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Foreign LLC guide · Montana

Montana Foreign LLC Fees (2026) and the 3 Best Registration Services

Montana for a foreign LLC registration, 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199), Montana Registered Agent.co ($199) and Registered Agent MT.org ($199), in that order. Registration fee: $70. Recurring report: none. Spot on the 50-state map: 1st.
Charted by the State Biz Facts team

Montana fee chart

1st

among 50 states, counting foreign LLC fees

Small numbers mark small bills. Chart of all fifty states

  • Charge to register

    $70

    October 2026 reading of mca.legmt.gov

  • Recurring report

    None

    Annual report

  • State total, years 1 to 3

    $70

    Register once, then two report years

Providers for Montana, ranked

Five weighted criteria set the order; three-year provider charges and filings covered carry the most (see the method).

Rank 1

1. Mainstay Filing: best for a later third or fourth state

Service $199, year-two price $149

Spot one goes to Mainstay Filing: registering costs $199 plus state fees, and the registered agent is free during year one.

Three years of provider charges come to $100 more than Montana Registered Agent.co, and more of the state's paperwork is handled in exchange.

After the free first year the agent is $149 per year in any state.

Price covers

  • Registration papers drawn up and filed for you
  • First-year registered agent service carries no fee
  • One service charge for all fifty states

Upside

  • $199 to register
  • The same price in any state
  • No agent charge in year one

Downside

  • Montana Registered Agent.co's agent renews for $50 less
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

One state only

2. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for a small yearly agent charge

Service $199, year-two price $99

Placed second, Montana Registered Agent.co offers the Montana registration for $199 with agent duty for year one, then $99 yearly.

Price covers

  • The paperwork that registers the LLC, filed for you
  • A year of agent service

Upside

  • A free first agent year
  • $99 per year after that
  • $199 over the state fee

Downside

  • One-state service
Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

One state only

3. Registered Agent MT.org: best for a local filer

Service $199, year-two price $99

Placed third, Registered Agent MT.org offers the Montana registration for $199 with agent duty for year one, then $99 yearly.

Price for price it equals Montana Registered Agent.co.

Price covers

  • The paperwork that registers the LLC, filed for you
  • A year of agent service

Upside

  • A free first agent year
  • $99 per year after that
  • $199 over the state fee

Downside

  • One-state service
Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3 providers, side by side

OrderProviderYear 1Year 2 and onProvider charges, 3 years
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Montana Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Registered Agent MT.org$199$99/yr$397Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Prices were taken from each company's own pages on November 12, 2026. Montana charges $70 to register, separately from each provider.

Registration budget calculator

The registration fee is $70; each provider's prices go on top.
With Mainstay Filing, 3 years add up to $567 ($70 state, $497 provider).

Montana and the states beside it on the chart

SpotStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
1stMontana$70
2ndHawaii$76
3rdUtah$95
4thOhio$99
5thIdaho$100
The entire chart is at Foreign LLC fees by state, smallest bills first.

The Montana filing for LLCs formed elsewhere

An outside LLC registers by sending the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company) to the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services, with $70.

After that comes the annual report, April 15.

What to bring

  • Name and formation date as the home state lists them.
  • A named registered agent at a local street address.
  • Payment of the $70 registration fee.

What skipping registration costs in Montana

State courts will not hear a suit from an LLC that has not registered (MCA 35-8-1002(1)). Daily charge: $5 can be added.

What put the first pick first

For Montana, the criterion that decided it was requirements handled, at 24%.

Reach across states counted for more than Montana Registered Agent.co's smaller renewal.

Montana foreign registration service questions

What does Montana charge a foreign LLC to register?

$70 at the state office. Hiring one adds $199.

Which form does a foreign LLC file with Montana?

The form is the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company), and it goes to the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services.

Does a foreign LLC have a yearly obligation?

A yearly filing applies, namely the annual report.

What happens if the LLC does business there without registering?

State courts will not hear a suit from an LLC that has not registered (MCA 35-8-1002(1)). Daily charge: $5 can be added.

Must a foreign LLC name a registered agent for Montana?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Which provider should register my foreign LLC?

Mainstay Filing, because $199 beyond the state fee, the registered agent free for year one, then $149 per year. Next on the chart: Montana Registered Agent.co and Registered Agent MT.org.

Other maps

Where each number comes from

  1. Behind Montana Secretary of State fee page and fee: sosmt.gov, seen October 2026.
  2. Behind Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source: sosmt.gov, seen October 2026.
  3. Behind Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source: sosmt.gov, seen October 2026.
  4. Behind Montana report due date: mca.legmt.gov, seen August 2026.
  5. Behind Mont: mca.legmt.gov, seen August 2026.
  6. Behind Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sosmt.gov, seen October 2026.
  7. Behind Montana registered agent statute: mca.legmt.gov, seen October 2026.
  8. Behind Montana Secretary of State, register a business: help.sosmt.gov, seen October 2026.
  9. Behind MCA 35-8-1001, transacting business: mca.legmt.gov, seen October 2026.
  10. Behind MCA 35-8-1002, consequences: mca.legmt.gov, seen October 2026.
  11. Behind MCA 35-8-1003, application contents: mca.legmt.gov, seen October 2026.
  12. Behind Hawaii DCCA, foreign LLC registration: cca.hawaii.gov, seen October 2026.
  13. Behind Form FLLC-1: files.hawaii.gov, seen October 2026.
  14. Behind Foreign LLC filing fees: cca.hawaii.gov, seen October 2026.
  15. Behind Hawaii Revised Statutes 428-1003, activities that are not: capitol.hawaii.gov, seen October 2026.
  16. Behind New Hawaii business registration portal FAQs: cca.hawaii.gov, seen October 2026.
  17. Behind Utah Division of Corporations, foreign LLC registration: commerce.utah.gov, seen October 2026.
  18. Behind Division fee schedule: commerce.utah.gov, seen October 2026.
  19. Behind Utah Code Title 16, Chapter 1a, Part 5: le.utah.gov, seen October 2026.
  20. Behind Utah Code Title 16, Chapter 1a, Part 4: le.utah.gov, seen October 2026.
  21. Behind Utah Business Registration System: businessregistration.utah.gov, seen October 2026.
  22. Behind Ohio Secretary of State, filing forms and fee: ohiosos.gov, seen October 2026.
  23. Behind Form 617, Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability: ohiosos.gov, seen October 2026.
  24. Behind R.C. 1706.511, registration of foreign LLCs: codes.ohio.gov, seen October 2026.
  25. Behind R.C. 1706.515, effect of failing to register: codes.ohio.gov, seen October 2026.
  26. Behind R.C. 1706.09, statutory agent: codes.ohio.gov, seen October 2026.
  27. Behind Idaho Secretary of State, Foreign Registration Statement: archive.sos.idaho.gov, seen October 2026.
  28. Behind Idaho Secretary of State, business FAQ: sos.idaho.gov, seen October 2026.
  29. Behind Idaho Code 30-21-505, activities that are not doing: legislature.idaho.gov, seen October 2026.
  30. Behind Idaho Code 30-21-214, fees: legislature.idaho.gov, seen October 2026.
  31. Behind Idaho Code 30-21-213, annual report: legislature.idaho.gov, seen October 2026.
  32. Behind Withdrawal of Foreign Registration Statement: archive.sos.idaho.gov, seen October 2026.
  33. Mainstay Filing: Montana service page as the company showed it on November 12, 2026
  34. Montana Registered Agent.co: pricing page as the company showed it on November 12, 2026
  35. Registered Agent MT.org: pricing page as the company showed it on November 12, 2026