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Plain English · Montana

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Montana (2026), Plainly Answered

For foreign registration services in Montana, our 2026 order is Mainstay Filing ($199), Montana Registered Agent.co ($199) and Registered Agent MT.org ($199). On top of the $70 state fee, service fees come to $397 to $497 over three years.

By the Plain Charter editorial team ·

Short version

Cost to file
$70
Certificate required?
No
After registering
No fee, annual report
Who to hire
Mainstay Filing, Montana Registered Agent.co then Registered Agent MT.org

The Montana picks

Best first, by our stated criteria.
1Our first pick

1. Mainstay Filing: best for LLCs adding states

First year $199, then $149 a year

Start with Mainstay Filing: it charges $199 on top of the state fee and includes the registered agent free for the first year, then $149 a year.

Yes, Montana Registered Agent.co is $100 less across three years. We still put the pick that covers every state first.

Year two on, plan on $149 a year for the registered agent.

The price covers

  • Application prepared and sent
  • Registered agent, free for year one
  • Any state, one fee

Upsides

  • All fifty states
  • $199 plus Montana's fee
  • No agent fee in year one

What to weigh

  • Montana Registered Agent.co renews the agent for $50 less
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2In-state

2. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for a low yearly agent cost

First year $199, then $99 a year

Our number 2 is Montana Registered Agent.co, since three years of service fees come to $397.

The price covers

  • Your foreign filing
  • Year-one agent

Upsides

  • Agent service, year one
  • $99 a year from year two
  • $199 plus the state fee

What to weigh

  • Home state needs a separate agent
Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3In-state

3. Registered Agent MT.org: best for a low agent renewal

First year $199, then $99 a year

Our number 3 is Registered Agent MT.org, since three years of service fees come to $397.

Its prices match Montana Registered Agent.co exactly, so either is a sound choice.

The price covers

  • Your foreign filing
  • Year-one agent

Upsides

  • $99 a year from year two
  • $199 plus the state fee
  • Agent service, year one

What to weigh

  • Home state needs a separate agent
Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The picks side by side

#ServiceFirst yearLater yearsThree-year totalCovers
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497application prepared and sent; registered agent, free for year one; any state, one feeVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Montana Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397your foreign filing; Year-one agentVisit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Registered Agent MT.org$199$99/yr$397your foreign filing; Year-one agentVisit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Each company's published prices, November 12, 2026. State fees come on top and do not change by pick.

The plain answers

When is registration required?

Registration comes before doing business in Montana for any out-of-state LLC.

Skipping it can mean the courts stay closed to its claims (MCA 35-8-1002(1)); a per-day charge of $5.

October 2026 · mca.legmt.gov

What will it cost to register?

Budget $70 for the state and $199 for a service.

By year three the state will have collected $70. October 2026 · mca.legmt.gov

Where is the filing sent?

The Montana Secretary of State, Business Services accepts the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company) from LLCs formed elsewhere.

You do not attach a certificate from the home state.

What recurs once registered?

Annual report: no fee.

Deadline: April 15.

Why these three?

What the price takes off your plate (30% of our weighting) put Mainstay Filing first.

Most of our weighting sits on three-year cost and what the price takes off your plate.

Your home state needs an agent too; one account that covers both is simpler.

The criteria in full

Montana requirements checklist

RuleAnswerFrom
State filing fee$70October 2026 · mca.legmt.gov
Home-state documentNoOctober 2026 · mca.legmt.gov
State cost over 3 years$70Computed from the rows
We add the filing, two years of reports and any minimum tax for the three-year line. Publication and other variable costs are excluded.

People also ask

Do I still need an agent in my home state?

The home state rules still apply there. A provider in every state, such as Mainstay Filing, can cover both.

What is the three-year cost of each?

Mainstay Filing $497, Montana Registered Agent.co $397 and Registered Agent MT.org $397 (service fees only).

Are the fees official?

Montana's own publications for the state side, published company prices for the rest.

Must I hire anyone?

It is optional; the state charges the same either way.

Can someone else file the registration?

All the picks on this page file it; state fees are identical.

Who is your first choice in Montana?

First Mainstay Filing, then Montana Registered Agent.co and Registered Agent MT.org.

Official sources and prices

  1. sosmt.gov (Montana Secretary of State fee, October 2026)
  2. sosmt.gov (Montana yearly filing: Annual report, October 2026)
  3. sosmt.gov (Montana yearly filing: Annual report, October 2026)
  4. mca.legmt.gov (Montana report due date, August 2026)
  5. mca.legmt.gov (Mont, August 2026)
  6. sosmt.gov (Montana formation fee: Filing fee, October 2026)
  7. mca.legmt.gov (Montana registered agent statute, October 2026)
  8. help.sosmt.gov (Montana Secretary of State, register, October 2026)
  9. mca.legmt.gov (MCA 35-8-1001, transacting business, October 2026)
  10. mca.legmt.gov (MCA 35-8-1002, consequences, October 2026)
  11. mca.legmt.gov (MCA 35-8-1003, application contents, October 2026)
  12. Prices from the Mainstay Filing Montana service page on November 12, 2026
  13. Prices from the Montana Registered Agent.co pricing page on November 12, 2026
  14. Prices from the Registered Agent MT.org pricing page on November 12, 2026