How to Start an LLC in Montana (2026)
You form a Montana LLC by filing Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State's Business Services Division. The filing costs $35. It goes through the state's online Business Filing Portal, the only way to submit it.
Montana also waives the LLC annual report fee for anyone who files by April 15. That's worth knowing before you budget for this.
This guide walks a new domestic LLC through each step. If your LLC is already registered elsewhere, you don't file Articles of Organization to also do business in Montana. You file a Certificate of Authority instead, covered in the FAQs below.
Quick Summary
- Check the name before you pay the filing fee. Search it in the Business Filing Portal first.
- You can name yourself or another member as the registered agent for free. That address becomes public once you file, though.
- File your annual report by April 15 every year. Miss the window and Montana starts charging a fee, then can dissolve the LLC.
Montana LLC Requirements at a Glance
Here's the quick version of what Montana expects from a new LLC. It comes straight from the Secretary of State's own filing and fee pages.
| LLC requirement | State-specific answer |
|---|---|
| Filing document | Articles of Organization, filed through the Business Filing Portal |
| Filing authority | Montana Secretary of State, Business Services Division |
| State filing fee | $35 (plus $50 for each series member named in a series LLC) |
| Online filing | Yes, the Business Filing Portal (biz.sosmt.gov). No mail-in option is offered for Articles of Organization |
| Processing time | Filings are processed in the order received. 24-hour expedited review costs $20 and 1-hour expedited review costs $100, but the agency does not publish a standard non-expedited turnaround |
| Registered agent | A commercial or noncommercial registered agent with an actual Montana street address (a P.O. box alone does not qualify). Naming the agent in a filing is the entity's affirmation that the agent has consented to serve |
| Annual report | Required every year. Fee is waived for reports filed January 1 through April 15, $35 if filed after April 15 |
| Publication required? | No, Montana's LLC Act has no publication requirement |
| State business tax | No entity-level income tax on a default pass-through LLC. Members report profits on their own returns, and the LLC files a Montana Pass-Through Entity information return (or elects the Pass-Through Entity Tax or composite tax) with the Department of Revenue, due March 15 |
| Last verified | September 3, 2026 |
How to Start an LLC in Montana: 5 Steps
Montana keeps LLC formation to five required moves. They follow the same basic LLC formation pattern used nationwide, just adapted to this state's portal and fees.
Step 1: Choose and check your LLC name
Your name has to include "limited liability company," "limited company," or an abbreviation like "LLC" or "L.L.C." [1]. It also has to look different enough from every name already on file.
Small tweaks like punctuation or a different suffix don't make two names different enough. Run your idea through the portal's name search first.
Words like "bank," "banking," or "trust company" need approval from the state's bank regulator [2], though most business names never trigger this rule. Reserving a name ahead of time costs $10 and holds it for 120 days.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
Every Montana LLC needs a registered agent with a real street address in the state. A P.O. box by itself doesn't qualify.
The agent can be a commercial service, a friend or you. They just need to accept legal mail at that address.
Naming your agent in the filing confirms to the state that they've already agreed to the job [3]. Hiring a registered agent service in Montana instead keeps a home address off that public record.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization with the Business Services Division
Once your name and agent are set, you file the Articles of Organization online through the Business Filing Portal. The next section walks through what the form asks for, how you pay and what happens after you submit it.
Step 4: Create an operating agreement
Montana doesn't require an operating agreement for an LLC, and it doesn't even have to be in writing if you make one.
Skip it, though, and the Montana LLC Act itself decides how profits split and who can bind the company instead of your own terms [4].
The Articles of Organization already list your initial members or managers. An operating agreement goes further. It spells out voting power, what happens if someone leaves and who runs the business day to day.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN is free to get at irs.gov, and it only takes a few minutes. The online application approves you the moment you finish filling it out.
Form your LLC with the state first, since the application asks for the business's legal name and structure. You'll need the EIN to open a bank account, apply for licenses or hire employees, even as the only member.
Filing the Articles of Organization in Montana: What to Expect
Here's exactly what happens between clicking submit and getting your approved LLC back from the state. Each step below covers one piece of that process.
1. What the form asks for
The Articles of Organization ask for your LLC's legal name. They also ask whether it's a term company with a set end date [5], plus the complete mailing address of the principal office.
You'll enter your registered agent's name and Montana address. Then you list either your managers or, if members run the company themselves, those members, with their names and addresses.
Forming a professional LLC adds one more line to that list, a statement naming the licensed profession the company practices day to day.
2. Fee and payment methods
Filing costs $35, plus $50 for each series member if you're forming a series LLC. You pay by credit card, debit card or e-check inside the portal, and the fee is due when you submit the form.
3. Processing times
Montana processes filings in the order it receives them, without a posted target date. It doesn't publish a standard turnaround time for regular review at all.
If you don't want to wait in that queue, 24-hour review costs $20 and 1-hour review costs $100. See how long LLC approval takes in Montana for the full timeline breakdown.
| Filing method | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Online | Not published. The agency does not post a standard turnaround for online Articles of Organization filings |
| Not offered. Articles of Organization can only be filed through the online Business Filing Portal | |
| In person | Not offered. No walk-in filing option is described |
| Expedited | 24-hour review $20, 1-hour review $100 |
| Current state estimate | Not published. No backlog or current-turnaround notice appears on the Business Services pages |
4. Where to file by mail or in person
There isn't a mail or walk-in option for Articles of Organization. The Business Filing Portal is the only channel Montana accepts, so plan on completing the whole filing online.
5. Common reasons filings are rejected
The most common holdup is a name that isn't different enough from one already on file. Adding punctuation, swapping "LLC" for "L.L.C." or pluralizing a word doesn't make two names different enough in the state's eyes.
The portal also flags any required field you leave blank. It marks that page with a red x until you fix it and can submit.
6. What you receive when it is approved
Once the Business Services Division approves your filing, it emails you. That email tells you how to get the finished Articles of Organization from the portal. Montana doesn't mail out a paper copy automatically, so save that download somewhere safe.
What It Costs to Start an LLC in Montana
Montana is one of the cheaper states to form an LLC in. Most of the line items below are optional.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| State filing fee | $35 (plus $50 for each series member named in a series LLC) |
| Name reservation | $10, reserved for a nonrenewable 120 days |
| Registered agent | $0 when a member, manager or other qualifying Montana resident or entity is the agent. The state does not set or publish a price for hiring a commercial registered agent |
| Certified copy | $10 per certified copy request |
| Expedited filing | $20 for 24-hour processing, $100 for 1-hour processing |
| Annual report | Required every year. Fee is waived for reports filed January 1 through April 15, $35 if filed after April 15 |
| Other mandatory state fees | None. Montana charges no separate initial-report or business-privilege-tax fee for domestic LLCs |
The $35 filing fee is the only cost every LLC has to pay. Reserving a name, hiring a commercial registered agent and getting a certified copy are all optional. So is paying extra for faster review.
See how much an LLC costs in Montana for the full breakdown. It covers ongoing costs like registered agent renewals and local licensing fees.
Montana-Specific Rules That Change the Process
1. Professional limited liability company rules
Montana lets licensed professionals form a PLLC. It covers services within a single profession, or a few related ones if the licensing rules allow it [6].
A PLLC's name has to include "professional limited liability company" or an abbreviation like "PLLC." It still needs approval from the board that licenses that profession.
If your business isn't tied to a licensed field, like law, medicine or engineering, you file a regular LLC instead.
2. Member and manager disclosure
The Articles of Organization you file become public record. The names and addresses you list for your managers, or for your members if you're member-managed, are searchable by anyone through the portal. There's no way to keep that information private once you file.
3. Foreign LLC registration
An LLC already formed in another state files a Certificate of Authority to do business in Montana instead. That filing costs $70, plus $50 for each series member if it's a series LLC.
4. Business license system
Montana doesn't run a general statewide business license the way some states do. What you actually need depends on your industry and your city instead.
5. What happens if you miss the deadline
Miss your annual report long enough and the state shuts the LLC down. Getting it back costs $35, plus another $35 for every year of annual reports you didn't file.
What to Do After Your Montana LLC Is Approved
Once you have your approved Articles of Organization and an EIN, you can open a business bank account. Then check with your city or county for a local business license, since Montana doesn't issue one at the state level for most industries.
If you're in a licensed field, like contracting, cosmetology or real estate, you'll also register with that field's own licensing board.
Most LLCs are taxed as pass-through entities by default. You file a Pass-Through Entity return with the Department of Revenue, or elect to pay the Pass-Through Entity Tax or composite tax instead.
See how to file LLC taxes in Montana for the full breakdown of what that means for your return each year.
Set up a simple bookkeeping system before your first transaction, even if you're the only member. It makes the Pass-Through Entity return easier at tax time.
| Compliance item | Deadline, fee and department |
|---|---|
| Initial report | None required. Montana has no separate initial report, so the first periodic filing is the annual report |
| Annual or biennial report | Due every year. Fee waived if filed January 1 through April 15, $35 if filed after April 15, filed through the Business Filing Portal |
| State tax registration | LLCs taxed as pass-through entities register with the Department of Revenue and file a Pass-Through Entity information return, or elect to pay the Pass-Through Entity Tax or composite tax instead |
| Renewal deadline | Not applicable. Montana has no statewide business-license renewal, so any local city or county license follows that jurisdiction's own renewal schedule |
| Late fee | $35 total if the annual report is filed after April 15, in place of the on-time waiver. Reinstatement after administrative dissolution costs $35 plus $35 for each year of delinquent annual reports |
| Responsible state department | Montana Secretary of State, Business Services Division (filings and annual report). Montana Department of Revenue (pass-through entity tax registration) |
FAQs
Does Montana Require LLCs to Publish a Notice?
No, Montana doesn't require LLCs to publish a notice. There's no publication step anywhere in the state's LLC Act.
Does Montana Charge a Franchise Tax on LLCs?
No, Montana doesn't charge LLCs a franchise tax. Pass-through LLCs instead file a Montana return with the Department of Revenue, due each year by March 15.
How Much Does a Certified Copy of Montana's Articles of Organization Cost?
A certified copy of your Montana Articles of Organization costs $10 per request from the Secretary of State.
Can I Renew My Montana LLC Name Reservation?
No, you can't renew a Montana LLC name reservation. It's nonrenewable and lasts 120 days, with no extension option once that period ends.
References:
- https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0350/chapter_0080/part_0010/section_0030/0350-0080-0010-0030.html
- https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0320/chapter_0010/part_0040/section_0020/0320-0010-0040-0020.html
- https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0350/chapter_0070/part_0010/section_0050/0350-0070-0010-0050.html
- https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0350/chapter_0080/part_0010/section_0090/0350-0080-0010-0090.html
- https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0350/chapter_0080/part_0020/section_0020/0350-0080-0020-0020.html
- https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0350/chapter_0080/part_0130/section_0010/0350-0080-0130-0010.html
