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Short reply · Montana

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Montana (2026): The Quick Answer

In Montana for 2026, rank foreign registration services Mainstay Filing ($199), Montana Registered Agent.co ($199) and Registered Agent MT.org ($199). State fee: $70. Services over three years: $397 to $497.

LLC Q and A editorial team ·

At a glance

Fee to the state
$70
Certificate required?
No
After registering
None, annual report
Pick
Mainstay Filing, Montana Registered Agent.co then Registered Agent MT.org

Montana: ranked picks

Scoring is explained on the method page.
1Top pick

1. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in several states

$199 plus state fee, then $149/yr

#1 in Montana: Mainstay Filing, because registration is $199 and the registered agent costs nothing until year two.

The $100 premium over Montana Registered Agent.co across three years buys coverage outside Montana.

Registered agent: free in year one, $149 a year after, in any state.

Price covers

  • Out-of-state registration filed
  • Registered agent, free first year
  • Same price in any state

For

  • Service fee $199
  • Agent free the first year
  • Price does not vary by state

Against

  • Agent renews at $149, $50 above Montana Registered Agent.co
Go to Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Montana only

2. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for registering in just this state

$199 plus state fee, then $99/yr

Why Montana Registered Agent.co is second: registration is $199 over the state fee, agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

Price covers

  • Montana registration filing
  • Agent for year one

For

  • Renewal $99
  • $199 plus state fee
  • No agent charge in year one

Against

  • Nothing outside this state
Go to Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Montana only

3. Registered Agent MT.org: best for another local option

$199 plus state fee, then $99/yr

Why Registered Agent MT.org is third: registration is $199 over the state fee, agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

Same published prices as Montana Registered Agent.co, so the order between them is close.

Price covers

  • Montana registration filing
  • Agent for year one

For

  • No agent charge in year one
  • Renewal $99
  • $199 plus state fee

Against

  • Nothing outside this state
Go to Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Side by side

#ServiceFirst yearRenewal3-year costIncludes
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Out-of-state registration filed; registered agent, free first year; same price in any stateGo to Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Montana Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397montana registration filing; agent for year oneGo to Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Registered Agent MT.org$199$99/yr$397montana registration filing; agent for year oneGo to Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Prices as of November 13, 2026. State fees are in the checklist below.

Questions and replies

Must my LLC register here?

Before it does business in Montana, with the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services.

Unregistered, an LLC may face it loses the right to sue as plaintiff (MCA 35-8-1002(1)); a daily charge of $5.

mca.legmt.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

What does registering cost?

State fee $70; add $199 if someone files for you.

State fees reach $70 over three years, counting any recurring report. mca.legmt.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

Which form, filed where?

Once the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services accepts the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company), the LLC is registered.

The state does not ask for a good standing certificate from home.

Any recurring filing?

The annual report: no fee.

Deadline per the state: April 15.

What decided #1?

Mainstay Filing scores best on chores removed from your list, which is 26% of the total.

Two criteria dominate: three-year price (36%) and chores removed from your list (26%).

Montana Registered Agent.co covers Montana only; the home state needs someone else.

The five criteria

Montana: registration requirements, sourced

ItemDetailSource
Registration fee$70mca.legmt.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Good standing certificateNomca.legmt.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Three-year state total$70Sum of the rows above
Three-year total = filing + report in year 2 + report in year 3 + minimum tax (if any). Fees without a fixed amount, like newspaper notices, are not summed.

Also asked

Does the home state still need an agent?

Yes: two states, two rule sets. Mainstay Filing works in both; one-state services do not.

Three-year cost of each?

Totals over three years: Mainstay Filing at $497, Montana Registered Agent.co at $397, Registered Agent MT.org at $397, services only.

Where do the numbers come from?

Official Montana sources for the state side, published prices for the service side.

Is a service required?

No. Owners can file directly. A service saves time and can act as agent.

Does a service file it?

All of them do; only the service fee differs.

Who ranks first in Montana?

Rank Mainstay Filing ahead of Montana Registered Agent.co and Registered Agent MT.org.

Sources

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