Business License by State › Montana
Montana business license (2026)
Depends on the business. The Montana Secretary of State help center says: “Depending on your business type and location, you may also need local or state licenses to operate legally.”
- State page read October 21, 2026
- Quoted from the state
Montana at a glance
- State rule
- Depends on the business
- Next step
- Look up your industry’s license, and ask your city or county about a local one.
- Forming an LLC
- $35 with the Montana Secretary of State
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, same at renewal
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Questions
Does Montana require a business license?
Depends on the business. The Montana Secretary of State help center says: “Depending on your business type and location, you may also need local or state licenses to operate legally.”
Who do I contact in Montana?
Montana Secretary of State help center (page linked below), your city or county clerk, and the Montana Secretary of State for forming the company.
Is a Montana LLC the same as a license?
No. Forming the LLC is a filing with the Montana Secretary of State, which charges $35. A license, where one applies, is a separate step.
Sources
- Montana Secretary of State help center (business license statement): help.sosmt.gov/en-us/article/i-have-registered-with-the-state-do-i-also-need-a-business-license-1v8v8mj/, checked October 21, 2026
- Montana Secretary of State: sosmt.gov/, checked October 20, 2026