Montana LLC Cost: Filing Fee, Annual Fees and 5-Year Total
Forming an LLC in Montana costs $35 in state filing fees and then $20 a year to keep it active. Montana's estimated five-year state costs of $115 are 66% below the 51-jurisdiction median of $335.
Checked against official state sources (October 2026) · Last verified: October 29, 2026 · Sources
What an LLC costs in Montana
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Formation filing fee | $35 | One time |
| Recurring state filing / report fee | $20/yr | Annual report, $20 (waived for filings Jan 1 to Apr 15 in 2026 and 2027) |
| Year-one cost | $35 | Formation fee + any year-one extra |
| Estimated 5-year state costs | $115 | Formation + year-one extras + 4 years of filing / report fees; ranks 11th cheapest of 51 |
The five-year figure counts state government fees and, where one applies, the separate mandatory annual state tax shown above. It assumes a single-member LLC owned by an individual with little or no income. It excludes registered agent services, formation-service fees, publication costs, local business licenses, income-based state taxes (income, gross-receipts, B&O, sales) and any optional extras. How we calculate it.
Verified details
- Articles of Organization: $35.
- Annual report: due April 15; the standard fee is $20 before April 15 and $35 after. The Secretary of State has waived the annual report fee for filings made January 1 to April 15 in 2026 and 2027, so the first report for an LLC formed now (due by April 15, 2027) costs $0. We still count $20 for each of the four later years, which gives the same five-year total as before.
Annual reports and upkeep
Montana filing cadence: Annual (due April 15). Annual report, $20 (waived for filings Jan 1 to Apr 15 in 2026 and 2027). Missing filings can lead to late fees and, eventually, administrative dissolution, so put the dates in a calendar. See annual reports and franchise taxes explained.
How to form an LLC in Montana
- Check the name. Search the Montana business records on the Secretary of State / filing office site to confirm your LLC name is available and includes an LLC designator.
- Pick a registered agent. Every state requires a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. You can serve as your own agent if you live in Montana and are reachable during business hours, or hire a commercial agent. Registered agent guide.
- File the formation document. The state filing fee is $35. Use the state's online filing portal where available; paper filing is slower.
- Write an operating agreement. Most states do not require you to file one, but banks and partners typically ask for it, and it sets ownership and decision rules. Operating agreement basics.
- Get an EIN. The IRS issues EINs for free through its online application. Beware of sites that charge for it.
- Open a business bank account and calendar the deadlines. Put the annual (due april 15) filing dates in a calendar so the LLC stays in good standing.
Want someone else to handle the filing in Montana?
A formation service files the paperwork for a fee on top of the state fee and often includes a first year of registered agent service. It saves time, but you can file directly with the state for the state fee alone. Compare DIY and services.
See a formation service (partner link) Sponsored
Living or operating outside Montana?
You can form an LLC in Montana even if you live elsewhere, but if you actually do business in your home state you will usually also have to register the LLC there as a foreign LLC and pay that state's fees, so you may pay twice. In Texas, for example, an out-of-state LLC transacting business pays $750 to register. See forming an LLC in a state other than your own.
Compare Montana with similar-cost states
| State | Formation | Annual | 5-yr total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $50 | $15 | $110 |
| Michigan | $50 | $15 | $110 |
| South Carolina | $110 | $0 | $110 |
| Hawaii | $51 | $12.50 | $101 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Montana?
The state filing fee is $35. Add a registered agent if you do not serve as your own, plus any local licenses.
What is the annual cost of an LLC in Montana?
Annual report, $20 (waived for filings Jan 1 to Apr 15 in 2026 and 2027). That works out to about $20 per year in state fees.
Do I need a registered agent in Montana?
Yes. Montana requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state. You may act as your own agent if you meet the state's requirements.
Do I need an operating agreement in Montana?
Most states do not make you file one, but you should have one. Check Montana's LLC statute and ask your bank what it requires. We do not give legal advice.
Is Montana cheap compared with other states?
Montana's estimated five-year state costs of $115 are 66% below the 51-jurisdiction median of $335.
Sources
- Montana official filing site: sosmt.gov
- MT SOS: business filing fees
- Mont. Admin. R. 44.5.115
- MT SOS: fee waiver announcement
Fees change. Confirm the amount on the state's official page before you file.
Fee data: official state government pages and statutes (checked October 28–29, 2026); sources are linked on each state page. See our methodology. Not legal or tax advice.