Skip to content
File your LLC paperwork with confidence.
A practical guide · Montana

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Montana (2026): Where to Start

Your 2026 shortlist for foreign registration services in Montana reads Montana Registered Agent.co ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and Registered Agent MT.org ($199), in our order. Registration at the state costs $70 for every filer, and three years of service fees add $397 to $497.
Written by the Simple Filing Guide editorial team

The short route

Fee at the state
$70
Proof from home?
You can skip it
Afterward
No fee, annual report
First choices
Montana Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing then Registered Agent MT.org

Where to start in Montana

Ranked best first using the checks described on the method page.

#1 Recommended first

1. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for a budget registration

$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year

Start with Montana Registered Agent.co in Montana: its service fees come to $397 across three years.

Of the pair, it is cheaper across three years, and we look at cost first.

Checklist: what is included
  • Montana registration filing
  • No agent charge in year one
What works
  • A free agent year at the start
  • Registers you for $199
  • $99 a year from year two
Gaps
  • Covers Montana only, so your home state needs its own agent
Start with Montana Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
#2 Goes where you go

2. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in many states

$199 plus the state fee, then $149 a year

Mainstay Filing is second, because it charges $199 plus state fees and waives the registered agent the first year.

Check the gap: it costs $100 more than Montana Registered Agent.co over three years, and cost carries the most weight.

Once the free year ends, the registered agent renews at $149.

Checklist: what is included
  • Application prepared and sent
  • Registered agent, included during year one
  • No change in price by state
What works
  • $199 on top of Montana's fee
  • The price does not change by state
  • First agent year is covered
Gaps
  • Agent renewal of $149 is $50 above Montana Registered Agent.co
Start with Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
#3 For Montana filers

3. Registered Agent MT.org: best for a second in-state filer

$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year

Registered Agent MT.org follows since its service fees come to $397 across three years.

Montana Registered Agent.co charges the same, so this is nearly a tie.

Checklist: what is included
  • Montana registration filing
  • No agent charge in year one
What works
  • A free agent year at the start
  • $99 a year from year two
  • Registers you for $199
Gaps
  • Covers Montana only, so your home state needs its own agent
Start with Registered Agent MT.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Compare the picks

#CompanyYear-one costRenewal cost3-year totalThe price covers
1 Montana Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397montana registration filing; no agent charge in year one Start with Montana Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497application prepared and sent; registered agent, included during year one; no change in price by state Start with Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Registered Agent MT.org $199$99/yr$397montana registration filing; no agent charge in year one Start with Registered Agent MT.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Company prices from November 13, 2026, before state fees.

What to know before you file

At what point is registration required?

An out-of-state LLC signs up with the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services first and begins business in Montana afterward.

An unregistered LLC may face the state's courts will not hear its claims (MCA 35-8-1002(1)); a charge per day of $5.

mca.legmt.gov, last confirmed October 2026 for this guide

What are the fees for registering?

Doing it yourself costs $70. With a service, add $199.

Add three years of state fees, registration included, and you get $70. mca.legmt.gov, last confirmed October 2026 for this guide

Where does the registration go?

File the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company) with the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services. That single filing registers the LLC.

The state does not request a certificate from home.

What do I owe once registered?

Add the annual report to your calendar (no fee).

Filings come due April 15.

Why is number one first?

Total for three years, at 37%, puts Montana Registered Agent.co first.

The two heavy checks are total for three years (37%) and filing jobs included (27%); three lighter checks follow.

$397 for three years at Montana Registered Agent.co is $100 under Mainstay Filing.

Read the method

Montana checklist, with sources

RequirementAmount or ruleOfficial source
Registration fee $70mca.legmt.gov, last confirmed October 2026 for this guide
Home-state certificate You can skip itmca.legmt.gov, last confirmed October 2026 for this guide
Three-year state total $70The rows above, totaled

Last row = filing fee + report in year two + report in year three + minimum tax, if any. Variable costs are described in the text, not added.

FAQ

Do I still need an agent in my home state?

Yes. Your home state keeps its own agent rule, and Mainstay Filing can serve both states from one account.

How do the three-year costs compare?

Three-year costs: Montana Registered Agent.co, $397; Mainstay Filing, $497; Registered Agent MT.org, $397, and state fees are separate.

Where do you get the fees?

Every state fee links to its official page, and every service price is read from the company's own site.

Is a service required by law?

If you meet the rules on this page, you can file on your own, and the state charges the same either way.

Can I hire someone to register?

They do, so the only cost that changes is the service fee.

Which foreign registration service should I start with in Montana?

Montana Registered Agent.co comes first: $199 over the state fee at the start, then $99 yearly. Next, Mainstay Filing and Registered Agent MT.org.

Verify these facts

  1. Montana Secretary of State fee [sosmt.gov] last confirmed October 2026
  2. Montana yearly filing: Annual report [sosmt.gov] last confirmed October 2026
  3. Montana yearly filing: Annual report [sosmt.gov] last confirmed October 2026
  4. Montana report due date [mca.legmt.gov] last confirmed August 2026
  5. Mont [mca.legmt.gov] last confirmed August 2026
  6. Montana formation fee: Filing fee [sosmt.gov] last confirmed October 2026
  7. Montana registered agent statute [mca.legmt.gov] last confirmed October 2026
  8. Montana Secretary of State, register [help.sosmt.gov] last confirmed October 2026
  9. MCA 35-8-1001, transacting business [mca.legmt.gov] last confirmed October 2026
  10. MCA 35-8-1002, consequences [mca.legmt.gov] last confirmed October 2026
  11. MCA 35-8-1003, application contents [mca.legmt.gov] last confirmed October 2026
  12. pricing page from Montana Registered Agent.co, checked November 13, 2026
  13. Montana service page from Mainstay Filing, checked November 13, 2026
  14. pricing page from Registered Agent MT.org, checked November 13, 2026