How to search Montana business entities online
Updated August 2026
Quick Answer
Montana's business search is at biz.sosmt.gov/search/business, run by the Secretary of State — Montana accepts filings online only. Search by business name or file number to see the registered agent, mailing address, and full filing history. A separate Business Alert / Watchlist service ($50/year) is available if you want to be notified whenever a new filing appears against a specific entity's record.
- Go to biz.sosmt.gov/search/business.
- Search by business name (use Advanced for entity type or status filters) or file number.
- Open the record to see the registered agent and filing history.
Fraud warning: third-party mailers
The Montana Secretary of State has issued a formal public warning about deceptive third-party mailers that claim a business owes fees for annual reports or other state filings, directing payment to a private company. These are scams. Montana filings only go through biz.sosmt.gov, and the Secretary of State does not send paper invoices by mail for annual reports.
What the search covers
The database includes domestic and foreign profit corporations, nonprofit corporations, LLCs (including series LLCs), limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability limited partnerships, business trusts, assumed business names (DBAs), and registered trademarks. Trademark search is at a separate tab within the same biz.sosmt.gov domain.
How to search
The basic search accepts a business name and returns a capped set of results. For more specific queries — filtering by entity type, status, or address — use the Advanced search toggle. File number searches retrieve a single record directly.
Each entity's record shows status, registration date, registered agent name and address, principal mailing address, and the full filing history. From the record page, logged-in users can file annual reports, amendments, and other actions without navigating to a separate section.
Annual reports — free before April 15
Montana annual reports are due April 15 each year. Filing before that date carries no fee — the annual report is waived. Filing after April 15 triggers a $35 late fee. This makes Montana one of the few states where timely compliance has zero cost.
A fraud warning from the SOS office
The Montana Secretary of State has posted a formal public warning about deceptive third-party mailers — letters claiming businesses owe fees for annual reports or state filings and directing payment to private companies. These are scams. All Montana business entity filings go through biz.sosmt.gov only; the Secretary of State does not send paper invoices by mail for annual reports.
Other notable details
Name reservations are valid for 120 days and cannot be renewed — a shorter window than most states. Foreign business names must be renewed annually between October 1 and December 31 each year. A Business Alert / Watchlist monitoring service is available for $50 per year for entities that want notifications when a new filing appears against their entity record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a Montana business report on paper?
No. Montana is an all-digital filing state — paper forms are not accepted for any business entity filing. All formations, annual reports, and amendments must go through the online portal at biz.sosmt.gov.
Is Montana's annual report free?
Yes, if filed on time. Montana annual reports are due April 15, and filing before that date carries no fee. Filing after April 15 triggers a $35 late fee, making Montana one of the few states where timely compliance costs nothing.
How long does a Montana business name reservation last?
120 days, and it cannot be renewed — a shorter window than most states. Foreign business names, by contrast, must be renewed annually between October 1 and December 31 each year.