Montana · Start a business

How to start a business in Montana

Montana assumed business names are registered with the Secretary of State and last 5 years.

As of 4 min readVermilion Vitez Team

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MONTANAMTFILEDSECRETARY OF STATEEINAPROPENMONTANA · 10 STEPSFrom structure to open door

Short answer

To start a business in Montana, pick a structure and file with the Secretary of State. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes.

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What do you file before you open in Montana?

  1. Pick a structure

    Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See Montana LLC guide, Montana corporation guide, S corp or C corp in Montana. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.

  2. Check and register the name

    Search the Secretary of State records before you pick a name: state name search. Montana law has the applicant for an assumed business name registration file with the Montana Secretary of State, and the registration remains in effect for 5 years unless canceled earlier. 1 See Montana name search guide.

  3. File with the state

    File the formation document with Montana and pay its fee. See LLC cost.

  4. Name a registered agent

    Every Montana corporation must continuously maintain a registered office and a registered agent in Montana. 2 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Montana registered agent rules.

Which accounts do you open after you file in Montana?

  1. Get an EIN

    An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. 3

  2. Open your state tax accounts

    The Montana Department of Revenue lets a business register for a withholding tax account online through its TransAction Portal, or by mail with its Business Registration form, Form GenReg. 4 See Sales tax permit.

  3. Register as an employer

    An employer is covered by Montana's unemployment insurance law, run by the Department of Labor & Industry, when its total annual payroll for the current or preceding calendar year reaches $1,000, and covered employers register online at uieservices.mt.gov. 5 Montana employers report newly hired and rehired employees to the Child Support Services Division's New Hire Reporting Program within twenty (20) days of the date of hire. 6 Montana's Department of Labor & Industry Employment Standards Division says employers must provide workers' compensation insurance, bought from an insurer authorized in Montana or, with department approval, through self-insurance. 7

What keeps your Montana business in good standing?

  1. Check licenses and permits

    The Montana Department of Commerce's Small Business Development Center says local city and county offices provide all business licensing in Montana, and the State of Montana provides professional licenses. 8

  2. Calendar the yearly filings

    Montana annual report, due April 15 every year. 9 See Montana annual report.

  3. Use free local help

    Small business advising in Montana runs through the Montana SBDC network. 10 The Montana Department of Commerce's Small Business Development Center publishes a Business Startup Recommendation List that points new owners to the Secretary of State, the Department of Revenue and the Department of Labor and Industry. 11

What it costs to start a business in Montana

29,954business applications filed in Montana in 2025 12

Do you need a business license in Montana?

It depends on the trade and the place. The U.S. Small Business Administration says most small businesses need a combination of licenses and permits from federal and state agencies, and that requirements and fees depend on the business activity and the issuing agency. 14 Montana's own rule is in step 8. 8 Where to look up licenses: Montana SBDC Business Startup Checklist.

  • eStop business licenses. The Montana Department of Revenue runs the eStop Business Licenses Program, which handles state registrations and licenses from seven partner agencies. 13

How to register a business name in Montana

QuestionMontana
Where it is filedWith the state 1
OfficeSecretary of State
What it is calledassumed business name
Term in years5

Check that the name is free first: state name search.

Also in Montana

  • Independent contractor exemption certificate. Montana independent contractors need either an independent contractor exemption certificate or self-elected workers' compensation coverage, and the Department of Labor & Industry application carries a $125 non-refundable fee. 15
  • Construction contractor registration. Montana requires incorporated construction contractors, and construction contractors with employees, to register with the Department of Labor & Industry's Construction Contractor Registration Unit. 16

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Common questions

What are the steps to start a business in Montana?

Pick a structure, file with the Secretary of State, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Montana Department of Revenue, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.

Can I start a business in Montana with no money?

An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. The Montana Department of Commerce's Small Business Development Center network supports 10 regional centers across the state, offering free one-on-one counseling and low cost training.

Are there small business grants in Montana?

The Montana Department of Commerce funds certified microbusiness development corporations that offer loans up to $100,000 to qualified businesses with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees and gross annual revenues under $1 million.

What is the Montana SBDC?

The Montana Department of Commerce's Small Business Development Center network supports 10 regional centers across the state, offering free one-on-one counseling and low cost training.

Sources 17 links, checked Nov 12, 2026
  1. DBA or trade name registration mca.legmt.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  2. Registered agent rule mca.legmt.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  3. IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  4. State tax registration revenue.mt.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  5. Unemployment insurance registration uid.dli.mt.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  6. New hire reporting dphhs.mt.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  7. Workers' compensation coverage erd.dli.mt.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  8. General business license commerce.mt.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  9. Montana annual report biz.sosmt.gov, checked Sep 1, 2026
  10. Small Business Development Center commerce.mt.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  11. State business portal commerce.mt.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  12. US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  13. eStop business licenses commerce.mt.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  14. SBA: licenses and permits sba.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  15. Independent contractor exemption certificate erd.dli.mt.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  16. Construction contractor registration commerce.mt.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  17. State small business funding commerce.mt.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026

Last verified Nov 12, 2026.

This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.

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