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A Montana LLC begins with one filing, the Articles of Organization. The Secretary of State's fee page prices it at $35. The first-year state cost can be $35 and nothing more, because the annual report fee is waived when you file before April 15. Search records first with our Montana business guide.
How much does it cost, and how fast is it?
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $35 |
| Series LLC, per series member named | $50 extra |
| 24 hour processing | $20 |
| One hour processing | $100 |
| Name reservation | $10 |
| Annual report, filed before April 15 | Waived |
| Annual report, filed after April 15 | $35 |
All figures come from the state's fee page. A foreign LLC pays $70 for a certificate of authority, which is covered in foreign LLC registration.
What do the articles say?
MCA 35-8-202 lists the contents. Besides the name, you give the principal office's business mailing address and say whether the LLC is a term company. You say whether managers or members manage, and you list the managers' names and addresses, or the initial members if the members manage. You also name a registered agent, by the information required in MCA 35-7-105. Our Montana registered agent page explains that part. A series LLC has an extra duty: the articles must include the written operating agreement of each series of members.
Which name will pass?
Use Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., L.C., LLC or LC. The name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records (MCA 35-8-103) and may not imply a business other than an LLC. The state also protects the names of dissolved corporations for 120 days. Check availability with how to check LLC name availability.
A reserved name costs $10 and holds for 120 days, with no renewal. If you cannot file in that window, use name reservation to plan around it.
How do you file?
- Log in to the state's online filing portal, or create a user profile, and start a new business application on the Forms page.
- Enter the name, principal office, management type and agent.
- Pay $35, and add the $20 or $100 rush fee if you need speed.
Businesses that are already registered search for their record, open it, and use the Filing Actions button to find the form.
What do you do once the LLC exists?
Write an operating agreement and get an EIN with how to get an EIN. The state fee page lists a $15 charge for operating agreements and other statements filed with the office, but we found no rule requiring you to file one. Keep it with your own records unless a lender or lawyer asks otherwise.
What does a Montana LLC do each year?
File the annual report by April 15. File before that date and the fee is waived. File after it and you pay $35. If you do not file at all, the state can move toward involuntary dissolution after notice. Reinstatement costs $35 plus $35 for each missed year, and most reinstatements need a Title 15 Certificate from Revenue. Compare dates in annual report deadlines.
What stands out in Montana?
The waiver is the main thing: a low $35 filing fee, and a report that costs nothing if you are on time. Neighbors differ, so look at North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming before you choose. Owners from other states can see the trade-offs in LLC for non-residents.
Ready to go? Use the start an LLC form.
After approval, check the rules in our Montana business license guide.