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Montana LLC formation
Start your Montana LLC, usually filed within 1 business hour
HourLLC usually prepares and files your Montana Articles of Organization with the Montana Secretary of State within one business hour of a complete order (Monday to Thursday 9 AM to 5 PM and Friday 9 AM to 12 PM Eastern; orders placed after hours are usually filed by 10 AM the next business day). You pay our $99 service fee plus Montana's $35 state filing fee and $100 1-hour expedited filing fee, both passed through at cost, so your total is $234. An EIN from the IRS and an operating agreement are included.
- State fee at cost, shown up front
- EIN included
- Documents by email
At a glance
Montana LLC: fees, speed and paperwork
Once we file, approval is up to the state. With the state rush included on every Montana order, approval is expected usually within 1 business hour. Every Montana order is filed with the state's rush service: 1-hour +$100. It's the state's own fee, passed through at cost with no service fee from us. Why rush is included: HourLLC files every Montana order with the state's 1 Hour Processing service instead of the standard queue (Montana Secretary of State: fees).
- State filing fee (paid to the state at cost)
- $35
- HourLLC service fee
- $99
- Includes Montana 1-hour expedited filing (+$100 state rush fee)
- +$100
- Your total
- $234
- We file
- usually within 1 business hour
- State approval (rush included)
- Usually within 1 business hour
- Filing office
- Montana Secretary of State
- Formation document
- Articles of Organization
- Certified copy (state cost only)
- $10
- Certificate of Good Standing (state cost only)
- $5
State fees and processing times as researched in October 2026 and subject to change by Montana. We confirm your exact state fee before we file. Certified copies and Good Standing certificates are optional; the required Montana rush fee is charged at checkout at the state's cost. No service fee on any of them.
Official Montana fee source: official state fee page. Fees checked October 23, 2026; the price at checkout is what the state charges us, including any card or portal fee it adds.
How it works
Forming an LLC in Montana with HourLLC
- Pick a name. Your Montana LLC name must include an LLC designator such as "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company" and must not already be taken. We check availability before filing; give us a backup name on the form in case your first choice is taken.
- Fill out a 3 minute form. Members, a Montana registered agent, and your business address. Montana filings are public records, so a business address rather than a home address is a common choice.
- Review and pay. One total: $99 plus Montana's state fee and required rush fee at cost. No upsells.
- We usually file within 1 business hour. We prepare and submit your Articles of Organization to the Montana Secretary of State. When Montana approves it, we email your filing receipt and stamped Articles of Organization as PDFs and keep them in Documents at My account. Then we get your EIN.
After your Montana LLC is approved
Montana LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State between January 1 and April 15 each year, starting the year after formation. The Secretary of State currently lists no fee if it is filed by April 15, and $35 after that.
Your EIN is included: we apply to the IRS for it together with your state filing, so you can open a business bank account and file taxes under the LLC.
Almost every state requires a registered agent with a street address in the state who accepts official mail and legal papers during business hours. You can be your own registered agent if you have a Montana address, or use a commercial registered agent.
What every HourLLC order includes
- Name availability check before filing
- Articles of Organization usually filed with the state within 1 business hour
- EIN from the IRS (federal tax ID)
- Free operating agreement
- Filing receipt and stamped, approved Articles of Organization, emailed as PDFs
- Annual report reminders, free with every LLC
Choosing a Montana LLC formation service
Compare the all-in price, not the starting price. Ask each service: is the EIN included, is an operating agreement included, when exactly do you file, and what renews every year? With HourLLC the answer is one price ($99 plus Montana's fee at cost), EIN and operating agreement included, usually filed within 1 business hour, and no yearly fee for the LLC itself. See a side by side comparison.
Yearly cost after your Montana LLC is formed
Montana LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State between January 1 and April 15 each year, starting the year after formation. The Secretary of State currently lists no fee if it is filed by April 15, and $35 after that. We send free reminders before it is due.
Rules and costs
Montana LLC requirements
On this page: Name rules · Registered agent · EIN · Cost breakdown
Montana LLC name rules
A Montana LLC name must include “limited liability company”, “limited company”, “l.l.c.”, “l.c.”, “llc” or “lc”. It also has to be different from names already on file with the state. The name may not contain words that mark another kind of business (for example "Inc." or "Corp.") or suggest it is not an LLC. "Limited" may be shortened to "Ltd." and "Company" to "Co.".
You can reserve a name before you file for $10 (good for 120 days). Most people skip this: we check the name and file right away, and you can give us a backup name.
Montana registered agent
The LLC names either a commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial registered agent with a name and address. Naming the agent in the filing confirms the agent agreed to serve.
On our order form you name your registered agent and their Montana street address. It can be you, if you have a street address in Montana, or a commercial registered agent service.
Getting an EIN for your Montana LLC
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your LLC's federal tax ID. It comes from the IRS, not from Montana, and the IRS does not charge for it. You need it to open a business bank account, hire employees and file business taxes. Every HourLLC order includes it: we prepare and submit the EIN application together with your state filing and send you the IRS confirmation letter.
If your LLC will sell taxable goods or services or hire employees, you may also need to register for Montana state tax accounts. That is a separate step with the state.
Montana LLC cost breakdown
| State filing fee (one time) | $35 |
|---|---|
| Required state rush fee (Montana 1-hour expedited filing) | $100 |
| Yearly report or tax (January 1 to April 15) | $0 if filed by April 15 ($35 after) |
| Name reservation (optional) | $10 |
| Assumed or trade name / DBA (optional, Secretary of State) | $20 |
| Registered agent | $0 if you serve yourself; a commercial service charges its own yearly fee |
Add our $99 service fee once, at formation. There is no yearly HourLLC fee for the LLC itself.
Checked on official Montana sources on November 5, 2026: name rules, registered agent, name reservation, trade name, annual report. Rules and fees can change; we confirm them before we file.
FAQ
Montana LLC questions, answered
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Montana?
Montana charges a $35 state filing fee for a new LLC, and every Montana order includes its 1-hour expedited filing (+$100 state rush fee). HourLLC adds a flat $99 service fee, so your total is $234. That includes your EIN and an operating agreement. The state fee is passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
How long does it take to get an LLC in Montana?
We usually file within 1 business hour of a complete order during business hours. After that, approval is up to the Montana Secretary of State. With the required state rush, approval is expected usually within 1 business hour. Some filings take longer; the state sets the pace, not us.
Can I rush my Montana LLC?
Every Montana order is filed with the state's rush service: 1-hour +$100. It's the state's own fee, passed through at cost with no service fee from us.
Does a Montana LLC have to file an annual report?
Montana LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State between January 1 and April 15 each year, starting the year after formation. The Secretary of State currently lists no fee if it is filed by April 15, and $35 after that. We send free reminders with every LLC so you do not miss it.
What is the Montana formation document called?
In Montana the document that creates your LLC is the Articles of Organization, filed with the Montana Secretary of State. We prepare it from your order, file it, and email you the stamped, approved copy as a PDF.
Do I need a registered agent in Montana?
Yes, like almost every state, Montana requires a registered agent with a street address in the state who can accept official mail and legal papers during business hours. You can be your own registered agent if you have a Montana address, or use a commercial registered agent and give us that address when you order.
Is the EIN really included?
Yes. The IRS issues EINs for free, and we prepare and submit the application for you together with your state filing, at no extra charge. You will usually need the EIN to open a business bank account or hire employees.
What does a Montana LLC name need to include?
A Montana LLC name must include "limited liability company", "limited company", "l.l.c.", "l.c.", "llc" or "lc", and it has to be different from names already on file with the state.
Who can be a registered agent in Montana?
The LLC names either a commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial registered agent with a name and address. Naming the agent in the filing confirms the agent agreed to serve.
How do I get an EIN for my Montana LLC?
An EIN is a free federal tax ID from the IRS. Every HourLLC order includes it: we prepare and submit the EIN application together with your Montana state filing and send you the IRS confirmation letter.
Other states
Forming an LLC somewhere else?
We file in all 50 states and DC at the same $99 service fee. Each state sets its own filing fee and speed.
Nearby states
Sources checked October 2026: Montana filing requirements