How to Start an LLC in Montana
Form your Montana LLC online with transparent pricing, registered agent service and real human support. Incofile prepares and files your Articles of Organization for you.
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Montana LLC filing fee & timeline
To form an LLC in Montana you file your Articles of Organization with the state and pay the state filing fee of $35. Incofile adds a flat, one-time service fee on top — no monthly charges — and your total is always shown before you pay.
Most Montana LLC filings are prepared and submitted within one business day. State approval time depends on Montana's current processing queue, typically ranging from a few business days to a few weeks, with expedited options available in many states.
Why form an LLC in Montana
Montana has the cheapest LLC filing fee in the country ($35), no general sales tax, no state business licence, and an annual report whose fee is waived when filed by 15 April. Everything is filed online through the Secretary of State’s business portal.
Montana LLC at a glance
| State filing fee | $35 |
|---|---|
| Document filed | Articles of Organization, filed online only |
| Expedited options | $20 for 24-hour priority · $100 for 1-hour processing (state fees) |
| Annual report | Fee waived if filed by 15 April; $35 after 15 April |
| Late penalty | Involuntary dissolution once the report is 140 days late |
| Name reservation (optional) | $10, holds the name for 120 days |
| State income tax | 4.7% up to $47,500 (single), then 5.65% for 2026 |
| Sales tax | None — Montana has no general sales tax |
| Registered agent | Required; must have a physical Montana address (no PO boxes) |
State figures checked against the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services Division, September 2026. State fees are set by Montana and can change; the exact total is shown before you pay.
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Montana?
| Cost | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (state filing fee) | $35 | Required, one time |
| Registered agent | $0 if you act as your own agent at a Montana street address; otherwise a registered agent service | Required, ongoing |
| Annual report | Fee waived if filed 1 January – 15 April · $35 after 15 April | Required every year |
| EIN from the IRS | Free from the IRS | Needed for a bank account and taxes |
| Name reservation | $10 for 120 days | Optional |
| Expedited processing | $20 (24-hour priority) · $100 (1 hour) | Optional |
These are state, IRS and other outside costs — not Incofile fees. Your Incofile package price is shown separately at checkout, and your full total is always shown before you pay. Estimate every cost for your state with our LLC cost calculator.
How to form an LLC in Montana — 4 steps
Choose your package
Pick the Incofile package that fits your goals. Your Montana state filing fee is shown before you pay.
Tell us about your LLC
Complete our short form with your company name, address and ownership details — about ten minutes.
We check & file with Montana
We confirm your name is available and file your Articles of Organization with the Montana state office.
Get your documents
Your approved Montana LLC documents land in your dashboard, with reminders for your annual report and other deadlines.
How to start an LLC in Montana: step by step
Here is exactly what forming a Montana LLC involves, whether you file it yourself or let Incofile handle the paperwork.
Choose and check your LLC name
Pick a name that includes “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” and is distinguishable from existing Montana businesses. Check it with our free business name search.
Appoint a registered agent
Name a registered agent with a physical street address in Montana (not a PO box) who can accept legal papers during business hours. If you live outside Montana or want privacy, Incofile can act as your agent.
File the Articles of Organization
File online through the Secretary of State’s business portal (biz.sosmt.gov) and pay $35. Montana does not accept paper formation filings. Priority handling costs $20 (24 hours) or $100 (1 hour).
Create an operating agreement
Montana does not require you to file an operating agreement, but it records who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. Banks commonly ask for it, and it helps protect your limited liability.
Get an EIN
Apply to the IRS for your Employer Identification Number (EIN). You need it to open a business bank account, hire staff and file federal taxes. The IRS issues it free; non-US owners without an SSN apply by phone, fax or mail, and our Gold package handles it for you.
Register for taxes and local licences
Montana has no general sales tax. Register with the Department of Revenue through the TransAction Portal for withholding if you hire, and check your city or county — all business licensing in Montana is local.
File your annual report each year
File the annual report online between 1 January and 15 April every year, starting the year after formation; the fee is currently waived in that window and $35 afterwards. An LLC that is 140 days late is involuntarily dissolved.
What you need to form an LLC in Montana
- A business name that is available and meets Montana's naming rules (it must include “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company”).
- A registered agent with a physical address in Montana — Incofile can be your agent.
- Articles of Organization filed with the Montana state office — we prepare and submit these for you.
- An operating agreement and EIN to open a business bank account (included in our Gold and Platinum packages).
- Ongoing compliance — Montana's reports, taxes and registered agent rules (see below). We track the deadlines and remind you.
Operating agreement
An operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are split, how decisions are made and what happens if a member leaves. Montana does not ask you to file it with the state, but banks usually want to see it, and without one the state's default rules apply. Incofile includes a customised operating agreement in the Gold and Platinum packages.
EIN (Employer Identification Number)
Your EIN is the federal tax ID for your LLC. You need it to open a business bank account, hire staff and file taxes. The IRS issues it free — online in minutes if you have a Social Security number, or by fax or mail (one to eight weeks) if you don't. Our Gold and Platinum packages include it, and it is also available as a separate service.
This is general information, not legal advice. If you're unsure which structure is right, compare LLC vs S-Corp vs C-Corp.
Montana LLC naming rules
The name must contain “Limited Liability Company” or an abbreviation such as “LLC” or “L.L.C.” and must be distinguishable from every other entity on the Montana register. Check availability with our free business name search.
Keeping your Montana LLC compliant
Annual report
File between 1 January and 15 April every year, starting the year after formation. The Secretary of State currently waives the fee for reports filed by 15 April; after that it is $35. An LLC that has not filed 140 days after the deadline is involuntarily dissolved, and reinstatement costs $35 plus $35 for each delinquent year.
Registered agent
Your agent must have a physical Montana address (not a PO box) and be available during business hours. Incofile can act as your Montana registered agent.
Taxes
Owners pay Montana income tax on their share of profit — 4.7% on the first $47,500 for a single filer and 5.65% above in 2026, falling to 5.4% in 2027. There is no general sales tax and no franchise tax.
Licences
Montana has no state business licence; cities and counties handle general licensing and the state issues professional licences.
Incofile clients get every Montana deadline tracked in their dashboard with email reminders — see registered agent service.
Official Montana resources
Montana LLC — frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Montana?
Incofile charges a flat, one-time formation fee (Silver, Gold or Platinum) plus the Montana state filing fee of $35. There are no monthly charges, and the total is shown before you pay.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Montana?
We prepare and submit your Montana Articles of Organization within one business day. State approval times vary from a few business days to a few weeks; expedited filing is available in many states.
Do I need a registered agent in Montana?
Yes. Montana requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a physical address in the state to receive legal and state mail. Incofile can serve as your Montana registered agent so you stay compliant and keep your address private.
Can I start an LLC in Montana if I live in another state or country?
Yes. You do not need to live in Montana to form an LLC there. Incofile can act as your registered agent and provide a business address, so you can form and run your Montana LLC from anywhere.
How much does a Montana LLC cost per year?
Nothing in state fees if you file the annual report between 1 January and 15 April, when the fee is waived. After 15 April it is $35. Add a registered agent service if you use one.
Does Montana have sales tax?
No. Montana has no general sales tax, only selective taxes such as lodging and rental vehicle taxes.
Why is a Montana LLC so cheap?
The state charges only $35 to form an LLC — the lowest in the US — and waives the annual report fee for on-time filers.
Can I file a Montana LLC by mail?
No. Montana formation filings are online only, through the Secretary of State’s business portal.
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