How Much Does an LLC Cost in Montana (What You Need to Know)
Forming an LLC in Montana costs $35 to file the Articles of Organization online with the Montana Secretary of State. That single filing is the only mandatory step to create the business.
Most other costs show up later. A recurring Annual Report fee comes due every year. An optional registered agent service can add to that. State taxes apply too, once the LLC starts earning money.
Here's every cost broken out by when you pay it. That way it's clear what's a one-time charge and what comes back on a schedule.
Quick Summary
- Articles of Organization filings only go through the state's online portal, no paper option is accepted.
- The Secretary of State has waived the on-time Annual Report fee for filers through 2027. That cuts the yearly cost to nothing right now.
- Montana has no statewide sales tax, one of only five states with that setup.
| Cost Item | Amount | Frequency | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $35 | One-time | Yes |
| Name Reservation | $10 | One-time | No |
| Expedited Processing | $20-$100 | One-time | No |
| Annual Report | $0 (waived through 2027 if filed by April 15) / $35 if late | Every year | Yes |
| Registered Agent Service | $80-$300 | Every year | No |
| Montana taxes | Varies by tax type | Every year | If applicable |
| Business/Professional License | Varies | Varies | If applicable |
| DBA (Assumed Business Name) | $20 | One-time | No |
| Certified Copies / Certificate of Existence | $10 each | As needed | No |
| Operating Agreement | $0-$1,000+ | One-time | No |
| EIN | $0 | One-time | No |
Cost to Start a Montana LLC
Before an LLC can begin operating, there are mandatory fees to cover. One optional filing is also worth knowing about, in case a business owner wants to lock in a name early.
1. Montana LLC Formation Filing Fee ($35 - Mandatory)
Filing Articles of Organization with the Montana Secretary of State costs $35 [1]. It's paid online, through the biz.sosmt.gov portal, and covers the whole LLC cost of getting the entity on record with the state. The state stopped taking paper filings, so the online system is the only path available.
Standard processing runs about five business days. Two paid expedite tiers speed that up. $20 more buys a 24-hour turnaround, and $100 more buys a one-hour turnaround. Both stack on top of the base formation fee.
2. Name Reservation ($10 - Optional)
Reserving a business name ahead of filing costs $10 and holds it for 120 days. That hold isn't renewable. The Articles of Organization need to go in before it lapses, or the name returns to the available pool.
Before reserving a name, check that it's actually free. See how to look up an LLC in Montana for the search steps.
Costs After Your Montana LLC Is Approved
Once the LLC is approved, a new set of costs kicks in. Some are recurring, some are one-off, depending on what the business actually does.
1. Annual Report ($0-$35 - Mandatory)
Every Montana LLC files an Annual Report each year to stay in good standing. The statutory fee is $20. The Secretary of State has waived that fee, though, for anyone who files between January 1 and April 15. This is the fourth year running for the waiver, now confirmed through 2026 and 2027 [2].
Miss the April 15 deadline and the waiver no longer applies. Filing late costs $35 total: the $20 base fee plus a $15 late charge. An LLC that stays unfiled loses good standing. The state can dissolve it later in the year.
2. Registered Agent Service ($80-$300 a Year - Optional)
State law requires an LLC to name a registered agent with a physical street address. That agent must be available during business hours to accept legal documents.
Acting as your own agent is free. Many owners hire a Montana registered agent service instead. That typically runs $80 to $300 a year, mainly to keep a personal address off public records.
3. Montana Taxes (Rates Vary - If Applicable)
Montana has no statewide sales tax, a rare setup shared by only five states. LLCs also owe no franchise or privilege tax just for existing.
By default, an LLC is taxed as a pass-through: members report their share of profit on their own state income tax return. For 2026 and 2027, that return uses two brackets. The lower band is taxed at 4.7% and the rest at 5.65%. Exact thresholds depend on filing status [3].
An LLC can instead elect corporate tax treatment, which brings a flat 6.25% corporate income tax rate. LLCs with workers also owe unemployment insurance tax and must carry workers' compensation coverage.
4. Business and Professional Licenses (Varies - If Applicable)
Some cities and counties require a general business license, and certain professions need a state license from their oversight board. Costs vary by jurisdiction and field, so check local requirements before assuming your LLC is covered.
5. DBA / Assumed Business Name ($20 - Optional)
Using a name other than the LLC's legal name means registering an Assumed Business Name. Each name needs its own $20 filing with the Secretary of State.
6. Certified Copies and Certificate of Existence ($10 Each - Recommended)
A $10 fee gets a certified copy of the Articles of Organization. A separate $10 fee gets a Certificate of Existence proving the LLC is in good standing. Banks, lenders, and other states often ask for one or both before opening an account or approving a filing.
7. Operating Agreement ($0-$1,000+ - Recommended)
The state doesn't require an LLC to file an operating agreement, but having one still matters. It settles ownership and exit terms before a dispute makes them urgent.
The free template linked in the cost table above costs nothing to use. An attorney-drafted version typically runs $100 to $1,000 or more, depending on the LLC's complexity.
8. Employer Identification Number ($0 - Recommended)
The IRS issues an EIN for free through its online application. It's needed to open a business bank account, hire employees, or file certain taxes.
Multi-member LLCs must get one regardless. Single-member LLCs only need one once one of those situations comes up. The IRS issues the number online at no cost, so paying a formation service to file it for you is money you don't need to spend.
FAQs
Why Does the Montana Annual Report Show $0 in Some Places and $20 in Others?
The Montana Annual Report fee is genuinely both amounts, depending on the filer. On-time filers currently owe nothing under the active waiver, while late filers owe the standard charge plus a penalty. See the Annual Report section above for the exact cutoff date and the late-filing math.
Who Receives Montana's LLC Filing Fees?
The Montana Secretary of State's Business Services Division collects the filing fees for Articles of Organization, Annual Reports, and related filings.
Does Montana Require an LLC Operating Agreement?
No, Montana doesn't require an operating agreement to be filed with the state, but banks and lenders often ask to see one before opening an account or approving financing. Multi-member LLCs have the most to lose by skipping it, since it settles disputes over money or control.
Do I Need to File a Beneficial Ownership Information Report?
No, domestic LLCs formed in the United States do not need to file a Beneficial Ownership Information report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. An interim final rule removed this requirement for domestic companies. Check FinCEN.gov/boi for updates.
References:
- https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/business_filing_fees.pdf
- https://sosmt.gov/secretary-christi-jacobsen-continues-montana-business-support-by-waiving-fees-once-again/
- https://revenue.mt.gov/news/recent-news/HB-337
