Montana Foreign Qualification

Why You Need To Do It – If an LLC or corporation plans on having any kind of physical presence in Montana, it must foreign qualify. This can include having a warehouse, a storefront, an office, or even just a single representative who conducts business to some degree within the state.

When Should You Do It? – The sooner the process is begun, the better. Starting the process early ensures that any potential unexpected delays don’t end up creating issues for your business down the road. Generally, you will need to receive Montana foreign qualification if your company falls under any of the following criteria:

• Has a physical presence in Montana
• Buying a property there
• Have remote employees
• Accepts orders in Montana
• Owns a bank account in Montana

There are several steps that must be taken in order to finalize the process of Montana foreign qualification. These include the following.

1. Obtain Certificates – You will need a Certificate of Good Standing or Existence, which you can get from the company’s home state. You will also have to complete a Certificate of Authority of Foreign Limited Liability Company Application for your LLC’s foreign qualification. Corporations will need to file an Application for a Certificate of Authority. These forms are available on the Montana Secretary of State website for free.

2. Collect And Submit Information – The form will request a variety of information that you will have to provide to complete the process.

LLC

• LLC name with Limited Liability Company, Limited Co, LLC, or other abbreviations
• Name of the home state
• The date of formation and duration of the LLC
• The principal office street address
• The street address of the registered office in Montana
• Registered agent information
• Names and addresses of current managers or members
• An authorized signature

Corporation

• Corporation name
• A different name if the original is unavailable
• Name of home state
• Date of incorporation and period of duration
• Mailing address of the office
• Registered agent information
• Names and addresses of current officers and directors
•  Nature of the business your company will conduct in Montana

3. Appoint Registered Agent – Your registered agent is responsible for handling all aspects of foreign qualification and business compliance. They will accept documents from the government and work with the business to maintain compliance. It can be a lot of work and hassle, which is why most businesses turn to a third party organization like DoMyLLC to handle it for them.

4. File The Application – Once completed, file the form with the Secretary of State along with the $70 filing fee for an LLC while a corporation pays a $75 fee.

5. Ongoing Maintenance – Montana businesses must file annual reports each year by April 15th in order to remain compliant. These are filed along with a $20 fee for corporations and a fee of $20 for LLCs.

Your business takes a lot of work from you. By letting us handle your Montana foreign qualification, you eliminate a large amount of stress and hassle. We do everything for you and provide:

•     Dedicated account managers
•     Name availability checks
•     Full filing and registration
•     Ongoing, unlimited customer support

With us handling your foreign qualification, you don’t have to worry about the process yourself and can have more time to complete other aspects of running your business.

Montana Office of Secretary of State
Phone Number:
(334) 242-5324

Address:
Montana Secretary of State
PO Box 202801
Helena, MT 59620-2801