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Register Your South Dakota LLC in Montana

Step-by-step foreign qualification requirements, fees, and filing instructions for South Dakota LLCs expanding into Montana.

Cost Summary

Montana filing fee
$70
South Dakota Certificate of Good Standing
$20
Annual obligation in Montana
$20/year
Estimated year 1 total
$110
Note: Year 1 total includes the $70 filing fee in Montana plus the $20 Certificate of Good Standing fee from South Dakota. Registered agent fees (typically $100-$200/year) are not included.
South Dakota data verified May 1, 2026 · sosenterprise.sd.gov
Montana data verified May 1, 2026 · sosmt.gov

How to register your South Dakota LLC in Montana

1

Check name availability in Montana

Before filing, verify that your LLC name (or a distinguishable variation) is available in Montana. If your exact name is already taken, you may need to register under a fictitious or assumed name.

Check the Montana Secretary of State website for name availability search.

2

Get a Certificate of Good Standing from South Dakota

Montana requires a Certificate of Good Standing from South Dakota to prove your LLC is in good standing. The fee is $20. No expiration printed; foreign-state applications typically require dating within 30-90 days.

3

File the Application for Certificate of Authority in Montana

Submit your application along with the Certificate of Good Standing and the $70 filing fee. Processing time is 5-7 business days. Expedited processing available for $20.

Montana filing portal ↗
4

Appoint a registered agent in Montana

You must designate a registered agent with a physical address in Montana to accept legal documents on behalf of your LLC. This is required as part of the foreign qualification application.

Ongoing compliance in Montana

Annual report
$20/year
Report due
April 15
Processing time
5-7 business days
Expedite
$20

Activities that do NOT require registration in Montana

  • Maintaining or defending a lawsuit, administrative proceeding, or arbitration
  • Holding meetings of members or managers, or carrying on internal company affairs
  • Maintaining bank accounts
  • Maintaining offices or agencies for the transfer, exchange, or registration of the LLC's own securities
  • Selling through independent contractors
  • Soliciting or obtaining orders if orders require acceptance outside the state before becoming contracts
  • Creating or acquiring indebtedness, mortgages, or security interests in real or personal property
  • Securing or collecting debts, or enforcing mortgages or security interests
  • Owning real or personal property
  • Conducting an isolated transaction completed within 30 days that is not part of repeated similar transactions
  • Transacting business in interstate commerce

Montana's Limited Liability Company Act, codified at Title 35 Chapter 8, lists activities that do not constitute transacting business at Section 35-8-1001 ('Authority to transact business required'), with the safe harbors enumerated in subsection (2). Sections 35-8-1004, 1005, and 1006 are repealed. Subsection (4) has a Montana-specific provision treating contracts with the state of Montana, its agencies, or political subdivisions as transacting business (with a 30-day grace period).

Need a registered agent in Montana?

A registered agent is required for foreign qualification. These services operate in all 50 states.

Get Northwest Registered Agent ↗
Recommended · $125/year · Privacy included
Registered Agents Inc
$200/year · Includes annual report filing
Visit site ↗
Harbor Compliance
$99/year · Full-service compliance option
Visit site ↗

Check your full compliance

Use our free tool to check if you need to register in additional states.

Start free compliance check ↗

This page provides general information based on publicly available state requirements. It is not legal advice. Verify all fees and requirements with the Montana Secretary of State before filing.