How to form an LLC in Montana

Montana still has a recurring filing on the calendar even though the checked record prices it at $0. The obligation is the annual report. Because the payment is zero, the recurring column adds nothing to the one-year, three-year, or five-year totals, but the due rule below still controls the deadline. Treat the filing as a calendar duty, not a bill, and confirm the current form with Montana Secretary of State, Business Services before the first cycle closes.

How to read the recurring fee

Montana charges $0 for the annual report in the checked record, but the filing itself is real. The annual report is due April 15 each year, and the filing fee is waived for reports filed by April 15. A zero payment line does not erase the duty: miss the date and the state can treat the LLC as delinquent even though no money was owed. Confirm the current form with Montana Secretary of State, Business Services and keep the filing confirmation with the formation records.

Formation checklist

The steps below follow the Montana record on this page: formation through Montana Secretary of State, Business Services, the charge named Annual Report, and the due rule checked on 2026-10-04.

1. Choose the legal name. Search the entity records held by Montana Secretary of State, Business Services and check the Montana name rules before printing cards, signing a lease, or opening accounts.
2. Choose the registered agent. The agent needs a qualified Montana address and must be available to receive official papers. Decide whether that will be you, another eligible person, or a paid service.
3. File the formation document. Submit the form through Montana Secretary of State, Business Services and pay articles of organization, $35.
4. Write the operating agreement. Record owners, contributions, authority, money rules, and exit terms. Keep it with company records even if the state does not collect it.
5. Get tax and bank accounts in order. Apply for an EIN when required, open business banking, and separate personal money from company money from day one.
6. Calendar the recurring charge. The annual report is due April 15 each year, and the filing fee is waived for reports filed by April 15. Add a reminder well before the deadline and save the state confirmation after each filing.

What the state total does not include

The five-year figure on this page is a state formation and recurring-fee total. It does not include income tax, franchise tax beyond a charge explicitly named in the source record, sales tax, payroll tax, local business licenses, industry permits, insurance, bookkeeping, or professional fees.

If the business will operate in another state, price foreign registration there as well. A formation in Montana does not remove duties where employees, property, or sales activity create a second registration obligation.

Before you pay for help

A filing service can be worth paying for when your time is tight or the ownership is not simple. Compare the service quote with the state-only baseline in the LLC True Cost Calculator. If a quote bundles a registered agent, ask for the renewal price. Low first-year promotions can become the largest line in year two.

State notes from the checked record

• The Secretary of State has waived the annual report filing fee each year since 2024, including for 2026, and announced the 2027 annual report fee will also be waived for filings by April 15.
• Series LLCs pay $35 plus $50 for each series member named in the articles, per the same fee schedule.
• Internal conflict on the same official page: an All Types section lists Annual Report Prior To April 15th at $20.00, while the LLC-specific section shows it WAIVED.

Next steps

Run the five-year calculator, read the registered agent guide, and keep the recurring report checklist with your formation records.