Filed with
Montana Secretary of State, Business Services
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Montana LLC
Montana Secretary of State, Business Services business filings →The name must include "limited liability company", "limited company", "L.L.C.", "L.C.", "LLC" or "LC" ("limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "company" "Co."). It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Montana register.
Search the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Montana LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Montana, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
Montana Secretary of State, Business Services →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
Montana operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
Montana business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Montana requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Montana sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Montana LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Montana LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due between January 1 and April 15 each year.
The first one is due between January 1 and April 15 of the year after the LLC is formed.
Worth knowing in Montana
- Annual reports are filed online through the Secretary of State's portal at biz.sosmt.gov.
- Reports filed after April 15 are subject to a late penalty.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services and pay the state fee, act as your Montana registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
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Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Montana?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Montana, and file a Articles of Organization with the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Montana?
Montana charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Montana LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Montana LLC have to file an annual report?
Montana LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due between January 1 and April 15 each year. The first one is due between January 1 and April 15 of the year after the LLC is formed.
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Montana, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Montana?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Montana and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
