State hub · Montana
Montana LLC true cost (2026)
Montana state side: $35 formation filing, $0 for Annual Report in the 3-year model, ~$35 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #1 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
Montana state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is Montana Secretary of State. Filings go through biz.sosmt.gov.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $35 | Articles of Organization $35 (Montana SOS business fees page). |
| Annual Report | $0 typical | Official fee schedule shows Annual Report prior to April 15 as WAIVED for LLCs; after April 15 $35. SOS has publicly waived on-time annual report fees for 2026 (and recent prior years). Statutory published rate historically $20 on-time. |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $35 | Formation $35 + 3× on-time annual report $0 (current waiver) = $35. If waiver ends and $20 on-time fee returns, add $60. |
When Montana actually bills you
Montana's recurring filing is due Annually by April 15 — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What Montana charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $35 | $35 |
| Year 1 cycle | Annual Report (no charge in this model) | $0 | $35 |
| Year 2 cycle | Annual Report (no charge in this model) | $0 | $35 |
| Year 3 cycle | Annual Report (no charge in this model) | $0 | $35 |
Provider + Montana state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the Montana state subtotal of $35.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $324 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $532 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $333 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $782 |
Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices above are researched from public pages, not supplied by the provider. How this site makes money.
How Montana ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, Montana sits at #1 — the 1st cheapest three-year state charter — at $35 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is Montana is tied for the cheapest charter in the country, $245 below the $280 median, and $2,475 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, Montana lands in the cheaper half of the table.
Ranking caveat for Montana: On-time annual report waiver is current on sosmt.gov/business/fees/ as of 2026-09-06; if the SOS ends the waiver, on-time fee historically was $20 and late remains $35 — re-check before assuming $0 recurring.
- Just pricier: Arizona ($50), Mississippi ($50).
- Full table: all 51 states ranked by 3-year state fees — including where the ranking flips once you add a professional registered agent.
Registered agent (Montana)
- Registered agent in Montana required; statement of change listed as no fee.
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of Montana state fees is $35, while the cheapest provider path in our national 3-year comparison runs $289 (Formation $39 (RA Y1 included)) and the most expensive runs $747 (Basic $0 + RA $249/yr) — a $458 spread for the same statutory job. On the cheapest path the service, not Montana, is about 89% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- On-time waiver is policy/announcement-based — confirm each year on sosmt.gov.
- Late filing after April 15 is $35.
- Third-party annual report solicitations are common; file only via biz.sosmt.gov.
Who Montana is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- Cost-focused domestic LLCs filing on time under the current waiver.
Often a poor fit when…
- Anyone assuming the waiver is permanent statutory law.
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about Montana LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Montana?
$35 to Montana Secretary of State for the formation filing. Articles of Organization $35 (Montana SOS business fees page). That is the state charge only. A formation service is a separate bill on top: Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) works out to $39 in year one, versus $249 on the most expensive path we track.
What are the ongoing Montana LLC fees after year one?
$0 in recurring Annual Report charges under the modelled scenario (Annually by April 15). Official fee schedule shows Annual Report prior to April 15 as WAIVED for LLCs; after April 15 $35. SOS has publicly waived on-time annual report fees for 2026 (and recent prior years). Statutory published rate historically $20 on-time. Recurring state charges are what make a low formation fee misleading — they are the reason this site models three years instead of one.
What does a Montana LLC really cost over three years?
$35 in Montana state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $324 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $782 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with Montana.
Do I need a registered agent in Montana?
Yes. Registered agent in Montana required; statement of change listed as no fee. Confirm Montana's DIY-versus-commercial agent rules with Montana Secretary of State before you file — a home address here becomes public record. On the money side, the four providers tracked here charge $0–$249 in year one for formation plus the agent, then $125–$249 a year in agent renewal after that — separate from every Montana figure above.
Is Montana a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, Montana ranks #1 of 51 at $35 over three years, against a $35 floor and a $2,510 ceiling. But cheapest charter is not the same as cheapest outcome: if you operate somewhere else you will likely foreign-qualify there and pay that state's fees and taxes too. See the full 3-year state fee ranking for the comparison.
How the Montana three-year number is built
Formation $35 + 3× on-time annual report $0 (current waiver) = $35. If waiver ends and $20 on-time fee returns, add $60. Figures are re-derived from the cited Montana sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the Montana state subtotal:
- Professional registered agent fees (same shopping problem in every state)
- County newspaper publication (NY, AZ, and similar — variable)
- Card / portal convenience fees unless fixed on the SOS schedule
- Expedites, name reservations, certified copies, foreign qualification
- Income / sales / payroll taxes and variable gross-receipts tiers above a stated floor
Unverified / confirm before filing
- item: unverified — check source —
- Re-check live Montana Secretary of State fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where Montana's $35 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the Montana math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.