Updated 2026-04-30 · Verified against Montana Secretary of State
Montana business law (Mont. Code §35-8-105) requires every domestic and foreign entity to appoint a registered agent at the time of formation and to keep that designation current. The agent must have a physical street address in Montana — P.O. boxes and commercial mailbox addresses without a registered street component are not acceptable — and must be available during normal business hours to accept service of process. The agent’s name and street address are filed with the Montana Secretary of State and become part of the public business record.
Beyond appointing an agent, Montana LLCs file Articles of Organization with the Montana Secretary of State at a cost of $35, with ongoing maintenance handled through an annual report of $20 due annually by April 15. Montana has no state sales tax, which combined with low filing fees makes it a frequent choice for vehicle and asset holding LLCs.
| # | Service | Price/yr | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest Registered Agent | $125 | privacy-focused customers |
| 2 | ZenBusiness | $199 | new businesses bundling formation |
| 3 | LegalZoom | $249 | customers wanting brand-name support |
| 4 | Mainstay Filing | $99 | balanced value |
Montana-specific option: Montana Registered Agent.co operates exclusively in Montana and specializes in same-state filings. Best for businesses that want a state-focused provider with local-only operations.
| Physical address required | Yes — must be a street address in Montana |
|---|---|
| P.O. box allowed | No |
| Business hours availability | Required during normal business hours |
| Resident requirement | Must be a Montana resident OR a business entity authorized to do business in Montana |
| Listed in public record | Yes — name and address are publicly searchable via Montana Secretary of State |
| Statute reference | Mont. Code §35-8-105 |
| Filing Type | Fee | Renewal | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC formation (Articles of Organization) | $35 | annually by April 15 | $20 |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | $20 | Every 5 years | $20 |
| Registered Agent change | $15 | — | — |
| Annual Report | $20 | annually by April 15 | $20 |
Yes — if you are a Montana resident with a physical street address and are available during business hours.
Yes. Montana law requires every LLC to maintain a Montana-based registered agent regardless of where the owner lives.
The Montana Secretary of State can administratively dissolve your business after approximately 60 days of non-compliance.
Yes — file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Montana Secretary of State for $15.
$50–$150 per year for commercial services; free if you self-serve.
Yes. The agent's name and address are searchable via the Montana Secretary of State business records.
Same-day with most commercial services; same-business-day filing if submitted online before the daily cutoff.
This page provides general information about Montana registered agent requirements, not legal advice. Filing fees and procedures may change; verify current details with the Montana Secretary of State before filing. We may receive compensation from services listed in our comparisons; this does not influence our editorial selections.