Best LLC service in Montana (2026): Northwest Registered Agent ($39 + $35 state fee) ranks first for the lowest combined formation cost of any state and privacy-protected filings. Montana has the lowest LLC filing fee in the US at $35. Annual report: $20/year due April 15 (fee waived for on-time filers in 2026 and 2027). Late report: $15 penalty. State income tax applies (4.7-5.9%). No sales tax, no franchise tax.

Best LLC Service in Montana (2026): Ranked and Reviewed

Q: What is the best LLC service in Montana?

Northwest Registered Agent ($39 + $35 state fee) is the top pick for Montana: best privacy policy, physical Montana office address on all public filings, free first-year registered agent, and strong compliance reminder system. Inc Authority ($0 + $35) offers the most complete free package (free formation + free EIN + free RA year 1). Bizee ($0 + $35) renews its registered agent at $149/yr after year 1.

By Frédéric Deltour, Entrepreneur and Business Consultant, 22+ years forming and operating companies.

Published: May 5, 2026 · Last updated: October 19, 2026

This page contains affiliate links: if you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change our rankings.

Frédéric has used Northwest Registered Agent 3 times to form his own and his clients' companies and NGOs. These are real, honest reviews.

Montana has the lowest LLC filing fee in the country at $35 and a $20 annual report that has been waived by the Secretary of State for on-time filers in 2025, 2026, and 2027. With no sales tax and no franchise tax, Montana is one of the cheapest states for ongoing LLC maintenance. There is one caveat most comparisons skip: Montana has a state income tax (4.7% to 5.9%), so the total tax picture is not as cost-free as Nevada or Wyoming.

Montana also draws a significant number of out-of-state LLC formations specifically for the Montana vehicle registration strategy, which allows vehicles titled to Montana LLCs to avoid sales tax in high-tax states. This strategy is legal under Montana law but carries risk in the operator's home state if discovered. A formation service with state-specific knowledge of Montana's LLC rules is valuable for both standard business formations and vehicle-registration-motivated ones.

What's on this page

Top LLC Services in Montana: Quick Comparison
What Makes Montana LLC Formation Unique
Service-by-Service Rankings for Montana
Original Research: True 3-Year Cost for Montana LLCs
How to Choose the Right Montana LLC Service
Frequently Asked Questions

Our recommended formation service: Northwest Registered Agent $39 formation + $35 state fee. Registered agent free year one ($125/yr renewal). Their address on all Montana filing fields: your home address never appears in public records. Never sells data. Free operating agreement. No upsells at checkout.

Form Your Montana LLC with Northwest ($39) →Lowest 3-year cost we found: Northwest $289 vs Bizee $298 vs ZenBusiness $497 (service fees; state fees extra). Northwest also puts its address on your public filings instead of yours where the state allows.

Top LLC Services in Montana: Quick Comparison

Service & Plan	Service Fee	What's Actually Included	Registered Agent	EIN	Operating Agreement	Processing Speed	Data Privacy
Northwest RA Best Overall	$39 + $35 state fee	Articles + op agreement template + mail scanning + address privacy all year + compliance alerts	Free year 1 $125/yr after	$50 add-on (free at IRS.gov)	Included	1-5 days prep	Never sells data
ZenBusiness Pro Fairer NW comparison	$199 + $35 state fee Renews $199/yr	Articles + 1-day rush + op agreement + EIN + logo builder. No RA included (add $199/yr). Worry-Free Compliance auto-renews $199/yr if not cancelled	Not included +$199/yr extra	Included	Included	1-day prep	Some data sharing
Bizee Basic Cheapest entry	$0 + $35 state fee	Articles only. Op agreement +$99, EIN +$70 if needed. To match NW features: add ~$169+	Free year 1 $149/yr after	Not included +$70 extra	Not included +$99 extra	~3 weeks standard	Shares with partners
Bizee Standard Fairer NW comparison	$199 + $35 state fee	Articles + op agreement + EIN + banking resolution + tax consult. Still lacks full address privacy. Expedited prep included (but state processing same)	Free year 1 $149/yr after	Included	Included	~1 day prep (state: 3 wks common)	Shares with partners
LegalZoom Pro For legal access	$249 + $35 state fee	Articles + op agreement template + EIN + 90-day bookkeeping trial (auto-renews $9.99/mo if not cancelled). Attorney access only in Premium ($299). No RA included at any plan level	Not included +$249/yr extra	Included	Included	1-2 weeks prep	Shares with partners

All fees exclude mandatory $35 Montana state filing fee. EIN is always free at IRS.gov, never pay a service for this. Registered agent is legally required in every state. "Fairer NW comparison" plans include similar core features to Northwest's $39 package.

What Makes Montana LLC Formation Unique

$35 filing fee: The lowest in the US. Filed online through Montana's ePass portal. Standard processing: 5-10 business days.
Annual report: $20/year, due April 15. The Secretary of State has waived this fee for on-time filers in 2025, 2026, and 2027. This is a discretionary waiver, not a permanent law. Budget for $20/year and treat any waiver as a bonus. Late filing: $15 penalty. Dissolution for domestic LLCs that fail to file by December 1.
No sales tax: Montana is one of five US states with no statewide sales tax (alongside Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Oregon). This simplifies compliance for retail and e-commerce businesses.
State income tax: 4.7% to 5.9% (graduated). Montana has state income tax unlike Wyoming, Nevada, or South Dakota. LLC members pay Montana income tax on their share of business income.
No franchise tax: Standard pass-through LLCs pay no Montana franchise tax.
Vehicle registration strategy: Montana allows vehicles owned by Montana LLCs to be registered in Montana without sales tax, attracting many out-of-state LLC formations. Home states are increasingly auditing this strategy. Formation services cannot provide legal advice on whether it's appropriate for your specific situation.
April 15 deadline conflict: Montana's annual report shares a deadline with federal income tax returns. Many Montana LLC owners miss the report because all focus goes to personal and business tax filings. Set a March 15 calendar reminder to file the annual report before tax season peaks.
No general state business license at the state level. Industry-specific and local permits vary.

Service-by-Service Rankings for Montana

#1 BEST OVERALLNorthwest Registered Agent, $39 + state fee

At $39, Northwest is the only service that includes: Articles filing, a custom operating agreement template, free first-year registered agent with their physical Montana address on all public filings, full-year mail scanning, and access to dedicated Corporate Guides by phone with no upsells, no data selling, and no auto-renewing subscription traps.

Northwest's $39 + Montana's $35 state fee = $74 total, the lowest combined formation cost available through any professional service in the US.

What you get for $39: Articles of Organization, operating agreement template, free RA year 1 (then $125/yr), their address replaces yours on all public Montana SOS records, free mail scanning, compliance reminders, and alerts if federal BOI reporting is reinstated.

What is not included: EIN ($50 add-on, or get it free directly at IRS.gov in 5 minutes).

3-year service total (excl. state fees): $289 ($39 + $125 + $125). Data privacy: Never sells customer data

Start with Northwest →

#2 DASHBOARD TOOLSZenBusiness Pro, $199 + state fee (renews $199/yr)

ZenBusiness Pro at $199 includes: Articles, 1-day rush preparation, operating agreement and a logo builder. What it does not include that Northwest does: registered agent service. You must add RA separately: $99 for the first year, then $199/year. To get equivalent coverage to Northwest, ZenBusiness Pro + RA = $199 + $99 = $298 year one, renewing at $398/year. ZenBusiness's Starter plan is $0 but includes neither RA, EIN, nor an operating agreement. The Worry-Free Compliance service included with Starter auto-renews at $199/year if not cancelled. Read the checkout screen carefully.

Best use case: Founders who want a polished guided dashboard, are comfortable with $199/year recurring costs, and don't mind adding RA separately.
3-year total (Pro + RA, excl. state fees): $597 Pro + $497 RA ($99 + $199 + $199) = ~$1,094. Some data sharing

#3 FREE ALTERNATIVEInc Authority, $0 + state fee

Inc Authority offers genuinely free LLC formation with the most complete $0 package: free filing, free EIN, and free registered agent year one. That's more than any other free service includes. The catch: registered agent renews at $249/year (vs NW's $125/year), clients report regular upsell attempts during and after checkout.

Real advantage over other $0 services: Free EIN included (most competitors charge $49-$70). Free RA year one. No formation fee.

3-year service total (excl. state fees): $498 ($0 + $249 + $249 RA renewals). upsell attempts reported

Check Inc Authority free plan

#4 BUDGET ENTRYBizee Basic, $0 + state fee

Bizee offers $0 formation with free first-year RA (renews at $149/yr). No EIN, no operating agreement in Basic plan (add $169 for both). Shares customer data with marketing partners. Bizee prepares filings in about 1 business day on all plans; state approval time then varies by state.

3-year service total (excl. state fees): $298 ($0 + $149 + $149 RA renewals). Shares data with partners

#5 ATTORNEY ACCESSLegalZoom Pro, $249 / Premium $299 + state fee

LegalZoom Pro ($249) includes: Articles + operating agreement template + EIN + 90-day bookkeeping trial (auto-renews at $9.99/month if not cancelled before day 90). LegalZoom Premium ($299) adds a 30-day attorney consultation trial (auto-renews at $49/month if not cancelled before day 30). Registered agent is not included in any LegalZoom plan at any price. Adding it costs $249/year, making LegalZoom the most expensive registered agent fee of any major service.

True first-year cost to match Northwest: LegalZoom Pro $249 + RA $249 = $498, vs Northwest's $39 total (with RA included free). LegalZoom's primary advantage is attorney access, if and only if you need it. For basic LLC formation without legal complexity, Northwest provides better value by a wide margin.

Watch the auto-renewals: The bookkeeping trial (Pro) auto-renews at $9.99/month. The attorney plan trial (Premium) auto-renews at $49/month. Set calendar reminders before day 30 (attorney) and day 90 (bookkeeping) if you don't plan to continue.
Best for: LLCs with complex legal questions, attorney access needs, or founders who anticipate ongoing legal consultation.
Shares data with partners

Original Research: True 3-Year Cost for Montana LLCs

Service	Service + RA (3yr)	MT State Fees (3yr)*	Total 3 Years
Northwest RA	$289	$75	$364
ZenBusiness	$497	$75	$572
Bizee	$298	$75	$373
LegalZoom	$747	$75	$822
DIY (self as RA)	$0	$75	$75

*MT state costs: $35 formation + $20 x 2 annual reports = $75 (assuming $20 fee applies; waiver is discretionary).

Finding: Montana is by far the cheapest state for 3-year LLC total cost with a professional registered agent. At $364 with Northwest, Montana is cheaper than Wyoming ($509), Nevada ($1,414), and California ($2,799). Over 3 years Northwest is $9 cheaper than Bizee in Montana, and address privacy and no data selling remain the key differentiators.

How to Choose the Right Montana LLC Service

Does privacy matter? Only Northwest commits to never selling your data. End of comparison if privacy matters.
Is $39 a genuine barrier right now? If yes, Bizee delivers the core service at $0 upfront. Accept the data-sharing tradeoff consciously.
Do you want fully automated annual report filing? ZenBusiness's Worry-Free Compliance plan handles this automatically at a higher overall cost.
Do you need attorney consultations? LegalZoom is the only major service with this included. Worth the premium only for complex legal questions.

For most Montana LLC formations: Northwest Registered Agent at $39 is the correct answer. Bizee doesn't even save money over 3 years: its $149/year renewal makes it $9 more than Northwest, on top of the privacy and support quality tradeoffs.

When Northwest Is NOT the Right Choice for Your Montana LLC

You need a state with no income tax. Montana has state income tax (4.7-5.9%). For a completely income-tax-free environment, Wyoming, Nevada, South Dakota, or Florida are better choices.
You are using Montana solely for vehicle registration and your home state is cracking down. California, for example, has been specifically pursuing Montana LLC vehicle registrations. Formation services cannot advise on the legal risk in your home state. Consult a tax attorney familiar with your state's specific enforcement posture.
You need expedited same-day processing. Montana's standard processing is 5-10 business days with limited expedited options. Delaware or Texas offer faster formations when speed is critical.

Why I Choose Northwest Registered Agent

After forming 3 LLCs myself and helping clients through the process, I keep coming back to Northwest Registered Agent. Here is why:

Remarkable Customer Support: Quick, human responses every time.
Caring & Privacy-Focused: Genuine service with full respect for your privacy.
Lightning-Fast Formation: Often faster than promised.
Incredible Value: $39 includes free business address, mail scanning, phone line, business email, domain name, website, and brand protection.
Clear & Transparent: No hidden fees or surprises.

Ready to form your business? Choose Northwest today!

Get Northwest for $39 + State Fee →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best LLC service in Montana?

Northwest Registered Agent is the top pick: $39 formation on top of Montana's $35 state fee produces the lowest total formation cost available through any service in the US at $74. Free first-year registered agent, Montana office address, and April 15 compliance reminders.

Is Montana's $20 annual report fee really waived?

The Montana Secretary of State has waived the $20 fee for on-time filers in 2025, 2026, and 2027. This is a discretionary decision, not a permanent law. Budget for $20 annually and treat any waiver as bonus savings. The late filing penalty of $15 still applies even during waiver years.

Does Montana have state income tax on LLCs?

Yes. Montana has a graduated state income tax of 4.7% to 5.9% on LLC members' income from the business. This distinguishes Montana from Wyoming, Nevada, and South Dakota, which have no personal income tax.

Is the Montana vehicle registration strategy legal?

Forming a Montana LLC to register a vehicle is legal under Montana law. Whether it creates tax or registration obligations in your home state depends on that state's specific laws. California, for example, has been actively pursuing this strategy. A formation service cannot provide legal advice on your specific situation.

Related Guides

Frédéric Deltour Entrepreneur, Business Consultant & Author · 22+ years experience

In his 22 years of entrepreneurship, Frédéric Deltour has founded, grown and managed seven NGO's and international companies across diverse industries, including 3 LLCs formed using Northwest Registered Agent. He is a recognized therapist trainer, a published author, and has been featured in Le Parisien, IMDb, Goodreads, and international encyclopedias.

Full Profile · YouTube Channel · Facebook · Holistic Training Blueprint · FredericDeltour.com · OnlineLLCGuide.com

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