Search Montana LLC, Corporation & ABN Records
Montana’s official Business Search lets you find registered entities by business name or filing number, then open the record to review status, entity type, registered agent, principals, filing dates and filed documents.
Use the public search first. Once you identify the correct record, the same portal connects you to annual reports, amendments, certified copies, certificates and other filing actions.
Fastest search: enter the business name or Montana filing number in the official search. If the results are broad, use the portal’s Advanced search rather than guessing from a similar name.
After you find the entity: select the business name to open its record. Montana directs users to View Filings for filed documents, File Annual Report for annual reports, and Filing Actions for amendments and other maintenance filings.
Important distinction: a Montana SOS business record confirms what is in the state filing system. It is not proof of professional licensing, tax compliance, insurance, financial condition or business reputation.
How to Search Montana Business Records
Montana’s live Business Search accepts a business name or filing number. Search is public; signing in becomes important when you want to file or request certain paid records.
- Open the official Montana Business Search.
- Enter the business name or filing number.
- Run the basic search first.
- If too many results appear, use Advanced to narrow them.
- Select the correct business name from the results.
- Confirm the filing number, entity type, status, jurisdiction, dates and registered agent.
- Save the filing number before moving to reports, certificates or filing actions.
What to Check on a Montana Entity Record
Identity and status
- Business entity name
- Montana filing/entity number
- Entity type and subtype
- Current status
- Domestic or foreign jurisdiction
- Incorporation or registration date
People, addresses and filings
- Registered agent and address
- Principal information shown in the record
- Principal or mailing addresses
- Qualification date for foreign entities
- Filed documents
- Annual-report and other filing history
How to View Montana Articles and Filed Documents
You do not need to order a certified copy just to review many filed documents. Montana’s portal lets users open an entity and review available filing history.
- Search for the business in the official portal.
- Select the business name in the results.
- Open the record’s right-side information panel.
- Select View Filings.
- Look for the relevant document. Montana identifies original registration documents as Initial Filing.
- Open or download the available filing when needed.
Montana Business Name Availability
Montana allows users to screen proposed names through the online portal. However, finding no obvious conflict does not guarantee approval. The Secretary of State makes the final determination under Montana’s distinguishability rules when the filing is reviewed.
Open Montana business name search.
- Search the exact proposed name.
- Search the strongest distinctive words separately.
- Review similar entity and assumed-business-name records.
- Check whether your wording is distinguishable under Montana rules.
- Do not spend heavily on branding until the registration itself is accepted.
Name reservation
A Montana name reservation is currently listed at $10.
The state help center says a reservation holds a proposed name for 120 days.
Reservation is optional in many cases
Montana says you do not need a separate name reservation when you are concurrently filing the entity formation or registration that will use the name.
Montana Annual Reports: Free Window, Late Fee & Final Deadlines
Montana LLCs and corporations, including profit and nonprofit corporations, file annual reports. The report updates or confirms registration details such as mailing address, registered agent, shares where applicable and principals of record. It is not an income-tax or earnings report.
| Timing | Current rule | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| January 1–April 15 | Annual-report filing fee waived | This is the best filing window for most LLCs and corporations. |
| After April 15 | $35 annual-report fee | The filing can still be completed, but the waived-fee period has ended. |
| Foreign entities | Current help guidance lists November 1 as the later filing deadline | Do not wait until this date merely because the report can still be accepted; filing before April 15 avoids the $35 fee. |
| Domestic entities | Current help guidance lists December 1 as the later filing deadline | Missing the final compliance deadline can lead to involuntary dissolution. |
Open Montana annual-report instructions.
- Open biz.sosmt.gov.
- Search for the business.
- Select the business name.
- Choose File Annual Report in the right-side panel.
- Review the report information.
- Complete the declarations and required fields.
- Select File Online.
Montana Assumed Business Names (DBA / ABN)
Montana uses the term Assumed Business Name (ABN) for a DBA. An ABN lets a person or existing business operate under a name different from its legal name; it does not create a separate LLC or corporation.
Registration and renewal
- Registration: $20
- Renewal: $20
- Renewal period: every five years
- Amendment: $20
If the ABN expires
Montana says an expired assumed business name cannot simply be renewed. A new application must be filed through the business portal.
Open Montana ABN registration instructions.
- Sign in to the Montana filing portal or create an account.
- Select Register a Business or Forms.
- Choose the Assumed Business Name registration.
- Complete every required field.
- Select File Online.
- Pay the $20 registration fee by the available online payment method.
Certificates, Certified Copies & Principal Reports
Search and inspect the business first. When formal documentation is required, Montana’s portal provides certificates, certified document copies and principal reports.
| Service | Current fee | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Existence — domestic | $5 | Formal state evidence for an eligible domestic entity. |
| Certificate of Authority — foreign | $5 | Formal state evidence for an eligible registered foreign entity. |
| Certificate of Fact | $15 | Official certification of a fact reflected in SOS records. |
| Certified document copy | $10 | When the receiving party needs a certified copy of a filed document. |
Open Montana certificate and document instructions.
- Sign in to biz.sosmt.gov.
- Search for the business by name or folder/file ID.
- Select the business name.
- Choose Request Information.
- Select the certificate or certified-copy service you need.
- Pay with the available credit/debit-card or e-check option.
What to Do if a Montana Business Is Involuntarily Dissolved
Montana uses Involuntary Dissolution when a business has been administratively dissolved because of missed filings or fees, or because it failed to maintain a registered agent.
Filing the missing annual reports alone does not return the entity to active status. Montana requires the missing reports plus a reinstatement application.
Who can reinstate?
Domestic Montana corporations and LLCs are currently eligible for reinstatement within five years of the dissolution date.
Foreign entity difference
Montana says foreign entities are not eligible for reinstatement and must requalify instead.
- File every missing annual report.
- Pay the $35 fee for each delinquent annual report.
- Obtain a Montana Department of Revenue Title 15 Certificate when required.
- Sign in to the filing portal.
- Open the entity and choose Filing Actions.
- Select Reinstatement.
- Complete the application and upload the tax certificate when required.
- Submit the filing and reinstatement fee.
| Entity | Current reinstatement filing fee |
|---|---|
| Profit corporation | $30 plus delinquent annual-report fees |
| LLC | $35 plus delinquent annual-report fees |
| Nonprofit corporation | $10 plus delinquent annual-report fees |
Open current Montana reinstatement instructions.
Montana Registered-Agent Rules
Montana requires corporations, LLCs and certain partnership entities to maintain a registered agent who can receive lawsuits, official notices and other legal documents.
Physical Montana address required
The registered agent must have a physical address in Montana rather than only a P.O. box and must be available to receive documents during business hours.
Commercial or noncommercial
A commercial registered agent is a professional service registered to act for businesses. A noncommercial agent is typically an individual or smaller provider; a business owner may also serve when the requirements are met.
To check an entity’s agent, search the business and open the result. Montana displays the registered agent name and address in the business record.
Open Montana registered-agent change instructions.
- Sign in to the Montana filing portal.
- Search for the business.
- Select the business name.
- Open Filing Actions.
- Select Registered Agent/Office Change by Entity.
- Complete and submit the change.
Common Montana Business Filing Fees
These are the fees most closely connected with business-search follow-up tasks. Confirm the live fee page before payment because fees and waivers can change.
| Filing or service | Current listed fee | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic LLC formation | $35 | Articles of Organization. |
| Domestic profit corporation formation | $35 | Articles of Incorporation. |
| Name reservation | $10 | Reserve a proposed name before formation when needed. |
| Assumed Business Name registration | $20 | Montana DBA / ABN registration. |
| ABN renewal | $20 | Renew an active assumed business name every five years. |
| Annual report through April 15 | Waived | LLC and corporation annual-report filing during the waived-fee period. |
| Annual report after April 15 | $35 | Late-season annual-report filing before the final compliance deadline. |
| Certified copy | $10 | Official certified copy of a filed document. |
| 24-hour processing | $20 | Priority handling when offered for the filing. |
| 1-hour processing | $100 | Expedited handling where available. |
Montana Business Search Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| No result for the name | Search fewer words and remove LLC, Inc., punctuation or branding words that may not be part of the legal name. |
| Too many results | Use Advanced search or the exact Montana filing number. |
| Need filed Articles | Open the entity and choose View Filings. Original formation documents are generally labeled Initial Filing. |
| No Filing Actions button | Sign in to the filing portal first. Montana says Filing Actions appears when you are signed into your user account. |
| Business says Involuntary Dissolution | File missing annual reports and then complete the separate reinstatement application. |
| ABN says Expired | An expired ABN cannot simply be renewed; submit a new registration application. |
| Need registered agent | Open the business record; the registered agent name and Montana address appear in the entity details. |
| Suspicious filing notice | Verify the entity directly at biz.sosmt.gov before paying. For suspected business fraud, Montana also directs consumers to the Department of Justice Office of Consumer Protection. |
Montana Secretary of State Business Services Contact Information
Physical address
Montana Secretary of State
State Capitol, Room 260
1301 6th Avenue
Helena, MT 59620
Mailing address
Montana Secretary of State
P.O. Box 202801
Helena, MT 59620-2801
Check the official contact page before an in-person visit because current Business Services hours are not prominently listed on the main Business Services page.
Official Montana Business Resources
Search existing entities by business name or filing number and open the entity record.
Sign in for annual reports, amendments, registered-agent changes, reinstatement and other filings.
Main official hub for business search, registration, reports, certificates and support.
Current filing steps, fee-waiver period and later compliance deadlines.
Current fees for LLCs, corporations, ABNs, certificates, copies and expedited processing.
Steps for certified copies, business certificates and principal reports.
Annual-report catch-up, Title 15 Certificate requirements and reinstatement filing steps.
Montana Business Entity Search FAQ
1. Is the Montana business entity search free?
Yes. Montana provides a public online Business Search where users can look up entities by name or filing number. Fees apply to filings, certified copies, certificates and other paid services.
2. Where do I search for a Montana LLC or corporation?
Use the official Montana Secretary of State Business Search at biz.sosmt.gov/search/business/query/. Search by business name or filing number, then open the matching entity record.
3. Can I view a Montana company’s Articles of Organization online?
Often, yes. Search the entity, open its record and choose View Filings. Montana says original formation documents such as Articles of Organization are generally labeled Initial Filing.
4. How much is the Montana annual report?
The annual-report fee is currently waived when an eligible report is filed between January 1 and April 15. Reports filed after April 15 carry a $35 fee.
5. What are Montana’s final annual-report deadlines?
Current Montana help guidance lists November 1 for foreign entities and December 1 for domestic entities. Filing by April 15 is preferable because the annual-report fee is waived during the January 1–April 15 period.
6. Is a Montana DBA the same as an Assumed Business Name?
Yes. Montana uses the term Assumed Business Name, or ABN, for a DBA. Registration currently costs $20 and must be renewed every five years while active.
7. How much is a Montana Certificate of Existence?
The current Business Services fee schedule lists a Certificate of Existence for a domestic corporation or LLC at $5. A Certificate of Authority for an eligible foreign entity is also listed at $5.
8. Can I search for a Montana registered agent?
Yes. Search the business and open the entity record. The registered agent’s name and address appear in the business details. Montana also provides lists and search tools for commercial registered agents.
9. What does Involuntary Dissolution mean in Montana?
Montana uses Involuntary Dissolution when a business is administratively dissolved because of missed filings or fees or failure to maintain a registered agent. Missing annual reports must be filed, but a separate reinstatement application is also required.
10. Does a Montana Secretary of State record prove that a business is licensed or trustworthy?
No. The record shows business-registration and filing information maintained by the Secretary of State. Professional licensing, tax compliance, insurance, permits, financial condition and consumer complaints may require separate checks.