Montana Registered Agent
If you're planning to register your Montana business as an LLC, you'll be legally required to elect a Montana registered agent to receive service of process.
You can be your own registered agent or use a third-party service. Using a service will:
- Reduce risk
- Increase privacy and flexibility
- Offer affordable pricing
We’ll help you make the best choice for your business.
Recommended: Northwest Registered Agent offers free registered agent services with LLC formation ($29 plus state fees).
Choosing a Registered Agent in Montana
A Montana registered agent will serve as your business’s primary point of contact with the state, and will also be responsible for receiving service of process in the event that a lawsuit is filed against you.
In Montana, you will be legally required to appoint a registered agent as an LLC or corporation. This can be a registered agent service or an individual, so long as they:
- Are at least 18 years old.
- Have a physical street address in Montana.
- Are always available during regular business hours at their registered office address.
Montana Registered Agent Services
- Convenience: Hiring a third-party service will allow you to operate with more flexibility on a day-to-day basis. This is because you will not need to be physically present at your office address during normal business hours.
- Privacy: Since your registered agent’s name and address will become publicly available, you can choose to hire a third-party service in order to protect your private information.
- Compliance and Online Storage: Several third-party services offer additional features that will help you stay compliant with the state (e.g., annual report reminders, scanning documents and uploading them online, etc.).
Let’s Find the Right Registered Agent for Your Business
We’ve tested and reviewed the most popular registered agent services.
Can You Be Your Own Registered Agent?
Yes, you can.
Acting as your own agent can be a good idea for small businesses operating on a very small budget (since it can be done at no cost).
Having said that, we recommend avoiding this approach unless strictly necessary due to the fact that:
- It’s relatively time inefficient
- It will not provide you with any privacy protections
- It will not provide any safeguards when it comes to staying legally compliant.
If you are planning to form a new LLC, you should use an LLC formation service that comes with a free year of registered agent services. These can charge as little as $29 per formation (excluding state fees) and can ensure that your LLC’s Articles of Organization will not get rejected by the Secretary of State.
If you are forming an LLC but prefer to file the paperwork yourself and act as your own registered agent, take a look at our How to Start an LLC in Montana guide.
Best Montana Registered Agent Service
Northwest is the best registered agent service based on overall quality and transparent pricing. Northwest offers a seamless user experience and best-in-industry customer service and privacy protection.
When you choose Northwest as your registered agent service, you'll get an online account to access essential legal documents, mail forwarding, and business address services.
Northwest’s virtual mailbox service will scan your mail and forward it to you electronically. This means that you can keep track of your mail no matter where you are in the world.
LLC Formation + 1 yr Free Registered Agent Service
One Year Free Registered Agent with LLC Formation $29 (Plus State Fees)
Benefits of Using a Registered Agent Service
Many businesses choose to use a professional registered agent service when they form an LLC. This is because it can offer a number of benefits, including:
- Legal compliance: A valid registered agent service will ensure that you don’t miss an important legal document or notification (e.g., service of process, etc.) as a result of not being in your office (or as a result of a human error).
- Improved privacy: If you act as your own agent, your name and address will become public record on the Montana Business Search website. Using a registered agent service will help keep your information private.
- Discretion: When it comes to legal disputes, you will want to avoid receiving lawsuit-related documents in front of your clients and/or some employees.
- Better storage: Your service will generally scan all documents received and upload them online in PDF form. This means that you will always be able to access them online, and won’t have to worry about losing an important document.
A registered agent service can also be beneficial if you plan to expand into other states as a foreign LLC. This is because, otherwise, you would need to find an individual or business entity that is a resident — or is allowed to transact business — in each state that you want to register in.
How to Elect a Registered Agent in Montana
For your LLC in Montana, you will need to elect a registered agent when you complete your LLC’s Articles of Organization.
This must be filed online and is the formation document that you will submit to the Secretary of State in order to officially form your Montana LLC.
Electing a Registered Agent Online
You can form your LLC online by creating an account through the Montana Secretary of State business filing portal ($35 filing fee required). Once subscribed, you’ll gain access to all the resources you need to appoint a registered agent and form an LLC online.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Montana
If you want to appoint a new registered agent, you will need to complete a Change form and submit it to the Secretary of State through their Online Business Services website. Keep in mind that you will need to log in to your Montana SOS account in order to get started.
There is no filing fee involved, and this change can also be completed when you file your annual report.
For more information read our how to change registered agents in Montana guide.
Registered Agent FAQ
Can I be my own registered agent in Montana?
Yes you can, assuming that you are at least 18 years old, have a physical address in the state of Montana, and will be available for contact during regular business hours.
Having said that, we recommend going with a third-party service if you can afford it; this is because it is significantly more efficient from a time point of view while remaining relatively affordable.
See our Montana Registered Agent article for more information.
Who can be a registered agent in Montana?
Montana registered agents need to satisfy the following requirements in order to be accepted:
- Be 18 years old or older
- Be available for contact during regular business hours
- Have a physical address in the state of Montana
This can be yourself, a partner, or a commercial registered agent service.
What is a registered agent service?
A registered agent service is a third-party service that acts as your business’s primary representative with the Secretary of State.
Your agent will also be responsible for receiving service of process in the event that a lawsuit is filed against you.
See our article on What is a Registered Agent Service for more information.
How much does a Montana registered agent cost?
If you use a third-party service, your registered agent service cost will depend on the provider that you choose to work with (e.g., between $90 and $300 per year, etc.).
Having said that, you can also act as your own registered agent — also known as a resident agent — and this will cost you $0 per year.
See our How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost article for more information.