12 Best Montana Registered Agent Services (2024 Review)

The right Montana registered agent works to keep your business compliant with the state while protecting your personal assets.

The wrong Montana registered agent will put your business at risk by failing to notify you of deadlines and regulatory changes and won’t safeguard your personal data.

I've investigated 60+ registered agents, assessed the top 12, and written in-depth reviews of the three best. Here are my picks for the best registered agent service in Montana:

1. Northwest Registered Agent — 9.13/10 (My Top Pick)

Northwest Registered Agent is my choice for the best Montana registered agent service. They cover the basics to guarantee your ongoing compliance with the Montana Secretary of State and have the best customer service in the industry. 

Pros

Northwest Registered Agent excels at handling the essential tasks of a registered agent. They provide a physical Montana address, where they will handle service of process, assist in filing your annual report, and manage other legal notifications, as well as communications from the state. Upon receipt of any such documents, they will promptly scan and upload them to your online portal, assuring you near-instant access. Mail will also be forwarded to you the old-fashioned way and will be delivered to your home or PO Box within a matter of days.

They have provide some of the best LLC services in Montana.

Northwest Registered Agent takes their responsibility to protect your personal assets and data very seriously, and you can rest assured that everything is safe. They will also help protect the legal status of your Montana LLC by helping you set up a personal calendar with compliance alerts. Follow their guidance, and you’ll never miss a key deadline.

Unlike some of their competitors, Northwest Registered Agent also keeps the simple things simple. They have a very intuitive website that allows you to access your documents with ease. Sign-up is also a simple process, and they’re very quick to respond to any of your questions.

Undoubtedly the most impressive part of Northwest Registered Agent’s service is their customer service team. While many other companies have cut costs by outsourcing or automating their customer service department, Northwest seems to have doubled their investment. 

Their staff consists of former lawyers, accountants, and entrepreneurs. With so much experience, they can guide your Montana LLC through whatever challenges you may encounter. They even go well beyond their responsibilities as a registered agent should you need additional help.

Despite such stellar product offerings and customer service, Northwest Registered Agent manages to keep their prices very competitive. They are far less expensive than national registered agents and, at $125 per year, they are excellent value. 

Cons

There have been a few times when I found the customer service at Northwest Registered Agent to be a little bit too thorough. If I have a quick question that only requires a quick answer, I want to get off the phone as quickly as possible. At these times I don’t appreciate someone who is determined to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s. I just want to move on to the next thing on my to-do list as quickly as possible.

Honestly, this barely registers as a legitimate complaint. All the instances that someone at Northwest Registered Agent was willing to patiently and repeatedly explain a change in regulations to me more than makes up for the few occasions when I was in a rush and lost a few moments to an over-interested customer service agent. 

Overall

Northwest Registered Agent offers the best Montana registered agent service by a considerable margin. They do everything required of a registered agent and do it with the best customer service and at a very competitive rate.

If you want to appoint a registered agent that will guide your Montana business through all regulatory challenges and do so at a great price go to Northwest Registered Agent. 

2. Harbor Compliance — 7.92/10 (Best Budget Registered Agent)

If your budget is your principal priority and you can do with just the basics, Harbor Compliance is a reliable option.

Pros

Harbor Compliance is a no-frills company that satisfies all the basic requirements to serve as your Montana registered agent service and does so at the best price ($99) of any registered agent on my list. You’ll receive a local street address that will be staffed during normal business hours to receive service of process, assistance with filing your annual report, other legal documents or communications from the Montana Secretary of State. 

Everything they receive on your behalf will be physically forwarded to you and also scanned and uploaded to your online account. Harbor Compliance will call to notify you of the receipt of any particularly time-sensitive documents. You will also receive compliance alerts regarding deadlines, such as an upcoming due date for an annual report.

Cons

Harbor Compliance’s low price point comes with the expected tradeoff of a lower quality product. That isn’t always the case in the realm of registered agents, where prices can seem assigned at random, but with Harbor Compliance you get what you pay for and little more. 

To save $26 per year compared with Northwest Registered Agent, you’ll be sacrificing superior customer service and the peace of mind of knowing you’re with the best.

Overall

If you are really pinching pennies to keep your company afloat, you could do a lot worse than Harbor Compliance. They won’t go an inch of that extra mile Northwest Registered Agent will go on your behalf, but Harbor Compliance will do more than enough to keep your company in good standing with the state of Montana.

3. LegalZoom — 6.59/10 (Best Premium Service)

LegalZoom is a reputable, established legal services company that offers registered agent service for a very steep price.

Pros

LegalZoom is probably the most renowned name on this list, and you may have used them for other legal services, either personal or business related. When you are trying to decide which Montana registered agent service you can trust with your company, finding a familiar name can give you some peace of mind.

LegalZoom’s extensive array of legal services can also be a plus. With one account at LegalZoom you can file for a trademark, amend your personal will, form a corporation, and appoint a registered agent. If your time is more limited than your budget, this can be a distinct advantage.

An additional advantage of using LegalZoom is that they have a unique add-on that is not frequently included with all Montana registered agent services. They throw in a $1 million identity theft insurance policy free of charge. With millions of cases of identity theft being reported every year, this is a significant perk. LegalZoom also maintains a good standing with the Montana Secretary of State.

Cons

LegalZoom’s biggest drawback is their price, which is more than double the price of Northwest Registered Agent and three times that of Harbor Compliance.

The identity theft insurance definitely justifies a higher price tag, but you could purchase a similar policy elsewhere, hire a different Montana registered agent service, and save quite a bit of money.

There’s also a drawback to using a one-stop legal shop for your Montana registered agent service. LegalZoom is such a large company and offers so many different products that accessing answers to questions specific to your registered agent service can be difficult.

Overall

If your budget isn’t a priority and you really appreciate going to one URL for all your registered agent and legal needs, LegalZoom is a good option to hire for your Montana registered agent service. 

Check out LegalZoom here.

4. ZenBusiness

Primarily an LLC-formation company, ZenBusiness is still refining their registered agent service in Montana. At one point this service was only available for clients who used them to form their LLC or other business entity, but ZenBusiness has since opened it up for all. 

Their LLC formation service is excellent so I’d like to give them the benefit of a doubt, but currently, their registered agent service is marred by a costly pricing system. They offer a Pro Package for $199 that includes all standard registered agent services, such as filing your annual report, and a worry-free compliance alert system. However, Northwest and Harbor Compliance provide a more comprehensive services, and better customer service at a lower rate. 

Until they improve their pricing, ZenBusiness lags behind both Northwest Registered Agent in terms of service, quality, and offerings, and Harbor Compliance in terms of price. However, they do maintain good standing with the Montana Secretary of State.

If you'd like to learn more about ZenBusiness' service offerings, read my full ZenBusiness review.

5. IncFile

IncFile will keep you in good standing with the Montana Secretary of State by providing a physical address and accepting service of process and other legal documents on your behalf. Although their price ($119) is on the low end of the spectrum, they don’t offer compliance alerts and there are better options in this price range.

6. Rocket Lawyer

Rocket Lawyer is an online legal services company akin to LegalZoom, but often with more affordable services. Their registered agent service is indeed substantially cheaper ($149), but is still quite expensive when compared with Harbor Compliance and Northwest Registered Agent. 

The service itself is pretty standard. They supply a street address in Montana, forward your mail, and accept service of process, and they keep your name off the public record. Like LegalZoom, however, they offer so many services that it can be difficult to get the focused attention you may need for your business in Montana.

Read my full Rocket Lawyer review and learn more about their services.

7. SunDoc Filings

SunDoc also offers a basic service that doesn’t include annual report reminders or a personalized compliance calendar. That doesn’t deter them from charging $159 per year, meaning you can save substantial money and get better service elsewhere. 

8. InCorp

InCorp offers a great price ($99) and a generally good service, but seems to have neglected their online system. That’s a pretty big oversight in today’s world, and whatever goodwill you feel towards them for saving you money will quickly fade as you try to navigate their antiquated system.

9. Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings is another Montana registered agent service that doesn’t offer a very attractive quality/price ratio. Their service is basic, but that’s not reflected in their price ($149), which would suggest a higher quality than they deliver. 

If you'd wish to learn more about their services, read my full Swyft Filings review.

10. CSC Global

CSC Global could be the Montana registered agent for your Montana business entity if you believe price is the only proof of a product’s worth. They offer one of the most expensive registered agent services ($299) in Montana, without compliance alerts or high-end customer service. 

CSC Global does make one offer that may seem appealing. If you’re thinking of changing your Montana registered agent, CSC Global will cover the fees if you switch to their service. On the surface this is a good deal, but their annual costs are so high that any money you saved on the switch will soon be out of your pocket and back in theirs.

11. Registered Agents Inc.

Registered Agents Inc. should lose points for lack of name originality, but where the real demerits come from is their high price point ($200) and low standard of service. You can find a better registered agent in Montana for a cheaper price . . . and the odds are they’ll have a more creative name.

12. Jumpstart Filings

Jumpstart Filings offers standard registered agent service for $129 per year. For that price you can afford the vastly superior service at Northwest Registered Agent and have enough left over for a good cup of coffee at Fire Tower Coffee House in Helena. 

Registered Agent Review Summary

As mentioned above, having the right registered agent is crucial for your business and the Montana Secretary of State will reject your business filing if you don't appoint a registered agent. A registered agent requirement gives the public and the state a reliable way to contact your business. I started with more than 60 Montana registered agent services and narrowed that field down to a top 12, which I thoroughly investigated. After rating each Montana registered agent according to five factors, Northwest Registered Agent came out as the indisputable winner.

They genuinely care about their clients as clearly demonstrated by their broad range of services, the priority they put into hiring experienced customer service reps, and their competitive prices.

If you want the best registered agent in Montana to protect your business and your personal assets, visit Northwest Registered Agent today. 

Best Registered Agent Review Methodology 

This is how I determined the best registered agent in Montana.

Why You Should Trust Me

I sincerely doubt there are many others out there who have researched the registered agent industry as much as I have. 

When I started my first company, deciding on a registered agent was the last thing on my mind. There are simply too many other decisions to make, too many other tasks that require immediate attention. 

When I finally had a chance to look into it briefly, I began to realize just how important finding the right registered agent would be. My registered agent would be handling the most critical, most time-sensitive documents that my company would receive. If those documents were mishandled, my company and all the work I had put into it could be put in serious jeopardy.

After that realization, I began my research in earnest. I wasn’t going to entrust my company to just anybody. 

I started by looking at marketing materials from a number of different agents just to get a feel for what offers each company featured as a part of their registered agent service. Once I understood the registered agent landscape, I dove deep into various online review sites and followed that up with phone calls to the companies. 

As I was conducting my research, I was also talking to other Montana business owners about their experiences with registered agents. Many of them were just as clueless about registered agents as I had been. I started to share my conclusions. 

My friends’ appreciation made me realize just how much my research was needed, which encouraged me to be even more diligent and eventually decide to publish my opinions on this website. 

This site has already helped thousands find the right Montana registered agent service, and I hope it can help you too.

How I Selected the Best Registered Agent

I used four stages to identify the best registered agents for your Montana LLC.

Stage 1: Reviews

There are a lot more Montana registered agents than you’d think. In order to narrow down the field, I read online reviews until my eyes blurred. I went through TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau, Google Business, and Facebook.

It can be difficult to separate fact from fiction in online reviews, but if you read enough of them you begin to see some common themes. This was how I found a disturbing trend among a number of Montana registered agents. I found more than 50 companies that used a bait-and-switch pricing strategy to lure customers. 

The most common form was an ad promoting a special price (usually between $39–$59), which made the company’s registered agent service sound like a bargain. The truth, as always, belied the fine print. The advertised price was just a sign-up fee and the annual rate ended up being substantially higher.

I eliminated any company that used this pricing strategy. First and foremost, I need to appoint a Montana registered agent I can trust. A company that tries to swindle me from the outset certainly doesn’t meet that criterion.

Stage 2: Website Analysis

After weeding out those who were less than honest about their prices, I was left with just 12 remaining Montana registered agents. My next step was to go through their websites to see exactly what products they offered as part of their registered agent service. 

I found 24 distinct services offered by the 12 Montana registered agents. I made a very simple spreadsheet with the agents listed down the rows and the services in the columns. If a company offered a particular service, I simply checked that box. It was a great way to visualize what Montana registered agents offered the most services.

Stage 3: Speaking with Real Customers

I also wanted to talk directly to actual customers, and I am lucky to have a large network of other Montana business owners whom I could lean on. Talking with them was far more revealing than online reviews and allowed me to ask very specific questions about their experiences.

Since launching this website, I’m now fortunate enough to be getting even more real-customer feedback from readers, which I use to constantly update my ratings.

Stage 4: Speaking with Their Sales Teams

For my final stage, I went back to the companies themselves. This definitely isn’t the way to get very unbiased information, but by phoning each company’s sales team I was able to get a good sense of the different company cultures. 

Since I knew each Montana registered agent pretty well by this point, I was able to ask very direct questions about specific complaints. You can learn a lot from how a company responds to a complaint. I learned how seriously they take customer feedback, how quickly they find solutions to problems, and how committed they are to improving their service. 

Rating Factors

I used five factors to rate my top 12 registered agents for your Montana LLC.

Factor 1: Offerings

Montana registered agents offer a surprising variety of services. 

Everyone offers a base package that includes an address in Montana open during normal business hours to accept service of process, other legal documents, and communications from the Montana Secretary of State. They’ll forward your mail and keep your personal details off the public record. 

Beyond that, however, there are a lot of different LLC services that some agents offer and others don’t. Some offer cheap LLC services, some offer the best LLC services. Some Montana registered agents offer online portals and scan and upload your documents for instant access. Others offer compliance alerts or personalized filing calendars. A few offer to pay any state fees associated with changing your registered agent to their service. 

All told, I found 24 distinct services offered by the Montana registered agents in my top 12. I rated each registered agent based on how many of these services they offered.

Factor 2: Value

Determining value is also a complicated process in the registered agent world, mainly because prices vary as widely as the services offered. Some of the more expensive registered agents actually offer fewer services than the cheaper agents. It is an unfortunate fact that in the registered agent world, you don’t always get what you pay for. 

A further complication is that some companies have one price for a base service but will then charge substantially more if you wish to add on compliance alerts or similar “premium” services. Other companies have a very comprehensive service package included for just one low price.

In order to fairly rate the value offered by each Montana registered agent service, I had to compare not only the price points but also the services offered. I awarded the highest ratings to the companies that offered the most services at the lowest price.

Factor 3: Ease of Sign-up

Signing up for your Montana service should be an easy process, but some agents make it much harder than it should be. 

A complicated sign-up process is not just a huge waste of your valuable time, it’s also a sign that your agent either doesn’t have the technical know-how to design a simple sign-up interface or they don’t value your time enough to do so. Either way, these Montana registered agents are to be avoided, particularly if you get as frustrated as I do when you find something that’s needlessly inefficient.

I signed up with all 12 Montana registered agents as a test and lowered each company’s rating based on how many times I wanted to throw my keyboard out of the window.

Factor 4: Ease of Use

I used the same keyboard-out-of-the-window system for rating Montana registered agents on the ease of use of their online systems. There’s no excuse these days for having an antiquated website that robs me of my most valuable resource: my time.

I used my online accounts with each company to try and complete simple tasks, such as finding the customer service contact information, accessing documents, and signing up for compliance alerts if they were available. I noted how often I got bogged down and docked the registered agent’s rating accordingly. 

Factor 5: Customer Service

The final factor I used for my ratings may be the factor you use the least, but it also might be the most important should you encounter any unexpected developments. Customer service is easy to forget about, but having someone knowledgeable to answer your questions about service of process or a regulatory change can be an enormous relief when you're in a pinch. 

I tested the registered agents’ service teams by asking the same questions of each of them. I then rated them based on the accuracy of their answers, how long they took to get back to me, and how courteous they were.

The Best Montana Registered Agent Results Summary

I investigated more than 60 Montana registered agent services and rated them according to five factors. Here are my top three:

Best Overall Registered Agent — Northwest Registered Agent (9.13/10)

Northwest Registered Agent finished first or close to it in nearly every category. Overall, they were the definite winner. If you're looking for a registered agent in Montana, they offer the best overall service and the best value.

It starts with their approach to the basics. They are extremely responsible with your documents, your data, and your personal assets. They will serve as your point of contact with the Montana Secretary of State and notify you of any changing regulations or other important communications from the state. 

They also offer a number of premium services that many other Montana registered agents charge extra for. A prime example is compliance alerts, which cost as much as $50 extra at other companies, but are a part of the basic package at Northwest Registered Agent.

What truly separates Northwest Registered Agent from the pack is their customer service team. Call Northwest Registered Agent and you’ll talk to former accountants, entrepreneurs, and lawyers. They are willing and knowledgeable enough to answer any question related to your Montana business entity. They are far and away the best in the industry.

Despite making such a large investment in their customer service team, Northwest Registered Agent still manages to keep their prices amongst the lowest of my top 12. 

At $125 per year for the best Montana registered agent service, they are a true bargain.

It's also worth noting that there are over 3,000 positive Northwest Registered Agent reviews online, so I'm not the only one with a positive experience with them. They also maintain a good standing with the Montana Secretary of State.

If you want an affordable registered agent in Montana that you can trust to guide your company through thick and thin, head to Northwest Registered Agent.

Or, if you're looking to start an LLC in Montana, read my guide on the best LLC Services in Montana.

Best Budget Registered Agent — Harbor Compliance (7.92/10)

For true budget consumers, Harbor Compliance ($99) is your best option. Nothing about their service particularly stands out, but you’ll save $26 over Northwest and Harbor Compliance is trustworthy and reliable.

They provide your Montana office address, which is staffed during regular business hours, and they are fairly quick to forward your annual report reminders and tax notices. They scan and upload your most critical documents for you to access whenever you’d like. They also offer compliance alerts, which is a great service for such a bargain price.

The customer service department doesn’t compare with its counterpart at Northwest, but they won’t steer you in the wrong direction or give you the runaround.

Don't just take it from me. There are also hundreds of positive Harbor Compliance reviews online from other happy customers.

If you’re on a shoestring budget and can’t afford great customer service, visit Harbor Compliance here.

Best Premium Registered Agent — LegalZoom (6.59/10)

LegalZoom probably has the highest name recognition of any active registered agent in Montana, which can give you some peace of mind, but they are also the most expensive.

For $299 per year, they offer basic registered agent service, plus annual report reminders and tax alerts, as well as a $1 million identity theft insurance policy. That’s a great collection of services, but with such a hefty price tag, it doesn’t represent a real value.

LegalZoom’s customer service also lags a bit behind its competitors mainly because they offer so many different legal services that it can be difficult to access answers to questions specific to your Montana LLC.

If you have an unlimited budget and value a renowned name and a company that can handle a variety of legal issues beyond just your registered agent account, LegalZoom is your best option.

Check out LegalZoom here.

In Conclusion

You’ve worked really hard to get your Montana LLC to this point, so it’s imperative that you entrust your company to the right Montana registered agent. Your registered agent handles all your most critical paperwork, keeps your personal information and assets safe, and is your point of contact with the state of Montana, so choose wisely.

My choice, after hours upon hours of research for the best registered agent service in Montana is Northwest Registered Agent. I started with 60 registered agents, narrowed it down to 12, and rated them based on five factors. Northwest was the clear winner.

They offer a great bundle of services including:

• A local Montana street address to receive government and legal communications
• Mail forwarding
• Document scanning and uploading
• An easy-to-use online portal giving you 24-hour access to your documents
• Help with the formation of your Montana LLC or other business entity
• Compliance alerts so you keep on top of deadlines for your annual reports or other filings

They also feature the best customer service team in the industry and offer it all at a very competitive rate.

If you want to entrust your business entity to the best registered agent in Montana, visit Northwest Registered Agent now. To change your Montana registered agent, complete a Statement of Change of Registered Agent form and file it with the Montana Secretary of State.