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Business Basics LabLLC paperwork, measured state by state.

Experiment 3 · Montana

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

Ranked by measured reading, the services for registering an LLC formed elsewhere in Montana in 2026 are Mainstay Filing ($199), Montana Registered Agent.co ($199) and Registered Agent MT.org ($199). 4 procedures cover the filing, the $70 fee and the obligations that follow.

Recorded by the Business Basics Lab staff ·

Sheet summary

State fee to register
$70Specimen: mca.legmt.gov, logged October 2026
Recurring report
NoneAnnual report
Three-year state cost
$70No service fees counted
Procedures
4From first to last

Sheet aims

  • Whether Montana registration applies to the LLC
  • The form and the fee
  • Remaining in good standing
  • The services we recommend

Best reading

Montana: the ranked services

Measured on the method page: three-year cost (36%), procedures performed (28%), renewal, fit with Montana's protocol and price legibility.
Strongest result

1. Mainstay Filing: best for a second state and beyond

$199 plus fees; $149 a year after

Top of the Montana readings is Mainstay Filing: $199 over the state fee in any state, and year-one agent service reads as free.

Three years run $100 higher than at Montana Registered Agent.co, in exchange for more of the work being done.

Agent service after the first year is $149 a year.

What the price performs

  • Filing with the state
  • No fee for the registered agent in year one
  • Any state, one price

Measured strengths

  • Year-one agent included
  • $199 above Montana's fee
  • The same fee in every state

Measured limits

  • $50 extra a year for the agent
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Local candidate

2. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for a low yearly agent cost

$199 plus fees; $99 a year after

Reading 2 belongs to Montana Registered Agent.co, because the Montana registration reads $199 with a year of agent service, renewing at $99.

What the price performs

  • Registration filing
  • Agent service for one year

Measured strengths

  • A low $99 renewal
  • $199 plus the state fee
  • A year of agent service is included

Measured limits

  • Montana only; the home state needs its own agent
Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Local candidate

3. Registered Agent MT.org: best for registering in Montana alone

$199 plus fees; $99 a year after

Reading 3 belongs to Registered Agent MT.org, because the Montana registration reads $199 with a year of agent service, renewing at $99.

On price it matches Montana Registered Agent.co.

What the price performs

  • Registration filing
  • Agent service for one year

Measured strengths

  • A low $99 renewal
  • A year of agent service is included
  • $199 plus the state fee

Measured limits

  • Montana only; the home state needs its own agent
Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The Montana results compared

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Montana Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Registered Agent MT.org$199$99/yr$397Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company prices as posted on November 13, 2026. Every row needs the $70 state fee added.

The procedures

  1. Procedure 1: When registration is required

    An LLC formed elsewhere registers with Montana before it does business there. The cost of not registering: An unregistered LLC's own claims will not proceed there (MCA 35-8-1002(1)). Every day of delay can add $5.

    Specimen: Specimen: mca.legmt.gov, logged October 2026

  2. Procedure 2: Select the 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.

    TipAny of the ranked services fills the role.

    Specimen: Specimen: mca.legmt.gov, logged October 2026

  3. Procedure 3: Prepare the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company)

    Delivering that filing completes the registration, and the state bills $70 for it.

    Specimen: Specimen: mca.legmt.gov, logged October 2026

  4. Procedure 4: Stay registered

    Expect the annual report (April 15).

What will be paid

WhatGoes toAmount
The registration procedureTo the state$70
Optional serviceThe engaged service$199 up front
Three years of state feesTo the state$70
Figures paid to Montana are its published fees, with the specimens listed beneath the table; each service row is that company's own price. The three-year state row sums the filing, the year-two report, the year-three report and any minimum tax.

Why this order

moved ahead of on procedures the price performs, which counts for 28%.

With the LLC active in two states, coverage decided the order.

Common questions

How large is Montana's fee for a foreign LLC?

$70 for the filing. The ranked services add $199.

Which form do I file to register?

A single form handles registration, and the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services receives it.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

An unregistered LLC's own claims will not proceed there (MCA 35-8-1002(1)). Every day of delay can add $5.

What is due after registering?

Once registered, the LLC owes the annual report.

Which services are in this lesson?

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

Which service should handle the registration?

The order of the readings is Mainstay Filing, Montana Registered Agent.co and Registered Agent MT.org. Mainstay Filing is first because a $199 service fee plus Montana's own fee, then $149 a year for the agent.

See also

Specimens and records

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