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Filing Verdict

Rankings of registered agents, LLC formation and foreign registration services in all 50 states.

Foreign registration verdict · Montana

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Montana (2026)

Filing Verdict's 2026 verdict on foreign registration services in Montana: Mainstay Filing ($199), Montana Registered Agent.co ($199) and Registered Agent MT.org ($199), in that order. Mainstay Filing takes first place: $199 plus the state's own fee, with the registered agent free for the first year and one price in every state.
The Filing Verdict editorial team
Best here
Spot 1

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies working in several states

$199 on top of the state fee ($269 due at checkout); the agent is $149 a year from year two

9.4Editorial score
out of 10

Mainstay Filing wins here: it prepares the Montana registration for $199 and serves as your registered agent, free in year one, then $149 a year.

The agent renews at $149 a year after the free first year, in this state or any other.

The three-year bill is $100 higher than Montana Registered Agent.co's, and the wider coverage is worth that to us.

What you get

  • Foreign registration paperwork prepared and filed
  • A registered agent at no charge for the first year
  • Service of process scanned and uploaded on the day it arrives, at no cost

What we like

  • Registered agent service free in year one
  • Service fee of $199, plus the state's fee
  • One price in all fifty states
  • Same-business-day scans of served papers, free

Cons

  • After year one its agent runs $149 a year, $50 above Montana Registered Agent.co
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Our full Mainstay Filing verdict
Best local option
Spot 2

2. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for companies adding only Montana

Service fee $199, state fee extra; agent $99 yearly after year one

9.0Editorial score
out of 10

Second place goes to Montana Registered Agent.co: the Montana registration for $199 with the first agent year included, then $99 a year.

The plan gives the company an in-state street address as its registered office, and papers served on the company are scanned to your online account.

What you get

  • Filing with the state
  • A year of registered agent service up front

What we like

  • The first registered agent year is included
  • Registration at $199 before state fees
  • Agent at $99 yearly after the first year

Cons

  • Covers Montana only; your home state needs its own agent
  • The EIN application is billed separately ($99)
Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Our full Montana Registered Agent.co verdict
Best for a Montana-only company
Spot 3

3. Registered Agent MT.org: best for Montana registrations only

$199 plus the state's fee, then $99 a year for the agent

8.8Editorial score
out of 10

Third place goes to Registered Agent MT.org: the Montana registration for $199 with the first agent year included, then $99 a year.

The plan gives the company an in-state street address as its registered office, and papers served on the company are scanned to your online account.

Montana Registered Agent.co and Registered Agent MT.org publish identical prices and plan features, so little separates them; either is a safe pick.

What you get

  • Filing with the state
  • Year-one registered agent service

What we like

  • Year-one registered agent service included
  • $99 per year keeps the agent from year two
  • $199 to register, plus the state's fee

Cons

  • Covers Montana only; your home state needs its own agent
  • The EIN application is billed separately ($99)
Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Our full Registered Agent MT.org verdict

The 3 verdicts at a glance

No.ServiceVerdict scoreService feeYear twoBest forVisit
1Mainstay Filing9.4$199$149/yrCompanies registered in several states Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Montana Registered Agent.co9.0$199$99/yrThe lowest agent renewal here Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Registered Agent MT.org8.8$199$99/yrThe lowest agent renewal here Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Every score here is Filing Verdict's own editorial mark out of 10, set from the criteria on How we rank. No customer ratings are involved.

Montana foreign registration service prices for 2026: year one, renewals and three years

ServiceYear 1Year 2Year 3Total, 3 yearsAgent covered in year one
Mainstay Filing$199$149$149$497Free
Montana Registered Agent.co$199$99$99$397Included
Registered Agent MT.org$199$99$99$397Included
Prices were read from each company's own pages on November 12, 2026. Montana's $70 registration fee goes on top of every row and is not counted in these totals.

What settled the order

The method behind this ranking weighs total over three years at 35% and paperwork the price handles at 35%, with renewal behavior, match to the state and up-front pricing sharing the remaining 30%. For Montana, paperwork the price handles decided the order.

Registering in a second state involves two states, so one provider with one price in both scored best on coverage, ahead of Montana Registered Agent.co.

The full list of criteria and weights is on How we rank.

Montana foreign LLC registration: the fee, the form and the filing office

The company registers with the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services by filing the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company). The state fee is $70.

Afterwards the company files the annual report, due April 15.

Before you file: a checklist

  • The exact legal name from the home state, and the date the company was formed there.
  • A registered agent with a street address in the state; each service on this page can act in that role.
  • The $70 state fee, paid with the filing.
  • A calendar entry for the annual report.

What skipping Montana registration can cost

Until it registers, an out-of-state LLC cannot bring suit in Montana courts (MCA 35-8-1002(1)). A penalty of $5 per day can apply.

Montana foreign registration service: questions answered

Does Montana require an out-of-state LLC to register?

Yes, once it transacts business there. Until it registers, it cannot bring suit in the state's courts.

What does foreign registration cost in Montana?

The state fee is $70, and the service fee is $199.

Is a registered agent required once I have registered?

Yes. The company still needs a registered agent here, with a street address in the state.

Which foreign registration services are ranked on this page?

Mainstay Filing ($199), Montana Registered Agent.co ($199) and Registered Agent MT.org ($199), from first place to last.

What does a foreign LLC file every year?

Each year it files the annual report.

Which foreign registration service is the best pick in Montana?

Mainstay Filing, because $199 on top of the state fee, the same in any state, with the first year of registered agent service included.

See also

Sources and dates

  1. Montana Secretary of State fee page and fee sheet: standard annual report fee, confirmed October 2026
  2. Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source, confirmed October 2026
  3. Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source, confirmed October 2026
  4. Montana report due date, confirmed August 2026
  5. Mont. Code Ann. § 35-8-201, confirmed August 2026
  6. Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source, confirmed October 2026
  7. Montana registered agent statute, confirmed October 2026
  8. Montana Secretary of State, register a business, confirmed October 2026
  9. MCA 35-8-1001, transacting business, confirmed October 2026
  10. MCA 35-8-1002, consequences, confirmed October 2026
  11. MCA 35-8-1003, application contents, confirmed October 2026
  12. Checked November 12, 2026: Mainstay Filing, Montana service page
  13. Checked November 12, 2026: Montana Registered Agent.co, pricing and service pages
  14. Checked November 12, 2026: Registered Agent MT.org, pricing and service pages