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Biz Formation Academy

A plain textbook on LLC paperwork, one state per chapter.

Textbook chapter 3 · Montana

Foreign LLC Registration Chapter, Montana (2026): 4 Sections and the 3 Best Services

For registering an LLC formed elsewhere in Montana in 2026, this chapter recommends Mainstay Filing ($199), Registered Agent MT.org ($199) and Montana Registered Agent.co ($199), ranked from first to last. First decide whether registration applies. The remaining sections, 4 in all, give the form and the $70 fee.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Key facts for this chapter

Charge for registering $70 See mca.legmt.gov; page last consulted October 2026
Report fee None Annual report
What the state collects over three years $70 Registration, reports and any minimum tax
Section count 4 Outlined below

Learning objectives

  • Which LLCs must register
  • The official form and fee
  • Recurring obligations
  • Which services are recommended and why

If you want someone else to file

Ranked by the grading page: three-year cost (34%), paperwork completed (30%), second-year price, fit with Montana rules and clarity of the price list.

1. Mainstay Filing: best for one provider for both states

Best overall
$199 plus fees; renewal $149 annually

Mainstay Filing is ranked first in Montana: $199 above the state fee in any state; the registered agent costs nothing the first year, then $149 yearly.

Registered Agent MT.org costs $100 less over three years; this service still ranks higher because it does more of the work.

Once the included year is used up, expect $149 per year for agent service wherever the LLC registers.

Price covers

  • Registration filing
  • The registered agent carries no charge in year one
  • One fee wherever the LLC registers

Advantages

  • All fifty states covered
  • A service charge of $199
  • The first agent year is included

Limitations

  • Renewal $50 above Registered Agent MT.org's
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. Registered Agent MT.org: best for an economical Montana filing

Local option
$199 plus fees; renewal $99 annually

Entry number 2 is Registered Agent MT.org, where registering with Montana through this service costs $199 and includes a year of agent service; renewal is $99.

Price covers

  • Registration filing
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • First-year agent service at no added cost
  • $99 a year for the agent afterward
  • $199 and the state fee

Limitations

  • A separate agent is required at home
Visit Registered Agent MT.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for a small agent renewal

Local option
$199 plus fees; renewal $99 annually

Entry number 3 is Montana Registered Agent.co, where registering with Montana through this service costs $199 and includes a year of agent service; renewal is $99.

Its prices equal Registered Agent MT.org's, so either serves.

Price covers

  • Registration filing
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $99 a year for the agent afterward
  • First-year agent service at no added cost
  • $199 and the state fee

Limitations

  • A separate agent is required at home
Visit Montana Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

All prices in one table

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Registered Agent MT.org $199$99/yr$397 Visit Registered Agent MT.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Montana Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397 Visit Montana Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Listed prices, consulted November 13, 2026. No row includes the $70 state fee.

The chapter, section by section

  1. Section 1

    Determine whether registration is required

    Foreign registration is the filing by which an LLC formed outside Montana is authorized to do business in Montana. The consequences of failing to register include: Montana's courts will not hear its own claims until it registers (MCA 35-8-1002(1)) a daily charge of $5.

    Reference: See mca.legmt.gov; page last consulted October 2026

  2. Section 2

    Arrange a Montana registered agent

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be an actual street address or rural route box number in Montana. A P.O. box alone is not enough.

    Every recommended service provides the registered agent.

    Reference: See mca.legmt.gov; page last consulted October 2026

  3. Section 3

    Next comes the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company)

    To register, deliver the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company) to the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services with the $70 fee.

    Reference: See mca.legmt.gov; page last consulted October 2026

  4. Section 4

    What follows registration

    What follows registration is the annual report, with timing of April 15.

The cost of this chapter

EntryPayeePrice
Section on registration Filing office$70
Optional service The provider$199 in the first year
Three-year state total Filing office$70

Rows for the state rely on Montana's published fee schedules (listed in the bibliography below), and each service row uses that company's own price. For three years the state row adds the filing, the report in year two, the report in year three and any minimum tax.

Why Mainstay Filing is first

finished ahead of on chapters the price completes, which counts for 30%.

The LLC is active in two states, and reach settled the order.

Montana questions

What is the cost to register a foreign LLC with Montana?

$70 as the official fee. The services here charge $199 more.

Which form do I file to register?

Look for the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company); it is sent to the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

Montana's courts will not hear its own claims until it registers (MCA 35-8-1002(1)) a daily charge of $5.

What is due after registering?

The annual report keeps the registration in force.

Which services are in this lesson?

3 services are ranked: Mainstay Filing at $199, Registered Agent MT.org at $199 and Montana Registered Agent.co at $199.

Which service should handle the registration?

Mainstay Filing, because a charge of $199 plus Montana's fee covers the filing and the first year of the registered agent. After it come Registered Agent MT.org and Montana Registered Agent.co.

Related chapters

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. Montana Secretary of State fee page and fee rests on sosmt.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  2. Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source rests on sosmt.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  3. Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source rests on sosmt.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  4. Montana report due date rests on mca.legmt.gov, a text consulted August 2026.
  5. Mont rests on mca.legmt.gov, a text consulted August 2026.
  6. Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source rests on sosmt.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  7. Montana registered agent statute rests on mca.legmt.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  8. Montana Secretary of State, register a business rests on help.sosmt.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  9. MCA 35-8-1001, transacting business rests on mca.legmt.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  10. MCA 35-8-1002, consequences rests on mca.legmt.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  11. MCA 35-8-1003, application contents rests on mca.legmt.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  12. Mainstay Filing, Montana service page: consulted November 13, 2026
  13. Registered Agent MT.org, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026
  14. Montana Registered Agent.co, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026