LLC Formation in Montana: Cost, Steps & How to File
Every Montana business owner eventually asks the same three things about an LLC formation: who issues it, roughly what it costs, roughly how long it takes. The first one has a Montana-specific answer and it's at the top of this page.
Depending on the state this recurring amount is called an annual report fee, a franchise tax, or a business privilege fee. It is the amount an LLC pays the state to stay in good standing.
Who issues an LLC Formation in Montana
In Montana, an LLC formation is issued by the office below. That is the office to confirm every figure with.
- Montana — the state business-filing office (Secretary of State in most states) (registers business entities)
https://sosmt.gov
https://biz.sosmt.gov
Starting point for anything else in Montana: the state business portal, https://biz.sosmt.gov. It is a starting point, not the issuer of this permit.
The general US process
This sequence is the shape the process takes across the US. It is not a list of Montana requirements, and no step here should be read as one — the issuing office named above sets the actual requirements.
- Step 1: Pick a name and check it against the state's business-entity register — most states let you search this online for free.
- Step 2: Name a registered agent with a physical street address in the state; a PO box is generally not accepted.
- Step 3: File the formation document — usually called Articles of Organization or a Certificate of Formation — with the state's business-filing office.
- Step 4: Pay the state filing fee. This is the one figure on this page that we do hold per state, shown above.
- Step 5: Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free, online, and usually issued immediately.
- Step 6: Open a business bank account in the LLC's name using the EIN and the filed formation document.
- Step 7: Write an operating agreement. A handful of states require one; in the rest it is optional and still worth having.
What varies: the filing fee, the name of the form, how often the state wants a report, and whether the state adds its own publication or franchise-tax step. New York, for example, adds a newspaper publication requirement.
Documents usually asked for
A typical list, not a Montana checklist.
- Government-issued ID
- Business name
- Registered agent info
- Member/manager list
Related permits in Montana
LLC Formation in states bordering Montana
Rules stop at the state line — same permit, each state bordering Montana:
See LLC Formation in all 50 states & DC →
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Montana?
Montana's formation filing fee is $35. On top of that, Montana charges no recurring state fee to keep the LLC in good standing. Expedited processing, a registered agent service and a name reservation cost extra. Some states add their own steps with their own costs.
Does Montana charge a recurring fee for an LLC?
Montana does not charge a recurring state fee for an LLC. You may still owe state income or franchise tax on the business itself, and a report filing may still be required even when the fee is $0.
Who issues an LLC filing in Montana?
The state office named at the top of this page.
What is Montana-specific on this page: the issuing office, the two Montana fees. Everything else — the numbered process, the document list, the cost and timeline — is the general US pattern, not a Montana rule, and is labelled that way above. Requirements, fees and deadlines are set by the issuing office; confirm with it before you file or pay.