  5. Want to double-check Mont? Go to mca.legmt.gov, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
  6. Want to double-check Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source? Go to sosmt.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
  7. Want to double-check Montana registered agent statute? Go to mca.legmt.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
  8. Want to double-check RSMo 347.037? Go to revisor.mo.gov, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
  9. Want to double-check Missouri formation fee: Filing fee, official source? Go to sos.mo.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
  10. Want to double-check NMSA 1978, § 53-19-7 and § 53-19-8? Go to nmonesource.com, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
  11. Want to double-check Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source? Go to cca.hawaii.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
  12. Want to double-check Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source? Go to cca.hawaii.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
  13. Want to double-check Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division release of July? Go to cca.hawaii.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
  14. Want to double-check Hawaii yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source? Go to files.hawaii.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
  15. Want to double-check Iowa Code § 489.201? Go to legis.iowa.gov, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
  16. Want to double-check Iowa formation fee: Filing fee, official source? Go to legis.iowa.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
  17. Want to double-check Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division? Go to help.sos.iowa.gov, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
  18. Want to double-check Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division? Go to help.sos.iowa.gov, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
  19. We looked at the Mainstay Filing website on November 13, 2026 to confirm Montana service page
  20. We looked at the Registered Agent MT.org website on November 13, 2026 to confirm pricing page
  21. We looked at the Montana Registered Agent.co website on November 13, 2026 to confirm pricing page