Best Registered Agent Services in Montana

The state of Montana is famous for its natural resources, and it has the name of a "Treasure State " for a reason. Tourism is another important industry as the world-famous Yellowstone National Park and other major wilderness areas are located here.

But not only the natural wealth and agriculture are important to the state's economy. Montana has a well-developed industry, including steel and woodworking. High-tech is also growing, especially in Bozeman, where Montana State University is located. And for that reason, many companies and startups are interested in starting an LLC in Montana.

To launch a business here, entrepreneurs should choose a Registered Agent in Montana and file documents. This is required for any type of company, whether it is an LLC, corporation, or non-profit organization.

All documents are filed with the Montana Secretary of State, and the statutory agent can be any individual or entity. The requirements are minimal:

• Having a physical (not just mailing) address within the state where mail and documents related to the processing will be sent;
• Availability at the address listed throughout the day during normal business hours.

The requirements for a resident agent in Montana are described in detail in paragraph 35-7-105, MCA. And a Montana business registered agent search on the secretary of state's website is helpful when choosing a provider in the city.

Best Registered Agent Service in Montana

Your Montana registered agent search should begin with understanding exactly who can provide these services. It can be:

• Any individual, including the business owner personally, an employee, relative, or acquaintance;
• An entity that has an office in the state. 

If an entity will provide these services to you professionally, it needs to be legally registered with the state as a company whose list of services has statutory agents in Montana. It is also essential to understand that a business, regardless of its form of ownership, cannot be a registered agent for itself.

Start-up businessmen often want to avoid additional costs, and therefore, in their companies, the owner becomes a registered agent. But this is not the best solution as people get sick or leave the state urgently. And if a registered agent is unavailable, you will not only miss important documents but also risk having a negative reputation in the state of Montana.

If you change your compliance registered agent, you should notify the Secretary of State in a timely manner and pay the fee as required by law. Companies that work for a month or more without a registered agent risk facing hefty fines and then have to deal with rebuilding their good reputation.

Helena is the major administrative center and the capital of the state of Montana. Like any capital city, it is home to many state government offices and companies. Therefore, it may seem especially convenient to choose a registered agent that has an office in this city.

On the one hand, there are obvious advantages if the company will not only receive your mail and service the process but also provide additional services. After all, you will be able to deliver all your documents to government agencies in person, which is always quick and reliable.

On the other hand, you can submit all the necessary documents for business registration, DBA, licenses, and permits online. So, when choosing a registered agent, an office in the state capital is no longer such a clear advantage.

Registered agent in Billings, Montana

Billings is the largest city and the economic capital of the state. Many large companies have their offices here. Therefore, it often happens that Montana corporations search for registered agents in Billings to interact as quickly as possible and do not depend on mail, fax, or Internet availability.

It is up to you to decide how significant this advantage is for your business. In today's world, price, quality, and value-added services are much more important. Local companies are often more profitable than the big players on the market, but their reliability is not always up to par. In addition, the most advantageous offers often are not so attractive after checking because they include a strict minimum required by law (and often even numerous hidden fees).

On the other hand, large registered agent service providers always guarantee quality and reliability. In addition, when you expand your business to other states, you can simply ‘plug in’ the service where you need it without having to find a separate company to be your statutory agent in each state.

Below, we present our own ranking of registered agent services in Montana.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest registered agent is the best service in Montana according to both our opinion and most of the experts. Their assistance will cost you $125. This is the only company that will scan every document they receive as your statutory agent, which most other companies don't do. There is also personalized customer support, and you will cooperate with one representative on an ongoing basis. Your privacy is protected by default.

The basic Registered Agent Northwest package includes:

• All the necessary services of a registered agent;
• Data privacy;
• Assistance from local corporate guides;
• Free scanning and forwarding of all mail;
• Same-day document scanning;
• Access to all documents in convenient cloud storage.

Northwest registered agents in Montana serve the process from their office in Kalispell.

Pros

• Pricing model. The cost of services is not the lowest possible, but it can't be called high either. However, if you assess the value of what you get for that money, the deal turns out to be more profitable than cheaper offers. The company also provides bulk discounts if you order a registered agent in multiple states;
• A free year of registered agent service if you order any of the business creation packages;
• Individual professional support. Each client has a personal expert who constantly helps them in their work. The professionalism of experts is also at a high level;
• Great experience and good reviews. The company has been in the business services market for over 20 years. Over the years, Northwest has collected a lot of reviews, most of which are positive.

Cons

• There are cheaper offers, including some from larger companies with good reputations;
• Sometimes, the professional help is overly detailed. It is difficult to call the high professional level of consultants and the desire to explain everything in as much detail as possible a disadvantage. However, sometimes, you want to get the information as quickly as possible and go on to another issue, but it is somewhat hampered by the diligence of the consultants.

Overall

Northwest registered agent is a really good solution. The company is reliable, and its range of services covers everything you might need. If you order registered agent services in more than 10 states or for 10 or more companies, you get a wholesale discount.

The high level of professionalism of the staff is confirmed by numerous reviews. Here, you can always count on advice from a specialist who has an in-depth knowledge of state laws and the peculiarities of business in Montana. In addition, the company guarantees confidentiality, and its Internet service is simple, reliable, and convenient. That is why we recommend you to pay attention to this company first of all.

Harbor Compliance Registered Agent

Harbor Compliance is a company that may be the best choice if you need a reliable partner who will provide Montana registered agent services without frills but at the best possible price.

Harbor Compliance will forward everything it receives in your name directly to you. Also, the documents are scanned and uploaded to your personal account on the company's website. You will be notified about all urgent documents including by phone. The company's experts will help you with reports, other legal documents, or communications that you need in correspondence with the Montana Secretary of State. They will also remind you of reporting deadlines.

Pros

• The price is $99. The value of the service is higher than with many other companies because you get more than just a registered agent under Montana law;
• Local mailing address. You can use it to correspond with the state office and service the process;
• Notification of reporting deadlines and receipt of urgent documents.

Cons

• Relatively little experience. The company has been in business since 2012;
• Few reviews, though most of them are positive;
• Lack of additional services in the registered agent package.

Overall

At Harbor Compliance, you will get everything you need from a registered agent for an LLC in Montana at a very good price. But you can't expect much more than that. If you need a cost-effective and no-frills solution at a bargain price, Harbor Compliance may be the best choice.

ZenBusiness Registered Agent

Zen Business is another company that offers registered agent services for the bargain price of $99 a year. The firm is hugely popular in the U.S. and abroad as a provider of business startup assistance. With Zen Business you will get a simple and comfortable service of process, access to an easy-to-use website, and excellent customer support. The company also provides access to software that will help you store and track your annual reports.

Pros

• Zen Business gives a lot of individual attention to each client, and their customer service is commendable;
• You get a year of hassle-free registered agent services if you order any of Zen Business's business creation packages. The price of creating an LLC is one of the lowest, starting at $49 (+ state fees);
• The reviews about the company are fantastic. Zen Business has collected over 4,700 reviews, and it's very hard to find any negative ones among them;
• The price of a registered agent's assistance is one of the lowest - $99 a year.

Cons

ZenBusiness's Registered Agent package includes everything you need. In addition, the quality of their work is also unquestionable. But if you want to receive compliance notifications, you will have to pay an extra $50 per year. Many other companies include such notifications as part of their basic service and do not charge extra for them. Therefore, despite all the advantages, the pricing at registered agent ZenBusiness is not the most favorable.

Overall

ZenBusiness will be one of the best solutions for a new business since it offers a virtually unlimited package of services (especially considering the value). It's also advantageous that you get a registered agent's assistance for free for the first year. Then, if you want simple, reliable, and straightforward registered agent services, ZenBusiness is also a sure thing. But considering the notification fees, this offer still can't be called the most convenient and profitable.

Incfile Registered Agent

Incfile is one of the most well-known companies in the world that provide registered agent services in all states of the U.S. and assist in business registration. The cost of RA service is $119 a year, which is not the cheapest but still a good option. In addition, Incfile is the only service that offers free LLC registration assistance.

Pros

• Free Business Creation Package. Incfile is one of the very few companies that have this offer. It includes everything you need to get you started in the state of Montana. The only charge you have to pay is the state fee;
• Thousands of positive reviews. If you research Montana registered agent reviews, you just can't help but notice Incfile. There are thousands of reviews about Incfile, and almost all of them are positive;
• All of the business formation packages include a year of free registered agent service.

Cons

Incfile business formation services are great both in quality and price. However, the company clearly does not consider registered agent services the main focus of its activities. The price of assistance is not the cheapest, and the service package does not include any additional features.

Overall

Incfile will be one of the best solutions to start your business (especially if your budget is limited). The quality of Incfile registered agent services is also pretty good. And what is even better, you can get these services for free during the first year of cooperation.

However, in a year, the pricing policy will probably make you wonder whether it is worth updating your registered agent in Montana. After all, there are better deals offering more value. Still, $119 a year is a bargain compared to many competitors.

LegalZoom Registered Agent

LegalZoom is a very popular company and one of the biggest players in the business services market in the US. They offer registered agent's assistance for $299 a year. It may not be the highest price, but it's also far from the most affordable.

LegalZoom is widely known, has an impeccable reputation, and provides many legal services for businesses. This often turns out to be a reason to choose them.

Pros

• Huge experience and number of clients. Few companies can boast that they have served millions of customers. LegalZoom claims exactly that with full authority. The company has very extensive practical experience working with businesses and solving the most complex problems;
• Widely known. LegalZoom is well known in all states of the United States. Therefore, choosing such a representative will have a positive impact on your company's reputation as well;
• Access to a wide range of services. LegalZoom can help you build your business and offer a wide range of legal services. The company can be your one-stop shop for all your legal and business needs.

Cons

• High Price. LegalZoom offers registered agent service for $299 a year, which is twice as much as many competitors offer;
• Not the best reviews. Customer opinions about LegalZoom are average: positive and negative reviews are almost equally divided;
• Registered agent services for the first year or a few months are not included in any business formation package.

Overall

LegalZoom can be a reliable partner and a profitable solution if your company often needs legal assistance. In this case, registered agent services become just a part of what you get from the company, and paying for all services in a single place is always convenient.

Registered Agent Review: General Conclusions

As mentioned above, you will definitely need to start a Montana registered agent search to establish your business. Otherwise, the documents you send to the Montana Secretary of State will be rejected.

Having a registered agent will help the state and the public get a reliable channel of communication with your company, and you will always be notified in a timely manner when you receive important documents.

We have analyzed more than 50 offers, gradually selecting the best ones among them. As a result, Northwest has become the absolute leader.

With Northwest, you will get excellent customer support, an extensive list of services, and competitive prices. If you want reliable protection of your confidential information, the ability to conduct your business with peace of mind as well as receive timely assistance and notifications about the maintenance process, you should pay special attention to this company.

Benefits of Using a Montana Registered Agent Service

A Montana registered agent performs simple but extremely important functions. It is a person or company that will obtain legal documents for you and be the liaison between government agencies and your company.

There are two important activities:

1. Legal matters. First and foremost, the registered agent will receive tax or other legal documents that the state of Montana sends to your company. In addition, the registered agent is required to be physically present to receive manual delivery of process documents if a lawsuit is filed against your company. It is important that you receive all of these documents in a timely manner, which requires you to agree in advance on how to interact when you get a particular type of document.
2. State compliance. Each state has its own set of laws that describe the rules of business operations. They change from time to time, and therefore, the registered agent should constantly monitor all the nuances, so that your business will be in good standing and can avoid penalties or even possible dissolution. In Montana, all businesses file their annual report by April 15. It is most convenient to do this online. In addition, you have to pay a $20 fee when you send the report. The registered agent will remind you to submit your reports on time and help you file them correctly.

If you decide to perform the registered agent's duties for your company yourself, you will get:

• Reliability. You get all documents directly;
• Economy. No need to pay for the services of other companies.

On the other hand, you get a list of possible problems:

• Lack of privacy. Your name and address will be on the state secretary's website in the public domain;
• More spam. You'll have to spend time reading unnecessary correspondence not to miss important emails;
• Lack of flexible hours. You can't take a sick leave, go on vacation, or even take some time off for lunch. You are required to be at the address listed as your resident agent’s address every day during business hours (except weekends);
• Risk of reputational problems. If a process server comes to you, you are required to interrupt customer service to communicate with that person. Do you need customers to express dissatisfaction or find out about lawsuits that are against you?
• Lack of Support. A professional Registered Agent will remind you to file a report on time or respond to inquiries from Montana state agencies. Often, these companies will also help with paperwork and provide professional advice.

Therefore, it is worth researching the best offers of professional agents and choosing the best one at the stage of business formation. Then, you will have a registered agent consent form, and you can safely register a business in Montana and start working.

Best Registered Agent Review: How Do We Choose

To choose the best registered agent service in Montana, we do our research in several steps.

First, we compile offers from different companies: both local and national. Usually, these are 50 or even more offers that are actively advertised. Then, step by step, we select the best ones. Only the leaders of our ranking are included in the review.

What we pay attention to:

• Honest Offer. If a company advertises a cheap package of services, but in the process of studying the site or negotiations, it turns out that the final amount differs from the one announced due to hidden fees or separate payment for services that you can't do without, it is excluded from the list;
• Reliability. We analyze the company's experience as well as its rating. New players on the market that do not have an established reputation raise certain doubts. That's why they are also excluded from the list for further research;
• Price policy and value of the proposal. We approach this issue in a comprehensive manner. It is essential that the price of a Montana registered agent is advantageous. But at the same time, we study exactly what services are included in the package. So, you have already noticed that our leader Northwest does not offer the cheapest price possible, but it wins because of the service value included in the price;
• Website quality. It's important for a company to have a modern, user-friendly, and informative website. By 2022, everyone understands that the websites have become the "faces" of most companies;
• Communication with advisors and the sales department. We personally ask for help from the support service, place orders, and evaluate such parameters as helpfulness, speed of response, the competence of employees, and the accuracy of their work. If we have to wait for an answer, or consultants switch us from one specialist to another and try to bundle unnecessary services, this is a clear disadvantage.

Why You Can Trust Our Choice

We have been doing research on business services in the U.S. for years, analyzing the quality of work of different companies and making ratings. We have a team of employees who have experience in starting a business and helping others to do that. We study state laws and ask consultants of various companies difficult questions in the process of communication.

You can be assured that all of the companies that are dedicated to helping you start a business or provide Montana registered agents for service of process are reviewed by true experts in the industry. Each overview is prepared on the basis of thorough research. And because of this, the results are trustworthy.

How We Selected the Best Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent received the highest scores in almost every category of evaluation and was a definite winner:

• Northwest takes your personal information and assets very seriously. They will be a trusted liaison and even your secretary, who will always receive documents, send them on time, and notify you of anything that needs your attention including changes in state laws or deadlines for sending reports;
• Northwest offers some very useful extras in its package that other companies provide for a fee. For example, compliance notifications at ZenBusiness will cost you $50 but are included here by default;
• The professionalism of Northwest's customer service team is particularly admirable. Few companies will provide you with help from former accountants, entrepreneurs, and lawyers. All of the company's professional guides have an in-depth knowledge of the specifics of Montana law that are important to a business. Here, they are by far the best;
• You'll find more than 3,000 Northwest reviews online. The vast majority of them are positive;
• In addition, Northwest has a good reputation with the Montana Secretary of State; 
• And all this is offered at a very democratic price of $125 per year.

That's why we recommend Northwest as the best Montana registered agent.

Conclusion

If you are wondering how to find a registered agent for a corporation in Montana, explore our ranking of the best companies. We have done a detailed analysis of these services in Montana and selected the best ones for you. You will also need a registered agent for an LLC or non-profit organization. Of course, you already know that the answer to the question "Can you be your own registered agent in Montana?" is positive. But is it really worth refusing the benefits of working with professionals? Choose the best company from our review and enjoy all the advantages of a reliable registered agent.

FAQ