Montana LLC Formation

Start an LLC in Montana - $35 State Fee, No Sales Tax

Montana is one of the most unique LLC states in the country, combining a rock-bottom $35 filing fee, no state sales tax, and a $15/year annual report with a well-known vehicle and RV registration advantage that attracts non-residents from across the US. Whether you're a Montana resident building a local business or a non-resident exploring Montana's unique benefits, Brendat handles your Articles of Organization, EIN, registered agent, and all compliance.

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Step-by-step guide

How to Form an LLC in Montana

Six clear steps: $35 to form, $15/year annual report, no sales tax, no publication requirement. Open to residents and non-residents alike.

Choose a Name for Your Montana LLC

Your Montana LLC name must be unique among all businesses registered with the Montana Secretary of State and must include a required designator.

Montana Naming Rules:

Must include: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
Cannot use: Words implying a government agency (e.g., "FBI," "State Department")
Restricted words: "Bank," "Insurance," "University" require additional approval
Must be distinguishable: From all existing Montana business names in the SOS database

Name Reservation Available

You can reserve your Montana LLC name for 120 days with the Montana SOS for $10. Brendat checks name availability before filing your Articles of Organization.

Appoint a Montana Registered Agent

Every Montana LLC must designate a registered agent — an individual or company with a physical Montana street address — to receive legal documents and official state notices during regular business hours.

Who can be your registered agent?

Yourself: Must have a physical Montana address — not available if you live outside Montana
A trusted individual: Any Montana resident with a physical address
A professional service: Like Brendat — essential for non-residents forming a Montana LLC

Brendat provides registered agent service in Montana

Critical for non-residents — our Montana address satisfies the physical address requirement. Included in Standard and Premium packages.

File Articles of Organization: Just $35

The Articles of Organization officially creates your Montana LLC. You file it with the Montana Secretary of State online or by mail. At just $35, Montana has one of the lowest LLC filing fees in the entire United States.

Method	Fee	Processing Time
Online via MT SOS portal	$35	3–5 business days
By Mail	$35	4–6 weeks
Expedited	$35 + $20	Next business day

$35 filing fee — among the lowest in the US

Montana's $35 Articles of Organization fee is one of the most affordable LLC formation costs in the country, making it accessible for residents and non-residents alike.

Montana does not require LLCs to publish a formation notice in any newspaper. Once approved, your LLC is fully formed.

Create an Operating Agreement

Montana does not legally require an operating agreement, but every Montana LLC should have one. It establishes ownership, profit sharing, and management rules, and is particularly important for non-resident LLC owners managing their business remotely.

Ownership structure: Each member's percentage and capital contribution
Profit distribution: How and when profits are divided
Management: Who makes decisions and how voting works
Member changes: Process for adding or removing members
Dissolution: Steps to close the LLC if needed

Included in Brendat Standard and Premium

Brendat provides a professionally drafted Montana operating agreement with your formation documents.

Get Your EIN (Employer Identification Number)

An EIN is your LLC's federal tax ID — required to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. You apply through the IRS for free.

US residents: Apply free online at IRS.gov — instant approval
Non-US residents: Apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4 — 4–6 weeks
Brendat handles this: Included in Standard and Premium packages

File Your Montana Annual Report: Only $15/Year

Montana LLCs must file an annual report every year with the Montana Secretary of State. At just $15 per year, Montana's annual LLC maintenance cost is one of the lowest in the country.

Annual report fee: $15/year
Due date: April 15 every year
Filing: Online via Montana Secretary of State portal
Late penalty: $15 late fee + risk of administrative dissolution

April 15 Deadline, Don't Miss It

Montana's $15 annual report is due April 15 every year, same as federal tax day. A $15 late fee applies, and continued non-filing risks dissolution. Brendat sends April reminders so you never miss it.

Transparent pricing

How Much Does a Montana LLC Cost?

$35 to form, $15/year to maintain, one of the lowest total cost structures in the US.

State Filing Fee

$35

One-time Articles of Organization fee. One of the lowest LLC filing fees in the entire United States

Annual Report Fee

$15/yr

Due April 15 every year. $15 late fee if missed. Filed online via Montana SOS portal

State Income Tax

Montana has no state sales tax, one of only five states in the US with this advantage

State Income Tax

5.9%

Flat 5.9% personal income tax rate. LLC pass-through income taxed at this rate for Montana residents

Registered Agent

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages. Physical Montana address required for all LLCs

Publication Requirement

No newspaper publication requirement in Montana

Total with Brendat Standard Plan

$149 + $35 state fee

$149 Brendat + $35 Montana state fee · Only $15/year annual report from year 2 · No sales tax

Choose your plan

Montana LLC Formation Packages

All packages include accurate, state-specific filing. Open to US residents and non-residents.

Basic

Brendat service fee

+ $35 Montana state fee

Get Started Free

Articles of Organization filed
Name availability check
Email support
Digital copy of filed documents

Standard

$149

Brendat service fee

+ $35 Montana state fee

Start for $149 →

Everything in Basic
EIN / Federal Tax ID
Operating Agreement
Registered Agent (1 year)
April 15 annual report reminders
Priority processing

Premium

$299

Brendat service fee

+ $35 Montana state fee

Get Premium

Everything in Standard
Business bank account setup
Compliance calendar & reminders
Annual report filing (year 1)
Dedicated account manager
Phone & priority support

State Comparison

Is Montana the Right State for Your LLC?

Montana is best for businesses operating in Montana or those taking advantage of Montana's unique cost structure.

Feature	Montana	Kansas	Idaho	Colorado
State Filing Fee	$35	$100	$100	$300
Annual Report Fee	$15/yr	$60/yr	$0	$10/yr
State Sales Tax	4.8% flat	5.58% flat	6%	2.9%
State Income Tax	5.9% flat	None	5.8% flat	4.4% flat
Publication Required	None	None	None	None
Best For	MT businesses + low cost	Privacy + no tax	ID businesses	CO businesses

Montana vs Wyoming — two no-sales-tax Western states

Both Montana and Wyoming have no sales tax. Wyoming adds no personal income tax — making it better for high-income LLC owners. Montana's $35 filing fee beats Wyoming's $100. The right choice depends on where your business actually operates.

Why choose us

Why 10,000+ Entrepreneurs Choose Brendat

Fast Filing

We submit your Montana Articles of Organization within 1 business day. Standard processing takes 3–5 business days. 24-hour expedited available for $20 extra.

Non-Residents Welcome

No US residency or Montana residency required to form a Montana LLC. Brendat provides the Montana registered agent address every non-resident needs, included in Standard and Premium.

$35 Lowest Filing Fee in the West

Montana's $35 LLC filing fee is one of the lowest in the entire US. Combined with a $15/year annual report, the total cost of maintaining a Montana LLC is minimal year after year.

100% Accuracy Guarantee

Every filing is reviewed before submission. If the Montana SOS rejects your documents due to our error, we fix it at no charge.

April 15 Reminders

Montana's $15 annual report is due April 15, same as tax day. We send reminders in early April so you never miss the filing deadline or the $15 late fee.

Real Support

Reach our team at (303) 246-8693 or by email. Plain English answers — no jargon, no runaround.

Our reviews

What Our Montana LLC Customers Say

Ryan T.

Consulting LLC, Billings MT

"Brendat formed my Billings outdoor consulting LLC in 4 days — $35 filing fee, $15/year after. One of the easiest and most affordable business setups I've ever done!"

Angela R.

Non-Resident Montana LLC

"As a non-resident forming a Montana LLC, Brendat's registered agent service was exactly what I needed. Professional, fast, and the April 15 reminders are a great touch."

Mark H.

E-Commerce LLC, Missoula MT

"Brendat set up my Missoula e-commerce LLC quickly and correctly. Only $35 to form and $15 a year to maintain — Montana's cost structure is unbeatable for small business owners."

Common questions

Montana LLC — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about forming and running an LLC in Montana.

Still have questions?

(303) 246-8693

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Montana?

The Montana state filing fee is just $35, one of the lowest in the entire US. Brendat's service starts at $0 (Basic) or $149 (Standard). Total first-year cost with Standard is $184. Montana's annual report is $15/year due April 15. A $15 late fee applies if missed.

Does Montana have a sales tax?

No. Montana is one of only five US states with no state sales tax. This applies to all purchases made within Montana, including through a Montana LLC. Montana also has no local sales taxes.

Can a non-resident form a Montana LLC?

Yes. There is no Montana residency or US residency requirement to form a Montana LLC. Non-residents need a registered agent with a physical Montana address, Brendat provides this service. Non-US residents apply for an EIN by fax using IRS Form SS-4. Brendat assists with the complete process.

What is Montana's income tax rate for LLCs?

Montana has a flat 5.9% personal income tax rate. For Montana residents with single-member or multi-member LLCs taxed as pass-throughs, income is taxed at this flat rate on personal returns. Note: non-residents who form Montana LLCs but live and operate in another state typically owe income tax in their home state, not Montana.

When is Montana's LLC annual report due?

Montana LLCs must file an annual report by April 15 every year. The fee is $15/year, filed online via the Montana Secretary of State portal. A $15 late fee applies if missed. Brendat sends reminders in early April so you never miss the deadline.

Ready to Start Your Montana LLC?

$35 to form, $15/year to maintain, no sales tax, no publication requirement. Open to residents and non-residents. Brendat handles Articles of Organization, EIN, registered agent, and April 15 reminders.

Form My Montana LLC

$149 + $35 MT fee · $15/yr annual report · No sales tax