What it means · Montana
3 Best LLC Services in Montana (2026): What You Get
The essentials
- Fee to file
- $35, one time
- Following years
- $20 once a year
- Registered agent
- Mandatory
- Our picks in order
- Mainstay Filing, Montana Registered Agent.co then Registered Agent MT.org
Our Montana recommendations
Best first. See how we pick for the reasoning.1. Mainstay Filing: best for paperwork taken off your hands
$199 a year, renewing at $199
Mainstay Filing is where we would start in Montana. In short, you pay $199 a year and get the formation, the registered agent and the annual report taken care of.
The extra $200 compared with Montana Registered Agent.co covers jobs you would otherwise do yourself.
annual report filing is part of the service; the only addition is the state's $20.
Includes
- Formation handled for you
- Registered agent all year long
- Annual report filed on schedule
- EIN application
- Official fees at cost
Points in its favor
- $199 annually for everything listed
- No extra fee for the EIN application
- Year two is $199
Where it falls short
- Renews $100 higher than Montana Registered Agent.co
2. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for staying in one state
Year one costs $199; later years cost $99
Montana Registered Agent.co takes the second slot: year one costs $199 and each later year $99.
Its price leaves out the annual report.
Includes
- The LLC, filed for you
- Agent service during year one
Points in its favor
- First-year agent in the price
- A modest renewal of $99
- A formation fee of $199
Where it falls short
- Annual report is your responsibility
- The EIN is not included ($99)
3. Registered Agent MT.org: best for owners comfortable doing their own reports
Year one costs $199; later years cost $99
Registered Agent MT.org takes the third slot: year one costs $199 and each later year $99.
Its price leaves out the annual report.
The prices match Montana Registered Agent.co, so pick the one you prefer.
Includes
- The LLC, filed for you
- Agent service during year one
Points in its favor
- A formation fee of $199
- First-year agent in the price
- A modest renewal of $99
Where it falls short
- Annual report is your responsibility
- The EIN is not included ($99)
How they stack up
| # | Company | Year one | Renewal price | Three-year total | Included in the price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | formation handled for you; registered agent all year long; annual report filed on schedule | Check Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Montana Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | The LLC, filed for you; agent service during year one | Check Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Registered Agent MT.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | The LLC, filed for you; agent service during year one | Check Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
The questions, one by one
How much money should I set aside?
Expect $35 in state fees plus $199 for a service.
By the end of year three the state will have taken $75. sosmt.gov, confirmed October 2026
What exactly do I submit?
You submit one document, the Articles of Organization, to the Montana Secretary of State.
The governing law: Mont. Code Ann. § 35-8-201. sosmt.gov, confirmed October 2026
Is a registered agent a legal requirement?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual, including an owner, or an entity in Montana.
mca.legmt.gov, confirmed October 2026
What does upkeep involve?
Keep up with the annual report each year ($20). According to the state, it is due April 15, which is easy to miss.
The state's late fee is $15.
sosmt.gov, confirmed October 2026
Am I allowed to file on my own?
Yes. Doing it yourself costs only the state's fees, $75 over three years.
Services charge $397 to $597 over three years for that work.
What put number one on top?
Mainstay Filing leads on how much work the price handles, a criterion that carries 28% of the weight.
What three years cost carries 34% and how much work the price handles carries 28%. Three smaller criteria decide close calls.
The annual report is the deciding detail: it is part of the first pick's price and not part of Montana Registered Agent.co's.
Official Montana requirements
| Requirement | What the state says | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Fee to file the LLC | $35 | sosmt.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| Registered agent | Mandatory | mca.legmt.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| Annual report | $20 every year | sosmt.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| Three-year state total | $75 | Sum of the figures above |
Additional questions
Does the price include the EIN application?
Mainstay Filing applies for it at no extra charge. Montana Registered Agent.co adds $99; Registered Agent MT.org adds $99.
Is there a penalty for a late report?
A penalty of $15 applies.
How do the picks compare over three years?
Mainstay Filing comes to $597; Montana Registered Agent.co comes to $397; Registered Agent MT.org comes to $397, and state fees come extra.
What are the figures based on?
Each state fee links to its official source, and each service price comes from the company's website.
Does the law require a service?
It is optional, and the state charges the same either way.
What is the best LLC service for Montana?
We would start with Mainstay Filing, then Montana Registered Agent.co and Registered Agent MT.org.
Documents and pricing pages behind this page
- sosmt.gov: Montana Secretary of State fee (confirmed October 2026)
- sosmt.gov: Montana yearly filing: Annual report (confirmed October 2026)
- sosmt.gov: Montana yearly filing: Annual report (confirmed October 2026)
- mca.legmt.gov: Montana report due date (confirmed August 2026)
- mca.legmt.gov: Mont (confirmed August 2026)
- sosmt.gov: Montana formation fee: Filing fee (confirmed October 2026)
- mca.legmt.gov: Montana registered agent statute (confirmed October 2026)
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the Mainstay Filing Montana service page
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the Montana Registered Agent.co pricing page
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the Registered Agent MT.org pricing page