Foreign registration ratings · Montana
3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Montana (2026)
1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies registered in more than one state
$199 plus the state fee ($269 due at checkout), then the agent at $149 a year after year one
Mainstay Filing is rated first: $199 on top of the state's fee, with year one as registered agent free and the same amount in every state.
Year one of agent service costs nothing, and afterward the agent is $149 a year in whichever state.
On three-year sums Mainstay is $100 above Registered Agent MT.org; the wider coverage justifies that gap in the rating.
What you get
- Foreign registration filed on your behalf
- Registered agent service free for year one
- Same-business-day scanning of served papers, at no cost
Pros
- Registered agent, no charge in year one
- The same amount in all fifty states
- Same-business-day scans of service of process, no fee
- $199 service fee, state fee separate
Trade-offs
- Agent renewal of $149 is $50 over Registered Agent MT.org
2. Registered Agent MT.org: best for adding Montana and nothing else
$199 with the state's fee added; agent renewal $99
Registered Agent MT.org is rated second: $199 on top of the state fee to register in Montana, agent at $99 afterward.
The plan lists an in-state street address as the registered office and scans papers served there into your account.
What you get
- Foreign registration done for you
- First-year registered agent service
Pros
- Registration line of $199, plus the state's fee
- Then $99 yearly for the agent
- First-year registered agent service is included
Trade-offs
- Montana only; your home state needs its own agent
- EIN application billed at $99
3. Montana Registered Agent.co: best for Montana registrations only
Service fee $199, state fee on top; agent $99 a year after that
Montana Registered Agent.co is rated third: $199 on top of the state fee to register in Montana, agent at $99 afterward.
The plan lists an in-state street address as the registered office and scans papers served there into your account.
On amounts and features alone, Registered Agent MT.org and Montana Registered Agent.co are the same, which makes the order between them a close call.
What you get
- Foreign registration done for you
- Registered agent service for year one
Pros
- $199 service fee and the registration fee
- Agent line of $99 from year two
- Registered agent service for year one is included
Trade-offs
- Montana only; your home state needs its own agent
- EIN application billed at $99
The 3 ratings summarized
| Line | Service | Rating | Service fee | Year two | Best for | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | 9.5 | $199 | $149/yr | Companies that register in several states | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Registered Agent MT.org | 9.3 | $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 | 9.1 | $199 | $99/yr | The lowest agent renewal we rank here | Visit Montana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Montana foreign registration service amounts for 2026: year one, renewal and three-year sum
| Service | Year one | Year two | Year three | Three-year sum | Agent paid for 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 |
Why Mainstay Filing is on top
Formation Rated puts 27% on cost over years one to three, 27% on inclusions per price and the other 46% on renewal price and terms, fit with state rules and price clarity. In Montana the order came down to inclusions per price.
A foreign registration involves two states, and one provider with one amount in both rated highest on coverage, ahead of Registered Agent MT.org.
Each criterion and its weight is listed on How we rank.
Montana foreign LLC registration: amount, form and office
A company from another state registers by lodging the Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company) with the Montana Secretary of State, Business Services; the state amount is $70.
Registration adds one recurring line: the annual report, due April 15.
Have these ready
- Home-state legal name, spelled exactly, and the formation date.
- An in-state registered agent; every service rated here can fill the role.
- $70 to the state, paid with the filing.
- The date of the annual report on your calendar.
What skipping Montana registration costs
An unregistered outside LLC may not sue in Montana courts until it registers (MCA 35-8-1002(1)). A penalty of $5 per day may run.
Montana foreign registration service: your questions
Is registration compulsory for an outside LLC doing business in Montana?
Yes, once it does business there. An unregistered company cannot bring suit in the state's courts.
What are the costs of foreign registration in Montana?
$70 to the state plus $199 to the service.
Must a registered agent stay on file after registering?
Yes. A registered agent with a street address in the state stays on record.
Which foreign registration services are rated on this page?
Mainstay Filing ($199), Registered Agent MT.org ($199) and Montana Registered Agent.co ($199), highest rated first.
What recurring item does a registered foreign LLC carry?
The annual report.
Which foreign registration service holds the top rating in Montana?
Mainstay Filing, as the Montana registration costs $199, and the registered agent is free for year one and $149 a year after.
Source lines
- Montana Secretary of State fee page and fee sheet: standard annual report fee (ledger date October 2026)
- Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source (ledger date October 2026)
- Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source (ledger date October 2026)
- Montana report due date (ledger date August 2026)
- Mont. Code Ann. § 35-8-201 (ledger date August 2026)
- Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source (ledger date October 2026)
- Montana registered agent statute (ledger date October 2026)
- Montana Secretary of State, register a business (ledger date October 2026)
- MCA 35-8-1001, transacting business (ledger date October 2026)
- MCA 35-8-1002, consequences (ledger date October 2026)
- MCA 35-8-1003, application contents (ledger date October 2026)
- Mainstay Filing, Montana service page: amounts read November 12, 2026
- Registered Agent MT.org, pricing and service pages: amounts read November 12, 2026
- Montana Registered Agent.co, pricing and service pages: amounts read November 12, 2026