If you are planning to start a business in Montana, you will need to appoint a registered agent at the time you form your business with the state. All business entities are required to maintain a registered agent as long as they are active. We have spent 30+ hours researching and interviewing registered agent services to provide you with this full-service guide to the best registered agents in Montana. Whether you are a first-time business owner or a seasoned entrepreneur, hiring a commercial registered agent will make your life much easier.
N.W. Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent is the best overall due to its numerous pros and a minimal number of cons. Perfect for all sorts of registered agent work.
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is the ideal choice if you're interested in starting and growing your business with all sorts of registered agent services right at your fingertips.
Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance is the best registered agent in Montana for monitoring compliance. All documents are processed the same day; perfect if you're in a rush.
Inc Authority
Inc Authority provides highly efficient registered agent services while being very affordable for all sorts of businesses and entrepreneurs.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom is an excellent choice for entrepreneurs who want to do all of their legal correspondence themselves with certain helpful features.
Your registered agent will ensure all your service of process is safely received, and messages are relayed to you in a timely manner. They will be available during normal business hours to accept legal mail on behalf of your business. This keeps your business in good standing with the state and keeps you up to date on legal and compliance deadlines without having to make yourself available at an office.
Failing to be available to accept service of process puts your business at risk of penalties and fines, which makes the annual service fee for a professional registered agent well worth the protection it offers.
What Is the Best Registered Agent Service in Montana?
1. Northwest Registered Agent
Best Overall Registered Agent in Montana ($125/year)
Northwest Registered Agent can help you get your business started and stay on top of compliance. Their premium registered agent service includes mail receiving service, customer support, pre-filled forms with your corporate data for easy filing, and annual report reminders, and they have a free library of business tips. Your privacy is protected, and your data will not be shared.
As your registered agent, their local office will go on file with the state as the point of contact for your business. They can always be reached during normal business hours to receive your important mail and keep you in good standing. When documents arrive, you can count on same-day scanning and email notifications and request mail forwarding. All your service of process will be organized in your online business account for 24/7 access. They will also send you compliance and annual report reminders to ensure you are up to date with state requirements.
Pros
- Great Customer Service: Get quality support from knowledgeable professionals by phone or email.
- Business Formation Package Deals: Get your business formed and filed and one year of registered agent service, all for $225. Get a discount if you need services in 10 or more states.
- Same-day Updates: Get an alert and scanned copy the same day mail is received.
Cons
- Not the Cheapest: Lower prices from their competitors.
- Mail Forward Fees: If you need more than five normal business mail documents scanned per year, there is a $20 upcharge.
- Business Formation Fee: They do not offer free business formation as some other services do.
Pricing
Registered Agent Service ($125/year): Operate your business with peace of mind, and have all your important legal mail forwarded to you the same day it is received. Get compliance notifications and access your service of process records from your online portal.
2. ZenBusinessÂ
Best Registered Agent in Montana for Startups and Small Businesses ($199/year)
ZenBusiness registered agents can help you stay compliant and current on your legal mail and filing and tax deadlines. If you are in the start-up phase, you can hire them for a small fee to help you form your business and get the first year of registered agent service for free. As your point of contact, they will be available during normal business hours to receive service of process notices, so you don’t have to be. This also keeps your personal address off the public record, providing you flexibility and extra protection.
When your registered agent accepts legal mail for you, they will relay the information to you promptly via email and scan copies to make them available to you on your online account. Zenbusiness has more services to help you out, such as tax and accounting services, funding, bookkeeping, and comprehensive reporting. Their rating on Better Business Bureau averages 4.3 out of 5 stars.
Pros
- Cheap Business Formation: Business formation service is $49 + state fees, which includes a year of registered agent service at no extra cost.
- Convenient Service: They have great customer service, same-day alerts, and a free library full of business tips.
Cons
- Compliance and Reporting Fees: Compliance calendar reminders cost an additional $50 a year, and reporting service is $100 + state fees.
- Unnecessary Upsells: They charge $99 for an EIN number, which you can get for free through the IRS.
Pricing
Registered Agent Service ($199/year): ZenBusiness saves you time by taking care of essential tasks like receiving mail, storing digital records of service of process, providing convenient customer service, and other business services if you need support.
3. Harbor Compliance
Best Registered Agent in Montana for Compliance Monitoring ($99/year)
Harbor Compliance has quality registered agents service at a competitive price. Their service gives you an extra layer of privacy, and their office will be listed as the point of contact for your business. They provide you with state-required pre-filled forms you need to put on file with the state as your registered agent. Your registered agent will greet process servers and sign for legal document deliveries when needed. Their Montana headquarters will be open during normal business hours to ensure your mail can be received, and you stay in good standing with the state.
When important mail arrives, they send you an email notification with a copy of the scanned documents. They will also remind you about annual reporting deadlines. You will have an online account to access all your scanned and stored service of process. You can also request that legal mail gets forwarded to your attorney. Harbor Compliance helps you manage your business records, mail, licenses, and taxes with convenient online storage and compliance reminders.
Pros
- Competitive Price: Quality registered agent services at a competitive rate.
- No Hidden Fees: Pay the same fee annually, with no surprises or price changes.
Cons
- Report Filing Fees: Annual report reminders are free; however, filing service costs an additional $175
- No Refund Policy: They do not offer a satisfaction guarantee.
Pricing
Registered Agent Service ($99/year): Rely on Harbor Compliance to keep you up to date on your legal mail with same-day alerts, compliance reminders, and a business management portal for online document organization.
4. Inc Authority
Best Registered Agent in Montana for Affordability ($99/year)
Inc Authority has a free business formation service for start-ups that includes a year of registered agent service all for free. You pay the state filing fees, and they file your formation documents with the state. Inc Authority has great services; however, you have to form your business with them to use their registered agent service. This is not an option for businesses that are already established.
As your registered agent, Inc Authority’s Montana office address will go on file as your point of contact. They will be the ones to receive your legal mail and notify you when mail arrives. Their service also includes same-day alerts, document scanning, an online account for mail and document storage, and compliance reminders, so you stay in good standing with the state.
Inc Authority has a full-service entry package that will get you started by checking your business name, filing entity formation documents, starting you with a free year of registered agent service, giving you an online account for digital document storage, customer support, tax consultations, business funding support, and credit analysis.
Pros
- Free Business Formation: Free LLC formation and your first year of registered agent service for $0.
- Low-Cost Annual Price: Pay $99 annually to maintain registered agent services, which includes complimentary compliance notifications.
Cons
- Exclusively for Start-ups: Registered agent service is only for businesses that use their formation service.
- No Annual Reporting: No annual reporting and filing service.
Pricing
Registered Agent Service (Free first year, then $99/year): Inc Authority is a low-cost, convenient solution for new businesses to get their LLC formed with a free year of registered agent services and compliance alerts.
5. LegalZoom
Best Registered Agent for DIY Entrepreneurs ($299/year)
Operate your business with ease with the support of LegalZoom registered agent services. They can cover the essentials to make sure your business stays compliant. They will go on record as your point of contact to give you privacy and flexibility and make it easy for you to access your legal mail online.
You can rely on them to accept your service of process and relay information to you in a timely manner. They will upload a digital copy of all important mail to your online portal for 24/7 access and send you compliance calendar alerts. LegalZoom services are higher priced than some of their competitors; however, they are reliable, and their service includes identity theft protection and business credit monitoring.
If you need help with your business formation. They have a free LLC set up; you just pay the state filing fee. You can also order annual report filing and tax services, get business licenses, legal help, trademark services, and more.
Pros
- Chat support
- Business document storage
- Tracking important deadlines
- Renewing licenses
- Compliance alerts
Cons
- Can be expensive for some startups
- Relatively weak free features
Pricing
The registered agent service provided by LegalZoom includes acceptance of business correspondence, along with reminders of tax and annual reporting requirements for $299/year. Although the service is more costly than others, the annual fee includes the cost of Montana state filing fees.
6. Rocket Lawyer
Best Risk-Free Registered Agent Option in Montana ($149.99/year)
Rocket Lawyer has business solutions for small to large businesses and is backed by a satisfaction guarantee. They offer registered agent services and more, plus a 7-day free trial to explore all their service offerings for free when you sign up. If you sign up for their premium membership plan, you get 25% off registered agent services, plus access to legal documents, legal consultations, and attorney help.
Rocket Lawyer registered agents help you manage your business legal mail and compliance deadlines. As your point of contact, you can rely on them to be available during normal business hours to accept service of process on your behalf. They will separate important mail from junk mail and send you a notice the same day mail is received. Get compliance alerts and annual reporting reminders, and view copies of your important mail from your online profile.
7. Incfile
Best Registered Agent Customer Support & Services ($119/year)
Incfile is a quality service that offers free business formation with the first year of registered agent services, all for free. You can get your business established, have your mail organized, and get compliance support. Sign up online to appoint them as your registered agent. Their address will go on record, so yours stays private. If you were sued, they would receive the papers and discreetly notify you so you could keep your legal matters private.
You can rely on Incfile registered agents to be available during normal business hours to accept your service of process. When they accept mail for you, they send you an email notice and scan and upload important files to your online account for 24/7 access. You can keep track of your deadlines and notices pertaining to new legal mail, state compliance, and annual reporting. They also have free learning guides and business management articles available on their website.
Pros
- First Year Free: Incfile will file your business documents and provide the first year of registered agent service all for free.
- Low-Cost Renewal Price: After your first year of free service, you will pay an annual rate of $119.
- Bilingual Customer Support: Incfile’s customer support team can help you in English and Spanish.
Cons
- Lack of 24/7 Support: Incfile’s customer support team is only available between 9AM and 6PM CST.
Pricing
Registered Agent Service (Free first year, then $119/year): Incfile’s free business formation makes it easy to get your business started and get registered agent services for mail alerts and compliance reminders for a low annual cost.
8. InCorp
Quality Registered Agent Service Provider in Montana ($129/year)
InCorp has quality registered agent services available to businesses in all 50 states. You can sign up for registered agent service online, get help filing your formation documents, and order additional services such as business licensing, annual report filing, trademarks, and amendments. Their service keeps you organized and provides a layer of privacy, ensuring legal papers are received, kept confidential, and safely stored.
With their basic registered agent service, they will go on record as your point of contact to be available during normal business hours for accepting legal mail on your behalf. When you receive mail through your registered agent’s office, your account representative will scan important documents and upload them to your online account. When you get official mail, they will also send you an email. They also have discounts for multi-state business services and for those who pay upfront for a few years of service at a time.
9. SunDoc Filings
Standard Registered Agent Service in Montana ($159/year)
SunDoc Filings is a great resource for small and large businesses to keep up with legal mail, report filings, and stay organized. Sign up online for registered agent services and put their address on file with the state as your point of contact. Their main job is to be available during normal business hours to receive legal mail on behalf of your business. As soon as the mail is received, they scan it and upload it to your online account and send you an email, so you have what you need no matter where you are. If your business were to be sued, they would be the ones to receive your court papers and contact you, which helps you keep legal matters discreet. From your online account, you can view digital copies of all your service of process records. SunDoc Filings keeps you on track with state compliance guidelines and reminds you about reporting deadlines.
10. Swyft Filings
Best Registered Agent in Montana for Quick Communications ($149/year)
Swyft Filings is an affordable service provider and can cover your multi-state service needs.
You can get quality help with your start-up and formation, general maintenance, and registered agent services. As your registered agent, they will go on record with the state as your representative to accept service of process on behalf of your business. Their local Montana office will always be open during standard business hours to ensure legal mail can always be received, and your business stays compliant. Rely on same-day mail alerts, digital records, an online account for document storage, and annual reporting reminders. Get full-service report filing for $99. Check out their free online learning center full of business tips, state guides, and tax and finance resources.
11. CSC Global
Best Registered Agent in Montana for Global Business Connections ($299/year)
CSC Global can cover your basic registered agent needs, but their price is higher than most.
However, if your business operates outside of the US, they have resources for legal and global financial assistance. CSC Global can help you manage your business entity and procure business licenses. If you just need basic registered agent services for the state of Montana, you can appoint them as your point of contact to go on file with the state. As your business representative, they will be available during normal business hours to receive official mail and scan your documents, so you have access to your legal mail through your online portal. Your online account is where you can keep track of your filings and manage service of process records, annual reports, litigation, deals, business licenses, and contracts.
12. Resident Agent LLC
Local Registered Agent Service in Montana ($97/year)
Montana Resident Agent LLC provides a basic registered agent service for a great price. Simply sign up and put them on file as your registered agent, and they will take on the responsibility of being available during normal business hours to receive legal mail for you. Their service makes your life easier and gives you convenient access to service of process through an online portal.
They also protect any sensitive information, securely store your documents, and make sure your legal matters are kept private and documents sent to you right away. As mail is received, they contact you via email and make copies available to you online. Your Montana registered agent will also help you out with compliance by sending you annual report reminders. The only downside is that they do not offer other reporting, filing, and taxes services.
13. Montana Registered Agent LLC
Low-Cost Montana Registered Agent Services ($49/year)
If you want the very best deal on registered agent service, Montana Registered Agent is it. They will handle your business mail for only $49 a year. Sign up online and file them as your agent with the state, and they will function as your point of contact to accept service of process for your business and keep you up to date on compliance requirements. You can also take advantage of their expedited 1-day business formation service. Their service is cheap and covers the basics, from being available during standard business hours to receiving your mail and keeping digital records of your legal mail for you in your online account. They send same-day notifications when mail is received and complimentary reminders when you need to file your annual report. This a hassle-free solution for your business to keep you in good standing with the state.
What Is a Montana Registered Agent?
A Montana registered agent is appointed to represent a business entity for receiving service of process and legal mail deliveries. They can be a non-commercial person or a commercial service as long as they have a physical address in Montana and are registered and maintain an active good standing status with the State of Montana.
How Can a Montana Registered Agent Help Your Business?
Hiring a professional registered agent can make your life much easier. They keep your compliance needs covered by being available during normal business hours to receive service of process for you.
Here are some of the ways they can benefit you and your business:
- Secure physical address
- Available during standard business hours
- Ensure your legal mail ends up in safe hands
- Provide you flexibility and privacy
- Keeps your address off the public record
- Gives you flexibility
- Maintain a digital record of service of process
- Keeps your business in good standing
- Keep legal matters confidential
- Online organization
Is a Registered Agent Legally Required in Montana?
Montana requires businesses to appoint and maintain a registered agent as long as the business is active. You cannot file Articles of Organization without putting a registered agent on record, and your agent must consent to this.
Montana Registered Agent Q&A
How Much Does a Montana Registered Agent Cost?
You can hire a professional registered agent for as low as $49 and $300 on the high end for a full year of service.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Montana?
You can be your own registered agent or appoint another non-commercial registered agent, like yourself or a friend, as long as the entity has a physical address, is registered, and maintains an active good standing status with the state of Montana.
Can a Company in Montana Change Its Registered Agent?
You can change your registered agent at any time by submitting an Entity Change Form on the Montana Secretary of State website.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Montana Registered Agent?
Signing up for a registered agent is a fast process that can be done online. After you order the service, you will need to file your registered agent’s information with the state, and your service will be active as soon as it is received. Processing times may vary if you submit your documents after office hours.
N.W. Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent is the best overall due to its numerous pros and a minimal number of cons. Perfect for all sorts of registered agent work.
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is the ideal choice if you're interested in starting and growing your business with all sorts of registered agent services right at your fingertips.
Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance is the best registered agent in Montana for monitoring compliance. All documents are processed the same day; perfect if you're in a rush.
Inc Authority
Inc Authority provides highly efficient registered agent services while being very affordable for all sorts of businesses and entrepreneurs.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom is an excellent choice for entrepreneurs who want to do all of their legal correspondence themselves with certain helpful features.