The 10 Best LLC Services in Montana: Reviewed and Ranked

28/03/2024

In order to form a limited liability company in the “Treasure State,” it is mandatory that you look for and find a good LLC formation service that will assist you with your business registration process. The LLC formation industry is littered with so many scams and fakes that it can be quite overwhelming to determine which companies offer genuine services.

I investigated the 17 major LLC services in Big Sky Country through a four-stage, five-factor review process to assist you with making the right decision. Below are the results of my findings.

1. Northwest Registered Agent: 9.45/10 (Best LLC Service)

Northwest Registered Agent is my #1 choice for the best LLC formation service in Montana because of the great value that it provides, coupled with its amazing customer support service that provides impressive and reliable business advice in case you come across any challenges during your business journey.

Pros

Its formation package includes all the services you need to establish your business, such as assistance with filing your articles of organization with the Montana Secretary of State’s office, a business address, an online document storage portal, free annual report filing notices, a full year of registered agent service, and a 90-day trial of VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) service.

You’ll also get a free consultation with Northwest’s in-house accountants, top-notch privacy of your documents that minimizes the exposure of and access to your personal data, and access to an amazing customer support service.

Northwest also provides more comprehensive services (at a cost) such as access to an employer identification number (EIN), access to copies of your official LLC documents, and a Certificate of Good Standing.

This formation package costs $225 but we’ve managed to cut a sweet deal for Boostsuite readers due to the large number of visitors who we refer to Northwest Registered Agent. When you sign up using my dedicated link, you’ll get an 82% discount that brings the initial cost down to $39.

But Northwest’s most valuable service feature has to be its customer support.

Unlike most companies that outsource their customer support services to call centers in foreign countries that are staffed by people who do not fully comprehend the business setup process in the US.

Northwest’s US-based Corporate Guides are a team of former accountants, lawyers and small business owners with a ton of experience in how to run a Montana LLC. They not only assist you with your business registration process, they are ready to provide top-notch business advice whenever you come across challenges during your business journey.

This type of business advice can cost upwards of $5,000, especially when you get it from select business advisory firms, so it’s a relief to find an LLC service provider that includes this service in its formation package for just $39.

Cons

The only issue I came across while reviewing Northwest Registered Agent’s services is that it doesn't provide any online tools for your Montana LLC such as a personalized business website, web hosting, online advertising credits, or a domain name.

But this is just a small issue as you can get Google’s advertising credits for around $150 and websites like Squarespace also provide website building tools for as little as $15.

Overall

Northwest Registered Agent is my choice for the best LLC formation service in Montana due to its bang-for-buck service offerings coupled with its impressive customer support service.

Northwest’s discounted $39 formation package provides all the services you need to start your LLC in Montana and it has a team of over 200 experienced Corporate Guides who’ll answer your questions regarding the challenges you encounter during your business journey.

If you need an affordable and reliable LLC formation service that provides terrific value for money while providing great customer support services, visit Northwest Registered Agent today.

2. ZenBusiness: 8.25/10 (Best Essentials LLC Service)

ZenBusiness’ amazing $0 price is certainly unbeatable, but because it doesn’t offer small business advice or free registered agent services, it will eventually cost you more than it’s worth. 

Pros

ZenBusiness covers all of the basics for $0 (plus state fees). It will check the information you’ve entered on your formation documents for accuracy, file them for you, and run a business name availability search for you. 

If you upgrade to its Pro plan for $199, you’ll get expedited filing (around four to six days) and help to create an operating agreement, and if you choose its $299 Premium package you’ll get a custom tool to build your website, a domain name, email address, and rush filing (approximately one to two days). 

On top of all that, ZenBusiness’ customer service has extended weekday hours and is also available on Sundays. 

Cons

The $0 price is a little misleading. While it will do everything you need to form your LLC for just the price of state fees, if you need anything else you’re going to have to pay additional fees for it. 

ZenBusiness doesn’t offer free registered agent service, and instead charges $199 per year for it. When there are other LLC service providers that offer complimentary registered agent service for the first year, it seems silly to pay full price the first year. 

Its customer service team can quickly and effectively answer your questions and solve your problems, so long as they don’t fall outside the realm of typical customer service problems. But if you need help with HR problems or legal advice, they can’t help you. 

Overall

ZenBusiness will cover all of the basics to set up your LLC. Its customer service is available during extended business hours to answer your questions about the LLC formation process, and it will ensure that the information on your formation documents is correct before filing them for you. 

Most LLCs need a registered agent service, so if yours does then ZenBusiness will cost you quite a bit in the long run. But it provides worry-free compliance and a 100% accuracy guarantee that makes up for the additional cost. 

If you’d like an LLC service that provides all of the services you need at a low price, you can learn more about ZenBusiness’ services on its website

3. Harbor Compliance: 7.15/10 (Best Premium LLC Service)

Harbor Compliance is the second best LLC service in Montana and the best premium LLC service provider on this list for the same reason as Northwest Registered Agent: excellent customer support.

Pros

Harbor Compliance’s formation package provides essential services such as assistance with filing your formation documents, an operating agreement template, and a free year of registered agent service. 

But its true value lies in the customer support services. Most companies provide you with an anonymous helpline, a chatbot, or refer you to their online forums whenever you need assistance with a specific issue. But with Harbor Compliance you are connected with a personal account manager who understands the specific business challenges you are going through and is ready to offer advice when needed.

Cons

The only problem with Harbor Compliance is the cost. Its formation package costs $399 while the Compliance package goes for $799. 

This is significantly more expensive compared with most LLC services on this list and it’s not justified to pay $399 for personalized customer support.

Overall

Harbor Compliance offers quality LLC services that ensure your LLC in Montana is set up correctly with the Secretary of State’s office and it’s the only formation service on this list that offers a personal account manager who is ready to assist you with your business formation process.

Harbor Compliance’s $399 formation package cost is more expensive compared to Northwest Registered Agent, but it does offer good value for your money.

If you are interested in hiring an LLC formation service that provides you with a personal account manager and you’re willing to pay the premium cost, head to Harbor Compliance today.

4. Rocket Lawyer

Rocket Lawyer is an online legal services provider that offers very minimal LLC services as part of its $99 LLC package. It will file your articles of organization and provide you with an online document storage portal and that’s it. This focus on minimal LLC services is due to its continuous focus on legal services. 

To learn more about Rocket Lawyer’s services, read my full Rocket Lawyer review.

5. Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings has a $49 basic plan that includes assistance with filing your Certificate of Organization, a free 30-minute consultation with its accounting team, an online document storage portal, and domain name registration that’s valid for one year.

The problem with Swyft Filings is that it doesn’t provide a free year of registered agent service; you have to pay $149 for that. This is almost four times the cost of Northwest Registered Agent’s formation package, which includes this service.

However, it’s a young company (incorporated in 2012) that offers reliable services. To learn more about its services, read my full Swyft Filings review

6. MyCompanyWorks

MyCompanyWorks is an LLC service provider in Montana that charges $79 for its basic services, which include assistance with submitting your articles of organization, an online document storage portal, and compliance alerts.

However, its free year of registered agent services is only available in the $279 premium package. When you factor in that Northwest Registered Agent offers this service in its $39 package, it doesn't make sense to purchase MyCompanyWorks’ premium package.

7. Inc Authority

Inc Authority is a ZenBusiness clone that charges $0 for filing your articles of organization with the Montana Secretary of State but charges a high amount for its more comprehensive services. 

For instance, Inc Authority’s mid-range package costs $399 and offers services such as a draft operating agreement template, an EIN, and a company seal. Its free registered agent service is only available in the $799 premium package.

Even if you can’t afford to pay for submitting your formation documents, you’re better off trusting ZenBusiness to form your Montana LLC.

8. Incorporate Fast

The best aspect of Incorporate Fast’s services is that it promises to submit your articles of organization the same day you send them. 

Incorporate Fast offers a $99 basic package that provides assistance with filing your formation documents with the Montana Secretary of State, a draft operating agreement template, and a free year of Montana registered agent service. 

It also provides a $199 premium package that offers access to an EIN but does not include services like an online document storage portal or a business tax consultation.

Incorporate Fast is more expensive compared with Northwest Registered Agent but if you are in a rush to get your business established, it’s the best choice to form your Montana LLC.

9. BizFilings

BizFilings offers a $99 basic package that provides minimal services such as assistance with your Articles of Formation, compliance alerts, and a free year of Montana registered agent service. It doesn’t provide an operating agreement template, an online document storage portal, or a business tax consultation.

10. LegalZoom

LegalZoom is a legal services provider in Montana that provides very minimal LLC services as part of its $99 business formation package. It only offers assistance with filing your articles of organization and providing a banking solution and that’s all.

Other Montana LLC Services

As part of my review process, I included the following LLC service providers despite their services not being as interesting as the previous 10. However, for the sake of being thorough, I’ve included a short mention of their services.

11. Incorporate.com

Incorporate.com provides assistance with your articles of organization and an online document storage portal, all for $99.

12. CorpNet

For $79, CorpNet assists you with filing your formation documents and provides compliance alerts. That’s all it offers.

13. MyCorporation

MyCorporation provides assistance with filing your articles of organization and offers an operating agreement template, but it charges $133 for these services.

14. Direct Incorporation

Direct Incorporation charges $147 for assistance with filing your formation documents, assistance with drafting your operating agreement, provision of an EIN, and drawing up a banking resolution. 

15. InCorp

InCorp will only assist you with filing your articles of organization and provide an operating agreement template, all for $117. 

16. Nationwide Incorporations

Nationwide Incorporations charges $200 for filing your articles of organization and helping you draft your initial formation document.

17. SunDoc Filings

SunDoc Filings has three packages in its list of offerings. The first is a $79 basic package that assists you with submitting your articles of organization. The $99 Key package offers a draft operating agreement and the $279 Premier package gets you an EIN. 

The Best LLC Service Review Summary

After thoroughly investigating the 17 major LLC formation services in Montana. I concluded that Northwest Registered Agent is the best choice for your business.

Northwest’s $39 formation package includes all the basic services you need to establish your business including assistance with filing your formation documents, access to an EIN, a free essential document template, an online document storage portal, a free 90-day VoIP service, and a free year of Montana registered agent service.

Northwest Registered Agent’s team of highly experienced Corporate Guides provides industry-leading small business advice and saves you the hassle of procuring a third-party business advisory firm.

If you need an affordable LLC service provider that provides great value for your money and top-class, small business advice, visit Northwest Registered Agent.

Best LLC Service Review Methodology 

This is the method I used to determine the best service for your Montana LLC.

Why You Should Trust Me

You should trust me with your Montana LLC service recommendations because I have more experience in the LLC service industry than just about anybody I know.

It all began when I launched my first LLC. I was not familiar with the registration process so I decided to hire the services of a Montana LLC service provider. However, my experience with this company wasn’t as good as I expected. Their services were quite expensive and underwhelming.

When it came time to launch my second business, I chose Northwest Registered Agent as my Montana LLC service provider due to their affordable basic package that provided all the services I needed to establish my business, including a free year of their Montana registered agent service and the top-class business advice that was provided by their Corporate Guides.

During my third business venture, I decided to go for the services of a premium LLC service provider. This time around, I chose the services of Harbor Compliance, which provided me with a personal account manager to assist me during my setup process.

My experience, however, is not limited to just using these three services. I have assisted a lot of people in making the right decision when choosing an LLC service for their business. In fact, the main reason I launched BoostSuite was to offer credible business advice to small business owners and since then I have helped over 1,000 people choose the right Montana LLC service provider for their business.

How I Selected the Best LLC Service

I used the following four-stage review process to determine the best formation services for your Montana LLC.

Stage 1: Reviews

This first stage involved analyzing the online reviews of the major services that can form an LLC in Montana. This meant going through review sites like TrustPilot, the Better Business Review, Facebook, and Google Business and reading through every comment whether positive or negative. 

This allowed me to figure out which companies offered genuine services and which ones were scams.

Stage 2: Website Analysis

The second stage involved going through the websites of each and every service for forming an LLC in Montana to try and understand exactly what they were offering. This review process allowed me to see what their pricing strategy was and how they positioned themselves in the market.

Stage 3: Speaking with Real Customers

This next stage involved talking to actual customers who’ve used the services on this list to form an LLC in Montana. This is something I would have determined while going through the multiple online reviews but most of the comments on these sites are usually skewed towards negative or positive extremes.

I contacted some of the people to whom I had recommended a Montana LLC service and asked them about their experiences while dealing with these companies. 

This allowed me to differentiate those companies that sold reliable services from those that were scams.

Stage 4: Speaking with Their Sales Team

For this last stage, I called the sales and customer support teams of every Montana LLC service provider on this list so that I could determine how good they were at selling their services and how well they handled criticism from their clients.


Rating Factors

I used the following five-factor rating process to rank each Montana LLC service on this list.

Factor 1: Offerings

There are companies that provide free essential services such as assistance with filing your Certificate of Formation and then proceed to charge you for every additional service that they offer. Then there are others like Northwest Registered Agent that provide a suite of services in their low-cost Montana LLC Package.

This difference in the services offered meant that I had to start my ranking process here.

Factor 2: Price

The cost of services was the next factor I considered in my review process. Some Montana LLC services offer basic packages that start at $399, making them beyond the reach of most people, while others provide very affordable formation packages that cost as little as $39. 

This major difference in the cost of services meant that this was my second ranking factor, especially when combined with the wide disparity in the types of services offered by each Montana LLC service provider.

Factor 3: Ease of Sign-up

The third factor I used in my ranking process was how easy and intuitive their sign-up systems were. Some companies provide good services but complicate their sign-up processes. They have old and outdated systems that take so much time and effort that the entire process ends up being quite overwhelming.

Then there are service providers whose sign-up systems are so well-designed and user-friendly they don’t take up too much of your time. 

I reviewed the sign-up process of each Montana LLC formation service to determine which required the least effort.

Factor 4: Ease of Use

Some of the issues that were present in the sign-up sections also trickled down to other aspects of their websites. There are companies that provide pre-filled data forms that only need your signature to sign off. On the other hand, you have companies that provide blank forms that force you to enter the same information page after page. Forms and documents are crucial to staying in compliance with the Montana Secretary of State.

I assessed every Montana LLC service according to how easy their websites were to navigate.

Factor 5: Customer Service

The last factor I used in my ranking process was the quality of customer support services at each Montana LLC.

Some Montana LLC companies outsource their customer support services to call centers in foreign countries that are staffed with people who don’t understand the business setup process in the US. 

Then there are companies like Northwest Registered Agent whose team of US-based Corporate Guides not only provide support during your Montana LLC formation process but are also available to offer reliable LLC business advice throughout your business journey.

In Conclusion

After I had investigated the 18 major Montana LLC service providers through my four-stage, five-factor review process, I concluded that Northwest Registered Agent is the best Montana LLC formation provider.

Their $39 Formation Package (exclusive only to BoostSuite readers) provides all the services you need including assistance with filing your Articles of Organization, assistance with drafting your LLC operating agreement, a 90-day trial of their VoIP service, and a free year of their Montana registered agent service to keep your LLC in compliance with the Secretary of State.

Also included are comprehensive LLC services such as issuing a Certificate of Good Standing, copies of your official registration documents and access to an Employer Identification Number (EIN). However, these services are provided as optional extras and can be purchased on their sign-up page.

Their highly experienced Corporate Guides are available to provide assistance not only when you start an LLC but also whenever you encounter challenges during your LLC business journey.

If you are in the market for an affordable formation service for your Montana LLC that also offers top-notch small business advice, follow my link to Northwest Registered Agent’s website and get an exclusive 82% discount on their Formation Package.


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