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Every state's LLC costs, set down with their sources.

Foreign LLC guide · Montana

Registering an Out-of-State LLC in Montana (2026): Fees and the 3 Best Services

If you are registering a foreign LLC for Montana this year (2026), begin with Mainstay Filing ($199), Montana Registered Agent.co ($199) and Registered Agent MT.org ($199), working down the list. A foreign LLC pays $70 to register in Montana. Three-year state fees rank 1st of 50.

Compiled by the LLC Factbook editors

The Montana fee sheet

1st place among 50 on foreign registration costs
First place is the smallest bill. Compare the other states

Foreign registration charge

$70
Source: mca.legmt.gov, October 2026

Report, per cycle

None
Annual report

State charges, years one to three

$70
The registration fee, then two years of reports

Montana: our recommendations

The methodology explains the order. Three-year service fees count 34%, the filings a price covers count 26%, and renewal price, fit with Montana rules and fee labeling make up the rest.
Start here

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

$199 plus the $70 state fee, then $149 yearly

Mainstay Filing takes the top place, as $199 plus Montana's own fee, then the agent at $149 a year from year two.

Three years of service fees come to $100 more than Montana Registered Agent.co; for that the price takes in more of the state's paperwork.

Once the first year is over, the agent costs $149 per year.

What the price buys

  • Your registration is prepared and filed
  • No charge for the registered agent in the first year
  • Fifty-state service

In its favor

  • First-year agent service is included
  • One fee in every state
  • $199 plus the state fee

Against it

  • The agent renews at $149, $50 above Montana Registered Agent.co
Focused on Montana

2. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for a low yearly agent fee

$199 plus the $70 state fee, then $99 yearly

Number 2 is Montana Registered Agent.co: $199 plus the state fee, first agent year included, then $99 a year for the agent.

What the price buys

  • The registration is filed for you
  • A year of agent service

In its favor

  • $99 yearly for the agent after that
  • You do not pay an agent fee during year one
  • $199 to register

Against it

  • Gives no help beyond this state
Focused on Montana

3. Registered Agent MT.org: best for registering with Montana alone

$199 plus the $70 state fee, then $99 yearly

Number 3 is Registered Agent MT.org: $199 plus the state fee, first agent year included, then $99 a year for the agent.

The two publish identical prices, Montana Registered Agent.co and this service.

What the price buys

  • The registration is filed for you
  • A year of agent service

In its favor

  • $99 yearly for the agent after that
  • You do not pay an agent fee during year one
  • $199 to register

Against it

  • Gives no help beyond this state

Prices side by side

No.ServiceFirst-year feeFrom year twoService charges, three years
1 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497 Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Montana Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397 Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Registered Agent MT.org $199$99/yr$397 Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Prices as published on November 12, 2026. The $70 state fee is not part of any row.

Montana foreign LLC cost calculator

The registration fee is $70; the service's prices are added to it.
3 years with Mainstay Filing: $70 for the state and $497 for the service, $567 together.

Montana next to the states ranked around it

PlaceStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
1stMontana$70
2ndHawaii$76
3rdUtah$95
4thOhio$99
5thIdaho$100
The complete ranking applies one method to all fifty states.

Montana foreign registration: fee, form, office

Send the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company) to the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services with a payment of $70.

Then, each cycle, it files the annual report, April 15.

What to gather first

  • The home-state legal name and the date of formation.
  • A registered agent based in the state; each of our picks offers the service.
  • A budget for the $70 filing fee.

Operating unregistered: the risks

A suit filed before registration is barred until the registration is on file (MCA 35-8-1002(1)). A fine per day of $5 may be charged.

The reasoning behind the order

Mainstay Filing won by scoring higher on paperwork the price takes on, worth 26%, with Montana Registered Agent.co close behind.

The company already has a home state; covering it and Montana with one provider scored highest.

Questions and answers

What fee does a foreign LLC pay to register with Montana?

$70 for the filing. The services here charge $199 extra.

Which form does Montana use to register a foreign LLC?

Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company), submitted to the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services.

Does a foreign LLC owe anything every year?

Yes, the annual report.

What are the consequences of operating there without registering?

A suit filed before registration is barred until the registration is on file (MCA 35-8-1002(1)). A fine per day of $5 may be charged.

Does Montana require a registered agent of a foreign LLC?

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

Who should register my foreign LLC?

Mainstay Filing, Montana Registered Agent.co and Registered Agent MT.org, in that sequence.

Read next

Sources for this chapter

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