The numbers behind Montana
18th
among 50 states, counting one year of state fees
Montana top picks
The order follows five criteria described in the
method: three-year provider charges (36%), filings covered (24%), renewal price, match to Montana rules and fee labeling.
Our pick
1. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who might enter other states
Year one $149, year two $149
Spot one goes to Mainstay Filing: the price is $149 here and $149 anywhere else, with $149 at renewal.
Set against Registered Agent MT.org, the three-year provider bill is $150 larger, with more filings done for you.
Price covers
- The registered office address is supplied
- Court papers or notices served on the company are scanned the same business day, with no fee
- Mail from government offices is scanned free, up to three pieces each year
- Not just for LLCs: corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits can use it
Upside
- Same price in all fifty states
- $149 per year, level at renewal
Downside
- A yearly premium of $50 over Registered Agent MT.org
- Reports are yours to file under this plan
Regional pick
2. Registered Agent MT.org: best for a business with one state to cover
Year one $99, year two $99
Next on the chart is Registered Agent MT.org, since a local agent at $99 per year whose street address goes on the public record.
Price covers
- Registered office address, Montana street
- Scanned copies of legal notices appear online
Upside
- A smaller yearly bill than Mainstay Filing
- $99 per year, unchanged at renewal
Downside
- Montana and nothing else
- Annual report stays with you
Regional pick
3. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for a Montana local
Year one $99, year two $99
Next on the chart is Montana Registered Agent.co, since a local agent at $99 per year whose street address goes on the public record.
It ties with Registered Agent MT.org on price.
Price covers
- Registered office address, Montana street
- Scanned copies of legal notices appear online
Upside
- $99 per year, unchanged at renewal
- A smaller yearly bill than Mainstay Filing
Downside
- Montana and nothing else
- Annual report stays with you
Montana providers on one chart
Company price pages, seen November 12, 2026. Naming a different agent does not change what Montana charges.
Agent and state fees, year by year
Each agent's price is added to the state charges that repeat (the annual report from year two). The formation fee is not part of the total.
Montana and the states beside it on the chart
The registered agent requirement here
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be an actual street address or rural route box number in Montana. A P.O. box alone is not enough.
People and entities that can serve: A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual, including an owner, or an entity in Montana. (Mont. Code Ann. § 35-7-105)
Montana's repeating fees
The state writes to your registered agent about the annual report, which costs $20 every year and is due April 15.
How the Montana ranking was drawn
Requirements handled (24%) is the criterion on which Mainstay Filing outscored Registered Agent MT.org here.
Reach moved it ahead of Registered Agent MT.org.
Questions answered
Is a registered agent required for every Montana LLC?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Who qualifies as the registered agent for a Montana LLC?
A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual, including an owner, or an entity in Montana.
How much does Montana registered agent service run each year?
The agents ranked here charge $99 to $149 per year.
What does the state bill an LLC every year?
$20 per year by our yearly measure, which is the annual report ($20 every year).
Which registered agents does this chart rank?
Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), Registered Agent MT.org ($99 a year) and Montana Registered Agent.co ($99 a year), in the sequence of the chart.
Which registered agent should I use?
Start with Mainstay Filing (one agent price of $149 across all fifty states keeps a multi-state company to one bill); Registered Agent MT.org and Montana Registered Agent.co follow.
Where each number comes from
- Figure on Montana Secretary of State fee page and fee: sosmt.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source: sosmt.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source: sosmt.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Montana report due date: mca.legmt.gov (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Mont: mca.legmt.gov (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sosmt.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Montana registered agent statute: mca.legmt.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division: inbiz.in.gov (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division: forms.in.gov (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code: corporations.utah.gov (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code: corporations.utah.gov (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Colorado Secretary of State: sos.state.co.us (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Colorado Secretary of State: sos.state.co.us (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Colorado yearly filing: Periodic report, official source: coloradosos.gov (seen October 2026).
- Figure on Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations: michigan.gov (seen August 2026).
- Figure on Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations: michigan.gov (seen August 2026).
- Mainstay Filing, Montana service page; company page seen November 12, 2026
- Registered Agent MT.org, pricing page; company page seen November 12, 2026
- Montana Registered Agent.co, pricing page; company page seen November 12, 2026