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The Formation Desk

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

Foreign registration picks · Montana

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Montana (2026)

The The Formation Desk call for foreign registration services in Montana in 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199), Registered Agent MT.org ($199) and Montana Registered Agent.co ($199), in that order. Mainstay Filing takes the call: it files the Montana registration for $199 and serves as your registered agent, free in year one, then $149 a year.
Written by The Formation Desk editorial team
1
Best here

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies working in more than one state

$199 plus the state fee ($269 due at checkout), then the agent at $149 a year from year two

Editorial score 9.4 out of 10

The desk picks Mainstay Filing: $199 on top of state fees in any state, with the first year of registered agent service included.

The first agent year is free, and after that the agent runs $149 a year, in any state.

Over three years Mainstay runs $100 more than Registered Agent MT.org, and the desk thinks the wider coverage is worth it.

In the price

  • Your foreign registration, handled
  • The first year as your registered agent, free
  • Same-business-day upload of scanned service of process, no fee

Strengths

  • Free scans of served papers on the same business day
  • Registered agent costs nothing in year one
  • $199 service fee, state fee on top
  • Same price in all fifty states

Cons

  • Agent renewal of $149 is $50 above Registered Agent MT.org
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Mainstay Filing up close
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Best local option

2. Registered Agent MT.org: best for adding only Montana

$199 with the state's fee added; agent renewal at $99

Editorial score 9.0 out of 10

Runner-up, Registered Agent MT.org: $199 over the state fee to register in Montana, agent renewing at $99.

You get an in-state street address as the registered office, and papers served there are scanned into your account.

In the price

  • Foreign registration done for you
  • Registered agent service for year one

Strengths

  • The first registered agent year is included
  • Registers the company for $199, plus the state's fee
  • $99 yearly to keep the agent

Cons

  • Montana only; your home state needs its own agent
  • EIN application will cost you $99 more
Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Registered Agent MT.org up close
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Best value here

3. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for Montana registrations only

$199 for the service, state fee on top; agent $99 a year after year one

Editorial score 8.7 out of 10

Third, Montana Registered Agent.co: $199 over the state fee to register in Montana, agent renewing at $99.

You get an in-state street address as the registered office, and papers served there are scanned into your account.

On price and features there is nothing between Registered Agent MT.org and Montana Registered Agent.co, which makes the order a close call.

In the price

  • Foreign registration done for you
  • Year-one registered agent service

Strengths

  • The agent costs $99 after year one
  • A $199 registration price, state fee on top
  • Year-one registered agent service is in the price

Cons

  • Montana only; your home state needs its own agent
  • EIN application will cost you $99 more
Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Montana Registered Agent.co up close

The desk's 3 picks in brief

Pick Service Desk score Service fee Year two Good for Visit
1 Mainstay Filing 9.4 $199 $149/yr Companies doing business in several states Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Registered Agent MT.org 9.0 $199 $99/yr The lowest agent renewal we rank here Visit Registered Agent MT.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Montana Registered Agent.co 8.7 $199 $99/yr The lowest agent renewal we rank here Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The Formation Desk sets every score out of 10 itself from the weighted criteria on How we rank; customers do not rate anything.

What a Montana foreign registration service costs in 2026: year one, renewal and the three-year bill

Service Year one Year two Year three Bill over three years Agent covered in year one
Mainstay Filing $199 $149 $149 $497 Free
Registered Agent MT.org $199 $99 $99 $397 Included
Montana Registered Agent.co $199 $99 $99 $397 Included

Every price here was read off the company's own pages on November 12, 2026. Montana's $70 registration fee comes on top of every row and is left out of these totals.

Why Mainstay Filing is the pick

The Formation Desk counts spend over three years and work the price removes for 33% each; what renewal looks like, fit with the state and plain price display make up the other 34%. What tipped Montana: work the price removes.

Foreign registration means two states, and one provider at one price in both won on coverage, ahead of Registered Agent MT.org.

The full criteria and weights are on How we rank.

Registering a foreign LLC in Montana: fee, form and who gets it

To register, the company files the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company) with the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services and pays the state's $70.

From then on the company owes the annual report, due April 15.

What to pull together first

  • The company name exactly as the home state spells it, and when it was formed.
  • An in-state registered agent; any service the desk picked can fill that seat.
  • $70 for the state, paid when you file.
  • A date on your calendar for the annual report.

What it costs to ignore Montana registration

Until it registers, an outside LLC has no right to sue in Montana courts (MCA 35-8-1002(1)). A daily penalty of $5 can run on top.

Montana foreign registration service: reader questions

Does an LLC from elsewhere have to register to operate in Montana?

Yes, once it starts doing business there. Until it registers it cannot sue in the state's courts.

What will foreign registration cost you in Montana?

$70 goes to the state and $199 to the service.

Do you still need a registered agent after you register?

Yes. Keep a registered agent with a street address in the state on file.

Which foreign registration services did the desk rank here?

Mainstay Filing ($199), Registered Agent MT.org ($199) and Montana Registered Agent.co ($199), best pick first.

What does a registered foreign LLC owe each year?

The annual report.

Who is our pick for foreign registration in Montana?

Mainstay Filing, since $199 plus the state's own fee, the registered agent free for year one and the same price in every state.

Related pages

Where the numbers came from

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