If you’re starting a business in Montana, you’ll need to appoint a registered agent during the formation process. A good registered agent can make it significantly easier for you to remain compliant with all the state laws and regulations. To help you make the process of finding a registered agent easier, we’ve compiled a list of our recommendations for the best Montana registered agent services.
If, however, you’re not in the mood to read eleven individual reviews, check out our summary table where we detail all the features of our top 3 recommendations.
Best Montana Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Missouri Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Kalispell |
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Montana Registered Agent | $45 a year | Kalispell |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Kalispell |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Helena |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Helena |
| Registered Agent Net | $89 a year | Not stated |
| MyCompanyWorks | $99 a year | Not stated |
| Registered Agent Inc. | $200 a year | Not stated |
Apart from giving you individual reviews, we’ll also go over each step you need to complete to register your business in Montana and answer more question in our FAQ section.
But first, let’s see what the role of a registered agent entails.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent is a person or a company that acts as a point of contact between your business and the government and accepts official correspondence and legal documents on your behalf. Additionally, their job is to process the documents and forward them to you in a timely manner.
Does Montana Require a Registered Agent Service?
You might be wondering whether appointing a registered agent is a requirement in Montana. The answer is yes, in Montana, the state requires every business to appoint a registered agent that meets all the requirements.
Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent Service
Now, let’s go over all the benefits you can experience if you hire a registered agent:
- Your business will have increased flexibility since you won’t have to maintain regular business hours;
- Added privacy – your private address won’t be on any public records;
- You’ll have more peace of mind and will be able to travel without any guilt;
- You can easily expand your business in other jurisdictions;
- You’ll have more time to dedicate to the growth of your business;
- You won’t risk getting in potentially embarrassing situations with clients.
1. IncFile
IncFile is a registered agent service that’s been in the business for almost 20 years and has over 800,000 happy customers. They offer a comprehensive and affordable registered agent service that includes the following benefits:
- Automatic mail forwarding
- Access to your correspondence on your personal dashboard
- Tailored email and text notifications
Their regular price is $119 a year, but you can get a complimentary year of registered agent services if you hire IncFile for business formation. This makes them an excellent option for newer businesses.
On top of being affordable, their pricing is also transparent – there are no sneaky contracts or hidden fees.
Another reason to opt for IncFile is their user-friendly interface and timely compliance reminders.
Apart from offering a registered agent service and formation services, IncFile also excel at:
- Foreign qualification
- Trademarking
- Amendment
- Tax consultations
- Business licenses and permits
- Certificate of good standing
- Virtual address
2. Northwest
Northwest, one of the most renowned names in the registered agent industry, offer every tool your business needs to remain compliant. Once you appoint them as your registered agent, you will access:
- Document storage
- Scanned documents
- Pre-filled state forms
- Compliance alerts
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report reminders
In addition to the abovementioned benefits, customers also get access to their Corporate Guides – their comprehensive customer support team that’s ready to help you in a timely manner with any issue that might arise.
Customers really love how dedicated they are to protecting the privacy of their clients and their data, all thanks to their Privacy by Default feature.
Their registered agent service costs $125 a year. If you hire Northwest for more than four states, you can access their multi-year account, which reduces the fee to only $100 a year.
Moreover, every customer gets access to a free compliance calendar during their first year with Northwest.
Their Montana office is located in Kalispell, Flathead County.
Northwest also offer the following services:
- Virtual office
- Trademarking
- Payment processing
- Mail forwarding
- Foreign qualification
- Phone service
- Annual report filings
3. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is a reputable registered agent service that has helped over 300,000 businesses. Rated as #1 by big names in the industry like Forbes, they provide a great service without breaking the bank. Their registered agent package includes:
- Email notifications
- Mail forwarding
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Document scanning
- Fast turnaround
One of our favorite aspects of ZenBusiness is their Grant Program – a portion of their income goes to struggling entrepreneurs to help them launch their businesses.
Another reason to hire ZenBusiness is their amazing customer support. You can rest assured knowing you’ll be able to easily surpass any compliance-related problem that might arise.
The yearly fee of ZenBusiness is $199. If you want, you can upgrade their registered agent service to include more features, such as two free filing changes a year and annual support alerts.
ZenBusiness also offer the following services:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- EIN Number
- Taxes and accounting
- Banking and finances
- Annual reports
- Worry-free compliance
- Domain name and website
- Business license reports
- Operating agreement
4. Montana Registered Agent
If you’re looking for an affordable yet efficient registered agent service, we have you covered. Montana Registered Agent provide a myriad of tools for just $45 a year. Here are all the perks you can access for this price:
- Tax notifications
- An all-access business account
- State forms
- Tips and guides for business filings
- Annual report reminders
Their Montana office is located in Kalispell.
Apart from registered agent services, you can hire Montana Registered Agent for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
5. Harbor Compliance
Another excellent choice for an affordable registered agent service is Harbor Compliance. They will help you remain compliant all year round by giving you access to:
- Pre-filled state forms
- Annual report reminders
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
- Customizable notifications
Harbor Compliance are known for their fast processing speed, as well as how diligent they are about sending you report reminders in due time.
In addition, their helpful customer support team will always be at your disposal if you have any questions or concerns.
Since they are a nationwide registered agent, you can easily expand your business in other states without having to worry about changing registered agents.
Their yearly fee will set you back $99, and you can get an additional 10% discount if you hire them for multiple years in a row.
Their Montana office is located in Kalispell.
Harbor Compliance also offer the following services:
- Amendments
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Business licenses
6. CSC Global
On the other hand, if you own a larger business and you don’t mind spending a little extra on a quality registered agent service, we highly recommend CSC Global. Here are all the benefits that come with their registered agent service:
- Annual compliance reminders
- Access to SOC-2 facilities
- Same-day document scans
- Electronic delivery of your documents
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
The SOC-2 technology is one of their most appealing features – with its help, you’ll get high level data security and all your information will remain protected.
A year of registered agent services with CSC Global will cost you $381.
Their Montana address is located in Helena.
Their other services include:
- UCC
- Digital brand services
- Entity management
- Legal management
- Corporate filings
- Real estate and e-recording
7. LegalZoom
Another great option for a Montana registered agent, especially if your business would benefit from legal services, is LegalZoom. This remarkable company has helped over 2 million businesses throughout the years and offers the following tools that will help you remain compliant:
- Mail alerts
- Annual report reminders
- Unlimited cloud storage
- $1M in identity theft protection
In addition, you’ll get access to their Compliance Calendar, which will help you keep track of all your important deadlines seamlessly.
What’s more, if you already have a registered agent and you aren’t satisfied with their services, LegalZoom offers to change your current registered agent for you, cover any fees, and do all the paperwork on your behalf.
LegalZoom is also known for its expertise in IP protection and trademark registration, which is another reason why it’d be a good match for larger businesses.
The other services covered by LegalZoom are:
- Business registration
- Trademarking and copyright
- Incorporation
- Business formation
- EIN Number
- Annual reports
- Power of attorney
- Taxation
- Residential lease
- Foreign qualification
8. InCorp
InCorp is a successful company that specializes in a wide range of services. Their registered agent service is known for being affordable and reputable. It includes the following perks:
- Annual report filings
- Mail forwarding
- Legal notifications
- Access to their Entity Management system
Thanks to their EntityWatch technology, your business will be protected from identity theft, which is always a plus.
Their yearly pricing is $129, but you can purchase their services for as low as $87 if you use their multi-year service.
Their Montana office can be found in Helena.
The other services provided by InCorp include:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Foreign qualification
- UCC search
- DBA filing
- Apostille service
- Articles of amendment
- Copyright and trademarking
9. Registered Agent Net
We’re adding Registered Agent Net on our list of excellent registered agent services that cost less than $100 annually. For just $89, you can get the following benefits:
- Two-year price guarantee
- Compliance calendar
- Access to their Compliance Entity Manager
- Same-day document delivery
Their compliance tools will make it easier than ever to keep track of all your important information and get regular reminders about your filings. Before every due date, you will be notified via mail.
They also offer three additional services:
- Corporate filings
- Annual report service
- Change of registered agent
10. MyCompanyWorks
MyCompanyWorks offers a customizable registered agent service that covers all the basic compliance tools you’ll ever need to avoid being fined or getting in trouble with the state, including:
- Compliance monitoring
- Online order tracking
- Free E-delivery
- Access to an online dashboard
- Access to their Startup Wizard
- Same-day processing
Their pricing sits at $99 annually, and you’ll get a 100% satisfaction guarantee in case you’re not satisfied with your purchase.
Their other services include:
- Company dissolution
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- File a DBA
- Business licenses
- Virtual office
- Annual reports
11. Registered Agent Inc.
Our last recommendation for a Montana registered agent service is Registered Agent Inc. This nationwide registered agent service comes with a plethora of benefits, including:
- Access to a Corporate Accounts Portal
- Compliance reminders
- Digital notifications
- Professional filer tips
Their yearly fee is $200.
Apart from offering registered agent services, they also specialize in:
- Incorporation services
- BOC-3 Process Agent Service
- Start-up formation
How Do I Register a Business in Montana?
Now it’s time to delve into all the mandatory steps you need to complete to register a business in Montana.
Name Your Business
One of the most important decisions you’ll make regarding your business is deciding what to name it.
Apart from representing your company values and the types of goods and services you’re selling, it should also be unique. It’s required by law that your business name is different from other business names in this state. To help you in this step, you can do a business name search on the Montana Secretary of State website.
After double-checking that the name you’ve chosen is unique, you can reserve it. There’s a chance that your business name gets taken by the time you’re done registering your business, so you have the option of reserving your name for a $10 fee.
There are also some words you’re obligated to use in the business name to show what kind of business entity you’re operating. For instance, if you decide to form an LLC, you have to include the word “Limited Liability Company”, or one of its abbreviations.
Decide on a Business Structure
Another important decision that will dictate the subsequent steps is deciding on a business structure for your business. In Montana, the most popular business structures are:
Each of business structure has different obligations with the state, starting fees, and operating structures. An important thing that differentiates sole proprietorships and partnerships with LLCs and corporations is the presence of limited liability – the latter allows for their owners’ assets to remain protected in case of a lawsuit or claim.
File Articles of Organization
If forming an LLC appeals to you, then the next step you need to take is filing articles of organization with the Montana Secretary of State. Essentially, articles of organization is a document that includes important details about your business, its owners, and the registered agent you’ve chosen. The filing fee is $35.
File Articles of Incorporation
If, on the other hand, you decide to form a corporation in Montana, you’ll need to incorporate your business. The first step in doing so is filing articles of incorporation with the Montana Secretary of State. This document has a similar purpose to articles of organization, except it comes with additional information about the shares of the company. The filing fee is the same as articles of organization – $35.
Obtain an Employee Identification Number
Businesses that have employees or are taxed separately from their owners need to get an EIN. You can apply for an EIN on the IRS website. Even if you don’t need an EIN for tax purposes, you might want to think about obtaining one because it comes with many benefits. For instance, it makes it significantly easier to open a business bank account or get a business credit card. Moreover, it protects from identity theft and it makes it easier for you to get a business loan, if you ever need one.
Get the Necessary Licenses and Permits
Last but not least, you’ll need to have all the right licenses and permits for your business.
The state of Montana doesn’t require you to have a general business license. However, you might need to obtain a professional business license, depending on what industry you’re in. You can search individual sectors on the Montana Department of Commerce website.
It’s important to keep in mind that some licenses are issued on a county level, so make sure you check with your county or city to see if you need any additional licenses.
An extremely helpful tool you can use when acquiring your business license is the business license search on the Montana Professional Boards and Licensing website.
FAQs
Where Can I Do a Montana Business Entity Search?
You can do a Montana business entity search on the Montana Secretary of State website.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Montana?
It costs $35 to register an LLC or a corporation in Montana.
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost in Montana?
You can find a Montana registered agent for as low as $45, as is the case of Montana Registered Agent. With that said, some registered agents can cost up to hundreds of dollars.
A Word of Farewell
We hope you enjoyed our guide on the best Montana registered agent services!
If you’d like to hire a quality, reputable registered agent, you can’t go wrong with choosing one of our top recommendations: IncFile, ZenBusiness, or Northwest. They come with a myriad of appealing tools, like mail forwarding, online document storage, and compliance reminders, all of which are designed to prevent any fees and keep you on track with deadlines.
If you’re on the lookout for a more affordable service that will cost you less than $100 annually, we recommend Montana Registered Agent and Registered Agent Net.
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