State filing fee
$35
Source sosmt.gov, October 2026
LLC cost guide · Montana
Montana LLC Fees and Costs (2026): the Official Numbers and the 3 Best LLC Services
Our 2026 ranking for setting up an LLC in Montana reads Mainstay Filing ($199), Montana Registered Agent.co ($199) and Registered Agent MT.org ($199). On three-year state cost, Montana is number 5th of 50. The pieces: $35 to file, and $20 every year for the annual report.
Montana: the facts
5th
place among 50 states, three-year state cost
The lowest total takes number 1. See all 50 states ranked
Ranked services for Montana
Criteria in order of weight: three-year fees, coverage, renewal terms, fit with Montana, clear state fee (method).
1. Mainstay Filing: best for fewer chores each year
$199 yearly plus the $35 state fee
First place goes to Mainstay Filing: for $199 a year it files the Montana formation, serves as your registered agent and files the annual report; the price renews at $199.
Compared with Montana Registered Agent.co, the three-year bill is $200 larger, and more filings are covered for it.
It files the annual report every year, and the $20 state fee is billed at cost.
What the price takes in
- Files the formation papers for you
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Prepares and files the annual report
- Takes care of the EIN application
- No markup is added to the state fee
In its favor
- It files the EIN application for you
- $199 yearly pays for formation and agent and report
- $199 at renewal, with no increase
Against it
- Its renewal is $100 higher than Montana Registered Agent.co's
2. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for low formation costs
$199 plus the state fee; agent $99 per year from year 2
We put Montana Registered Agent.co second since $199 pays for the formation, and the agent renews at $99.
You send in the annual report yourself every year.
What the price takes in
- Prepares the formation filing
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- A year of agent service in the price
- $199 above the state fee
- A $99 renewal
Against it
- The owner files the annual report personally
- EIN help is $99
3. Registered Agent MT.org: best for owners who would write the reports themselves
$199 plus the state fee; agent $99 per year from year 2
We put Registered Agent MT.org third since $199 pays for the formation, and the agent renews at $99.
You send in the annual report yourself every year.
Montana Registered Agent.co and this provider post the same prices.
What the price takes in
- Prepares the formation filing
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- $199 above the state fee
- A year of agent service in the price
- A $99 renewal
Against it
- The owner files the annual report personally
- EIN help is $99
3 providers next to each other
| No. | Provider | First year | Later years | Provider fees over 3 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Montana Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Registered Agent MT.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Posted prices as of November 13, 2026. Every row also needs the $35 state fee.
Work out your total
Choose a number of years and a provider. The state part follows the official fee schedule: $35 to form, then the annual report from year 2.
Montana and the states around it in the ranking
| Place | State | Three-year state fees |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Missouri | $50 |
| 1st | New Mexico | $50 |
| 5th | Montana | $75 |
| 6th | Hawaii | $76 |
| 7th | Iowa | $80 |
The full table is at LLC costs by state, lowest bills first.
What Montana charges to file, 2026
You pay $35 and file the Articles of Organization with the Montana Secretary of State under Mont. Code Ann. § 35-8-201. Every provider below charges the state fee at cost.
Good standing in Montana depends on the annual report
The annual report comes around once a year and costs $20, April 15. Late filers pay $15.
The reasoning
Mainstay Filing moved ahead of Montana Registered Agent.co on paperwork inside the price, which is weighted 28%.
Montana wants the annual report every year, and a price that includes filing it is a better deal than a smaller one that leaves it to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Montana charge to form an LLC?
Montana charges $35 to file. Our picks charge $199 in the first year.
What will filing the annual report cost in Montana?
It costs $20 and is due every year, April 15. A late filing draws $15.
Where does Montana stand on LLC costs?
Montana is number 5th of 50 on three-year state fees, at $75. The lowest total takes number 1.
Does Montana require a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which LLC services does this page rank?
Mainstay Filing ($199), Montana Registered Agent.co ($199) and Registered Agent MT.org ($199), listed from strongest to weakest.
Which LLC service would you choose?
Choose Mainstay Filing: a single yearly price of $199 pays for formation, a registered agent and the annual report. Then Montana Registered Agent.co and Registered Agent MT.org.
Where these facts come from
- Taken from sosmt.gov, a page we read in October 2026, is everything we say on this page about Montana Secretary of State fee page and fee.
- Taken from sosmt.gov, a page we read in October 2026, is everything we say on this page about Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source.
- Taken from sosmt.gov, a page we read in October 2026, is everything we say on this page about Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source.
- Taken from mca.legmt.gov, a page we read in August 2026, is everything we say on this page about Montana report due date.
- Taken from mca.legmt.gov, a page we read in August 2026, is everything we say on this page about Mont.
- Taken from sosmt.gov, a page we read in October 2026, is everything we say on this page about Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source.
- Taken from mca.legmt.gov, a page we read in October 2026, is everything we say on this page about Montana registered agent statute.
- Taken from revisor.mo.gov, a page we read in August 2026, is everything we say on this page about RSMo 347.037.
- Taken from sos.mo.gov, a page we read in October 2026, is everything we say on this page about Missouri formation fee: Filing fee, official source.
- Taken from nmonesource.com, a page we read in August 2026, is everything we say on this page about NMSA 1978, § 53-19-7 and § 53-19-8.
- Taken from cca.hawaii.gov, a page we read in October 2026, is everything we say on this page about Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source.
- Taken from cca.hawaii.gov, a page we read in October 2026, is everything we say on this page about Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source.
- Taken from cca.hawaii.gov, a page we read in October 2026, is everything we say on this page about Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division release of July.
- Taken from files.hawaii.gov, a page we read in October 2026, is everything we say on this page about Hawaii yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source.
- Taken from legis.iowa.gov, a page we read in August 2026, is everything we say on this page about Iowa Code § 489.201.
- Taken from legis.iowa.gov, a page we read in October 2026, is everything we say on this page about Iowa formation fee: Filing fee, official source.
- Taken from help.sos.iowa.gov, a page we read in August 2026, is everything we say on this page about Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division.
- Taken from help.sos.iowa.gov, a page we read in August 2026, is everything we say on this page about Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division.
- Mainstay Filing posted Montana service page; we read the page November 13, 2026
- Montana Registered Agent.co posted pricing page; we read the page November 13, 2026
- Registered Agent MT.org posted pricing page; we read the page November 13, 2026