A 16-Step Checklist for Starting a Business in Montana

1) Write a Business Plan

Jumping into this endeavor without goals, directives, or a sense of direction can lead to a scattered, unproductive business.

A business plan lays the groundwork for your future success. It helps you analyze key elements of your business and forge pathways to achieve your goals. Here are a few things you should consider including in your business plan:

• Executive Summary (a separate document that gives a complete overview of your business’ purpose, plans, goals, competition, opportunities, etc.)
• Company description
• Market Analysis (opportunities, competition, etc.)
• Managerial or organizational structure
• Products and/or services
• Marketing strategies
• Funding goals
• Financial projections

Business plans aren’t just great for internal operations, but they give your business legitimacy in front of potential investors, customers, partners, and more. Need help? Check out this guide from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

2) Decide on a Business Name

You might’ve come up with the perfect name right away. If so, consider yourself lucky.

Sometimes, deciding on a business can be difficult, requiring brainstorming meetings and late-night rap sessions. That’s because your name is your business’ identity and reputation. It should be something that’s unique and memorable but also defines your business purpose.

The state has certain restrictions for LLC and corporation names. LLC names, for example, must include the words “Limited Liability Company” or an appropriate abbreviation. And corporation names must include the terms “corporation,” “incorporated,” “company,” “limited,” or an abbreviation thereof. These are just a couple of the basic requirements and can find a full list in the Montana State Code (corporations and LLCs).

But that’s not all. You must also choose a name that hasn’t been claimed by another Montana business entity. Perform a name search to find out. If your desired name yields no results, just reserve it or use it on your formation documents and it’s all yours!

3) Decide on a Legal Structure

There are only a few types of business structures, but each one dictates some important parts of how your business will run.

The most popular types are the sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited liability company (LLC), S corporation, and C corporation. Most small businesses go with the LLC because of its unique blend of flexibility and personal asset protection.

However, you shouldn’t make this decision without reading up on all of your options. We’ve done plenty of research on each business type and developed side-by-side comparisons. Check out our LLC vs. Corporation and LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship comparison guides for a closer look.

4) Choose a Registered Agent

The Secretary of State needs a point of contact for your business, someone who will be available at your registered office address during typical business hours – 9am to 5pm.

This person is called a registered agent, and they serve as an intermediary with the state, receiving all of your company’s important legal communications and relaying them on to you. The Montana registered agent ensures that no important state documents, deadlines, or payments fall through the cracks, so you’ll want to choose a person or company you trust.

You can choose either an individual or a business entity as your registered agent in Montana, but they must:

• Be an individual Montana resident or a corporation authorized to do business in the state.
• Have a physical address in Montana.
• Have a mailing address in Montana (no P.O. boxes allowed).

When choosing an agent, keep in mind that this person or corporation will be responsible for your business’ compliance, so you’ll likely want someone who understands the intricacies of business maintenance, like an attorney or manager. That said, Montana’s agent requirements are broad, so friends and family members can also work.

Or, you can choose a registered agent service instead. These companies take care of all your registered agent responsibilities, and some will even handle your business formation and annual reporting as well.

Important: You must continuously maintain a registered agent on file with the Secretary of State. If your agent resigns or you appoint a new one, you’ll need to notify them by filing the appropriate documents.

5) Register Your Business

This is the big one, the step that officially creates your business. No matter which business type you choose, you’ll need to register it with the Secretary of State.

LLCs: Going with a limited liability company? You’re going to need to file an Articles of Organization. This is the document that puts its information on file, allowing you to kick off your operations. This Montana LLC filing must be submitted online and costs $70. You will need to create an ePass account to complete the process (ePass is the state’s online filing system).

Corporations: The filing process is the same as LLCs, but you’ll use a corporation-specific Articles of Incorporation instead.

Sole Proprietorship/General Partnership: There are no official forms or fees to register as a sole proprietor or general partnership. Simply start doing business and that’s it! While this is obviously faster and easier, we recommend incorporating your business because of the personal asset protection LLCs and corporations provide.

Foreign Entities: A business that expands to Montana from another state is considered “foreign” rather than “domestic” and must foreign qualify before conducting any activities. Like the Articles of Organization and Incorporation, you can register your foreign entity through the ePass filing system. This process takes the place of filing either the Articles of Organization or Incorporation.

6) Get an EIN

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your ticket to doing state and federal taxes. It’s a nine-digit number, much like a Social Security Number, that identifies your business on tax documents.

If you’re forming an LLC, it will be considered a “pass-through” entity, so the business itself won’t pay federal income taxes. Instead, you and the other members will report income and losses on your personal tax returns.

But this doesn’t mean you can go without an EIN. If your LLC pays any type of business taxes – like Sales, Use, or Unemployment Taxes – or hires employees, you’ll need to get one.

Unsure if you need one? The IRS provides a useful “Do I need an EIN?” link on this page, where you can also apply for an EIN. If you go through the online application process, you’ll receive your number immediately.

Otherwise, you can submit a Form SS-4 by fax to (855) 641-6935 or by mail to :

Internal Revenue Service Operation

Attn: EIN Operation

Cincinnati, OH 45999

7) Open a Business Bank Account

LLC and corporation owners are required to keep their personal and business finances completely separate, or they risk losing their personal asset protection. To do so, you’ll need a business bank account.

The good news is that opening a business bank account is pretty simple. Just pay a visit to your bank’s local branch and sit down with one of the bankers there. You will need to present your formation documents, an EIN number, and some personal information. Then, you can direct all of your business income and expenses to that account instead of a personal one.

It doesn’t really matter which bank you choose, whether it’s a national giant like Chase or Bank of America or a small, local bank. However, it’s usually easiest to go with the one where you have existing accounts.

8) Handle Any Tax Obligations

Ah, taxes. They’re always part of the picture, especially when you run a business.

Familiarizing yourself with your business’ tax requirements will help you establish a solid financial plan going forward. LLCs don’t need to file a corporate tax return and pay federal income taxes, so you’ll handle these taxes as part of your personal return.

Corporations, on the other hand, will need to pay a Corporate Income Tax, while sole proprietorships/general partnerships will need to pay self-employment taxes.

Montana doesn’t require its businesses to pay a franchise or privilege tax, nor does it have a state sales tax, but there are a few other taxes your business may owe, depending on its activities and purpose:

Withholding Tax: If your business has any employees, you will be responsible for deducting taxes on the wages you pay through the Department of Revenue. Read over the state’s Withholding Tax Guide for more information.

Unemployment Insurance Tax: Any business that has employees must also pay an Unemployment Insurance Tax through the Department of Labor & Industry.

Other Taxes: There are other highly-specific taxes that your business might need to pay, but only if they meet certain circumstances, like Cigarette Taxes or the Local Resort Tax. You can find a complete list of business taxes here on the Department of Revenue website.

9) Find an Accountant

Sometimes it’s easier to hand off your financial responsibilities to a professional. Not only will an accountant ensures that your taxes are filed and paid correctly, but they might also find a few ways to save your business money.

Bookkeeping and tax procedures are time-consuming and require some specialized knowledge. Balance sheets, financial reports, cash flow, audits, and much more – an accountant can ensure that your company operates smoothly and streamlines its expenses.

This can be expensive depending on the complexity of your finances, but the benefits an accountant offers can be well worth it.

10) Create an Operating Agreement

An operating agreement constructs a framework of procedures and standards for your business. This is where you can lay out processes for member conduct, asset allocation, compensation policies, voting procedures, dissolution, and much more.

While operating agreements aren’t technically required in Montana, they are essential to your business’ stability and success. They provide a safety net in legal disputes and legitimacy in front of banks, courts, government agencies, and other businesses.

You can either draft one yourself using an online template, or you can hire an attorney or an incorporation service to take care of it for you.

Once you’ve drafted your agreement, it must be approved by each of your LLC’s members, then filed with the rest of your business documents. You do not need to submit it to the Secretary of State.

11) Acquire the Necessary Licenses

After filing your formation documents, your business is legitimate, but it might still need specific licenses before opening its doors in Montana. Your business may need several licenses and permits, or it might not need any – it all depends on your activities and business purpose. Here are a few of the most common license categories:

Professional/Occupational Licenses: Particular vocations require licensure through a state board before you can commence business activities in the state. These licenses are facilitated by the Department of Labor & Industry, and you can find a complete list here.

Environmental Licenses/Permits: If your business deals with agriculture or otherwise affects the state’s land, air, or water, you may need additional licenses. These licenses are granted by the Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Environmental Quality, or Dept. of Livestock.

Health Licenses: The Dept. of Public Health & Human Services issues a handful of licenses to certain businesses, primarily in the food service, healthcare, and hospitality industries.

Local Licenses: Your specific city, county, or municipality might have its own licensure requirements. Take a look at your local government’s website to find out.

For a comprehensive list of Montana business licenses and permits, see the Department of Revenue’s Montana License Lookup page.

12) Consider Business Insurance

Even though it’s not pleasant to consider, there’s always a chance that unforeseen events might take a toll on your assets.

While forming an LLC or corporation offers some personal asset protection, additional business insurance can also protect your business assets in cases of lawsuits, damages, etc. You can acquire insurance for your business products, vehicles, specific occupations and much more.

If you hire employees, you’ll also need to get workers’ compensation insurance. SBA.gov has a useful guide for determining which forms of insurance your new business might need.

13) Build a Website

Your company’s digital presence is just as important as its physical one. Like it or not, most potential customers will find your business online, and if you don’t exist online, you’re missing out.

But don’t worry, you don’t need to be an HTML or web design expert to build a website. Sites like WordPress and Squarespace make it easy to construct an elegant and responsive website, no coding necessary. But if you’re not comfortable or confident doing it on your own, you can always hire a professional web designer to take care of it for you.

14) Launch Social Media Accounts

Making your mark on the digital landscape doesn’t start and end with your website. Most successful businesses also have a robust social media presence on multiple platforms. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are all great ways to connect organically with potential customers and develop your brand voice.

Just don’t forget to publish consistent social media content, or you’ll have trouble building a base of followers.

15) Understand Ongoing Montana Requirements

After you’ve launched your business, things will likely be moving at 100 miles per hour as you evolve and grow. But in all of the excitement, you can’t forget your state’s ongoing compliance requirements. Every state has its own annual or biennial business requirements.

To keep your business in good standing with the state, you’ll need to submit an Annual Report and pay a $20 filing fee each year. This report is due by April 15, and late filings incur a $15 penalty. And if you don’t file your report by November 28, the state will dissolve your business on December 1 (November 1 for foreign entities).

16) Check Out Montana Small Business Resources

You’re not on this journey alone. There are plenty of free resources available to make starting and growing your business a smoother, easier process.

Head over to SBA.gov and you’ll find a ton of resources that can help prepare your business for long-term success. On Montana’s district office page – and in this helpful resource guide – they have networking events, consulting opportunities, business loans, small business development centers, and a whole lot more. Between SBA.gov and this guide, you have everything you need to grow a thriving new business.