Best Montana LLC Formation Service in 2026

If you're forming an LLC in Montana, the service you pick matters more than the state itself. Montana's filing fee is fixed by the state; everything else — turnaround speed, registered agent included or upcharged, EIN handling, banking handoff — varies wildly by provider.

We've used most of them. Here's the honest comparison, ranked by what saves time and money for a one-person company founder.

Quick verdict

Service	Best for	Filing fee (MT)	Service fee	Reg. Agent	EIN included	Non-US friendly
Doola	Non-US founders, one-person company	$35 — the lowest in the US	from $297 (Starter)	✅ 1 yr	✅ (incl. SS-4 paper filing)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Northwest	US residents wanting privacy	$35 — the lowest in the US	$39 + state	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$50)	⭐⭐⭐
ZenBusiness	US residents, low budget	$35 — the lowest in the US	$0 (Starter)	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$99)	⭐⭐
LegalZoom	US residents, brand recognition	$35 — the lowest in the US	$0 (Basic)	$249/yr	❌ (+$79)	⭐⭐
Bizee (formerly IncFile)	US residents, free starter	$35 — the lowest in the US	$0 + state	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$70)	⭐⭐
DIY (Montana Secretary of State)	US founders with SSN	$35 — the lowest in the US	$0	❌ (separate, ~$125+/yr)	DIY (free with SSN)	⭐

Our recommendation for non-US founders: Doola — they bundle LLC + EIN (with SS-4 paper filing for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent + Mercury Bank introduction in a single flow.

Disclosure: We have an affiliate relationship with Doola — code LLCCLASS10 gives 10% off and supports our work at no extra cost to you.

Montana LLC basics — the numbers that actually matter

Filing fee: $35 — the lowest in the US (Articles of Organization, one-time)
Annual / ongoing: $20/year
State tax treatment: Pass-through; Montana has NO general state sales tax (one of 5 states without)
Privacy: Member names public

Montana quirk: No state sales tax is genuinely useful for ecommerce founders — but only if Montana is your nexus state. Out-of-state founders don't capture this benefit.

Our take: Cheapest filing + no sales tax = attractive for Montana-resident ecommerce founders. Non-residents won't capture the no-sales-tax benefit.

For most non-US founders, we still recommend comparing against Wyoming, Delaware, and New Mexico before settling on Montana. See our best state for LLC comparison for the full breakdown.

Service-by-service breakdown

1. Doola — best for non-US founders forming a Montana LLC

Pricing: Starter $297/yr, Total Compliance $799/yr
Includes: LLC filing + EIN (SS-4 paper for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent (1 yr) + US business address + Mercury Bank introduction
Turnaround: 2–4 weeks for non-US founders (IRS bottleneck), 3–7 days for US founders
Why we use it: One platform, no toggling between 4 different providers. The EIN service is the deciding factor — manually filing SS-4 paper from outside the US is a 6–12 week round trip.
Caveat: Annual renewal cost is higher than Northwest. If you have a US SSN and want raw cost optimization, Northwest is cheaper long term.

→ Doola signup with code LLCCLASS10 (10% off)
→ Full Doola 2026 review

2. Northwest Registered Agent — best for US residents who value privacy

Pricing: $39 + $35 — the lowest in the US state + $125/yr registered agent after year 1
Includes: LLC filing + 1 yr registered agent + privacy (their name on public filings, not yours)
EIN: NOT included, +$50, US-only
Why some pick it: Genuine US-based customer support, no upsell pop-ups
Why we don't recommend for non-US: Won't file SS-4 paper for EIN; you're on your own for that step

3. ZenBusiness — US founders on a budget

Pricing: Free Starter (only pays state filing), Pro $199/yr, Premium $349/yr
What's included on Starter: LLC filing only. Registered agent is upsold at year 2.
EIN: NOT included, +$99
Caveat: "Free" tier ends with aggressive renewal upsells in year 2

4. LegalZoom — brand recognition, but expensive

Pricing: Basic $0 + state, Pro $249, Premium $349
Registered agent: Separate $249/yr
EIN: +$79
Why pick: If your business is US-investor-facing and the brand matters
Why skip: Highest TCO; cancellation flow is hostile

5. Bizee (formerly IncFile) — US residents, free starter

Pricing: Free + state, Gold $199, Platinum $299
EIN: +$70
Caveat: Compliance tracking is rough; users miss reports

6. DIY — for founders with US SSN, address, and patience

Cost: $35 — the lowest in the US state filing + ~$125/yr registered agent (separate)
Why pick: Pure cost optimization
Why skip if non-US: SS-4 paper filing from outside US is the kill-switch

Montana LLC formation: step-by-step (regardless of service)

Choose a name — must include "LLC", "L.L.C.", or "Limited Liability Company". Check availability.
Designate a Registered Agent — must have a physical Montana street address. Cannot be a PO Box.
File Articles of Organization — $35 — the lowest in the US to the Montana Secretary of State.
Get EIN from IRS — free online for US residents (5 min, SSN required). Non-US founders file SS-4 paper, 4–8 weeks via fax/mail.
Open a US business bank account — Mercury Bank is the standard for non-US founders. 3-hour approval if your LLC + EIN are clean.
Ongoing compliance: $20/year

FAQ

Can a non-US resident form a Montana LLC?
Yes. Montana does not require US citizenship or residency. You need a registered agent with a Montana address (covered by any formation service above) and a way to get an EIN without SSN (covered by Doola's SS-4 paper filing).

What's the cheapest way to form a Montana LLC?
DIY direct to the state: $35 — the lowest in the US + ~$125/yr for a registered agent. But you'll spend 4–8 weeks on EIN paper filing if you're non-US.

Does a Montana LLC need a physical office in Montana?
No. You only need a registered agent with a Montana address. The business can operate from anywhere.

Is Montana a good state to form an LLC?
Cheapest filing + no sales tax = attractive for Montana-resident ecommerce founders. Non-residents won't capture the no-sales-tax benefit. See our best state for LLC comparison for the full state-by-state breakdown.

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