How Does Montana LLC Formation Service Work?
Once you order our Montana LLC formation service, we’ll begin forming your Montana LLC with the Secretary of State. We’ll list our registered agent address on the Articles of Organization instead of yours. The state will process your documents within 7-10 business days. Need expedited service? Not a problem. Add 24-hour processing for an additional $20 when you sign up.
After the state registers your Montana LLC, we’ll upload a copy of your Articles of Organization into your secure client account.
How To Form A Montana LLC
We understand. Some people would rather do things on their own. If that’s you, here’s a quick step-by-step guide for how to form a Montana LLC yourself.
- Choose a business name. The name of your Montana LLC must be distinguishable from other companies already registered with the Secretary of State. You can search the Montana Business Database to see if your desired name is available.
- Get a Montana registered agent. Montana LLCs must have a registered agent—an individual or other company that accepts legal and state documents on behalf of your Montana LLC. Even if you want to form an LLC yourself, you can still hire us to be your Montana registered agent for just $49 per year.
- File Articles of Organization. You must submit this form online through the Montana Secretary of State website. After you create a Montana ePass account, you’ll need to include the following information:
- Name of your LLC
- Duration—whether or not you want your LLC to exist indefinitely
- Principal/mailing address
- Registered agent information
- Name and address of at least one member or manager. Members are owners of your LLC. The members can handle the day-to-day operations of the business themselves or turn those powers over to managers.
- Management structure. Is your LLC member-managed or manager-managed?
Signature and title of the person filing. This individual doesn’t need to be a member or manager.
Once you’ve completed the Articles of Organization, you’ll need to pay the $35 filing fee and submit your form. The state will process your document within 7-10 business days. If you need expedited service, you can choose 24-hour processing ($20) or 1-hour processing ($100).
It’s easy enough to start a limited liability company on your own. The problem? Filing for yourself can put your personal information at risk because your formation documents and annual reports are public documents.
What’s the best solution? Signing up for business formation with experienced local registered agents who prioritize your privacy and support you for the lifetime of your business.
Why You Should Hire Us To Form Your Montana LLC
There are a lot of companies out there promising easy and affordable Montana LLC formation. Still, few will offer these kinds of perks:
- Privacy protection. Our Montana address will go on your public filings instead of your personal address. There’s no need to risk your personal information.
- Quick turnaround. Once you order our business formation service, we’ll have your Articles of Organization submitted to the Secretary of State within 24 hours.
- Transparent pricing. We’ll never pad our bottom line with hidden fees or an unexpected rate increase. You’ll pay just $184 for LLC formation, a year of Montana registered agent service, and a Montana business address.
- Expert local customer service. We’re Montana residents—just like you. And, our staff has over a decade of business filing experience. Our direct relationship with the Montana Secretary of State allows us to provide fast and efficient service.
Montana LLC Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an attorney to start a Montana LLC?
Not at all. Although some people may choose to hire an attorney to help them form a Montana LLC, attorney fees can be costly. Hiring our experienced Montana registered agents to start your LLC is not only more cost-effective—we’ll also help navigate every form and state document along the way. In fact, when you hire us, you get instant access to a whole database of LLC documents drafted by our in-house attorneys through your online client account.
And of course, you can rest assured that our team of filing experts will make sure everything gets filed quickly and correctly.
Should my Montana LLC be member-managed OR manager-managed?
The answer to this question depends on you and your specific business needs. Member-managed LLCs are great for those wanting to play an active role in the business’s day-to-day operations. However, suppose you or some of your investors wish to delegate significant decision-making to a manager. In that case, a manager-managed LLC might be a better option.
Can my Montana LLC members be another business entity?
Yes. Members of a Montana LLC can be individuals OR another business entity.
Is my Montana LLC required to have an operating agreement?
Legally, you are not required to have a Montana LLC operating agreement. However, it’s considered good practice to have one. A solid operating agreement can help your Montana LLC handle small events like opening a bank account or manage more significant obstacles such as a merger.
Out LLC formation service includes an operating agreement (written by our in-house attorneys) you can edit and customize to fit your own needs.
Is my Montana LLC required to file a Beneficial Ownership Information Report?
Yes. As of January 1st 2024, newly formed LLCs that do business in the US are required to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) within 30 days of formation.* Companies formed prior to 2024 have until December 31, 2024 to file a BOI.
This report provides increased oversight on beneficial owners and company applicants. The information you submit is not public, and there is no filing fee.
- Beneficial owners are individuals who own 25% or more of the company, exercise substantial control over the business (e.g., senior officers) or receive substantial economic benefits from the business assets.
- Company applicants are those who file the company’s formation paperwork, or decided to file the formation.
It’s a lot, we know. The BOI report is a new mandatory federal reporting requirement that may evolve with time. You can learn more by visiting our FAQ page on the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report.
When you form your company with $49 MT, you can add BOI report filing at checkout for an additional $25 and rest assured that our MT filing experts can handle the rest. We’re not just local filing experts. For years now we’ve offered a range of federal filing services, including EINs and S-Corps. We’re proud to add the BOI report as an option, and we’d be glad to file for you quickly, correctly, and securely.
* FinCEN has extended the BOI report deadline for companies created or registered in 2024 to 90 days after formation. This is a temporary extension to to allow reporting companies time to become familiar with and adhere to the new federal report requirement. Companies formed in 2025 and thereafter will return to the typical 30-day window to file a BOI report after forming a company.
What are the filing requirements for the BOI?
Unless you have been exempt from filing, the BOI requires basic information about your company:
- Legal business name and any trade names or DBAs
- US business street address
- Formation jurisdiction
- Tax ID number
The BOI report also requires basic information about beneficial owners and company applicants:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Residential address
- Copy of non-expired ID (e.g., license or passport)
Can I buy a car in Montana with an LLC?
Yes. Once the Secretary of State approves your business, you can list your business as the owner on the titling paperwork. Want more information on how to get started? Read our Vehicle Registration Service page.
A Montana LLC is considered a resident when it comes to registering vehicles in the state—and an LLC provides and extra layer of asset protection as well.
Do I need to file a Montana annual report?
Yes. Your annual report must be submitted between January 1 and April 15 each year, along with the $20 filing fee. Otherwise, the Secretary of State will charge you a $15 late fee. In addition, the state may administratively dissolve your business if you don’t file by November 30.
Do I need an Employer Identification Number (EIN)?
If you’re forming a Montana LLC solely to purchase a vehicle, you shouldn’t need to worry about obtaining an EIN.
However, if you plan on doing much more with your LLC—such as hiring employees or opening a business bank account—you’ll want to request an EIN from the IRS.
Does Montana require a business license?
The state of Montana doesn’t have a general business license requirement. However, some businesses will be required to obtain a license. For example, if you wish to become an independent contractor, you’ll need to get a Montana Independent Contractor License. The application will cost $125.
Other professions that require a Montana business license include athletic trainers, chiropractors, barbers, dentists, electricians, nutritionists, and massage therapists. To see if you’ll need to apply, you can check our occupational license page for more information.
Corporate Kit with free shipping
Are you looking for a professional solution to keeping all of your business documents organized? For just $100 (including shipping), you can order one of our corporate kits from inside your client account. Each kit consists of a black binder (embossed with your name on the spine) and index dividers. In addition, all LLC kits come with 20 membership interest certificates, a customizable operating agreement, membership transfer ledgers, LLC paperwork sheets, and IRS forms.