Uncover In-Depth Information on
Business Entities
- Uncover In-Depth Information on Business Entities
- How To Find the Owner of a Business Entity in Montana?
- Why Conduct a Montana Entity Search?
- Who Holds Data for Montana Business Entity Search?
- What Entities Can You Register in Montana?
- How Do I Check If a Business Entity Name is Taken in Montana?
- How Do I Set Up a Business Entity in Montana?
- How Much Does It Cost To Start a Business In Montana?
- Additional Information Available on the Montana Secretary of the Commonwealth's Website
- FAQs About Business Entity Searches in Montana
Roughly 60,000 businesses are created annually in Montana. According to the Montana Business Economic Report, more than 5,200 new businesses were registered in Montana in August 2024. The office of the secretary of state also states that more than 5,000 new businesses were registered in seven of the first nine months of 2024.
Business registrations in Montana must be filed at the office of the secretary of state. Specifically, the Business Services Division of the office is tasked with handling business registration filings, assumed business name filings, and trademark filings. Hence, requests for business entity searches must be directed to the business services division of the Montana office of the secretary of state.
Choose Your Search Criteria
Business Name:You may provide part of the business’s official name or the complete name if known.
Filing Number:The filing number is a unique identifier assigned to a business entity when its formation or registration documents are filed with the Montana Secretary of State. If you know this number, you may use it to conduct a business search.
Review Search Results
Once you click the search button after providing the search text, you will get a list of matching results under the search widget area. The list will generally include the name of the matching business and their status, registration date, and registered agent’s name.
Further Assistance
Contacting the office of the secretary of state may provide further assistance in finding a business registered with the state. The office is located at:
Montana Capitol Building
Rm 260
P.O. Box 202801
Helena, MT 59620-2801
Phone: (406) 444-3665
Email: sosbusiness@mt.gov
How To Find the Owner of a Business Entity in Montana?
You may find the owner of a Montana business entity in the following ways:
Use the Montana business search tool:This tool is available on the secretary of state website and may provide information on the registered agent of a business. Therefore, if the registered agent is also the owner of the business, you may be able to find the identity of the business owner via the business search tool.
Visit the website of the business:If the business has an online presence via a website, you may visit the “leadership” or a similar-named page of the website to see if the identity of the owner of the business is revealed on the page.
Local Chambers of Commerce:You may search the listings of local chambers of commerce in Montana as they sometimes include ownership information for the businesses in their databases.
Better Business Bureau (BBB):The Better Business Bureau: The Better Business Bureau also has a database of members who are typically business registered in the state. In confirming their registrations in the BBB database, some entities include ownership information. Hence, you may search the BBB database to find ownership information about some Montana businesses.
Why Conduct a Montana Entity Search?
You may conduct a Montana entity search for the following specific reasons:
Verifying a business's registration and legitimacy ensures customers feel secure engaging with the entity. This builds confidence that the business adheres to Montana's regulations, operates lawfully, and provides reliable products or services.
Investors often assess business entity records to evaluate ownership, financial status, and compliance with regulations. Such an assessment may be made via a business entity search to minimize risk, identify growth potential, and ensure the business aligns with the investor's goals before investment may be made in a business entity.
Confirming a supplier's active registration and operational details helps businesses verify credibility, ensuring they partner with reliable and legally compliant entities.
Business entity searches may help reveal unregistered entities posing as businesses with active statutes as fraudulent. This proactive approach protects consumers and organizations from scams, ensuring safer transactions and partnerships.
Who Holds Data for Montana Business Entity Search?
What Entities Can You Register in Montana?
Montana law allows business entities to be structured in different ways. However, these structure types have different advantages and disadvantages. Hence, it may be necessary to consult with professionals such as accountants, financial advisers, and attorneys before determining which structure type best fits a business concept.
The following are the permitted business entity types in Montana:
A sole proprietorship is owned by a single individual who has complete control and responsibility for the business. The owner receives all profits, makes decisions, and is personally liable for all taxes and liabilities. Registration with the state is only required if the business is operating under a name different from the owner’s legal name.
A general partnership consists of two or more people co-owning a for-profit business. Partners in the entity share profits, losses, and personal liability for the business’s debts. While no formal registration is needed, filing a fictitious name and maintaining a partnership agreement is typically undertaken by general partnerships in Montana.
A limited partnership includes at least one general partner who manages the business and bears full liability and one or more limited partners who invest but do not partake in management, limiting their liability to their investment. It requires filing a Certificate of Limited Partnership with the secretary of state.
An LLP provides all partners with limited liability, protecting them from the partnership’s debts and obligations except for their own negligence or misconduct. It combines the flexibility of a general partnership with the liability protections of a corporation, requiring registration with the state.
A Limited Liability Limited Partnership extends the limited liability protections to all partners, including general partners, shielding them from personal liability for the partnership’s debts. LLLP registrations are to be renewed annually.
A corporation is a separate legal entity from its owners, providing limited liability protection to shareholders. It requires formal registration, and adherence to corporate formalities, and is subject to double taxation unless electing S corporation status. Corporations can continue indefinitely and have structured management with directors and officers.
Examples of Corporations in Montana include:
- S-Corporation
- Statutory Close Corporation
- Public Benefit Corporation
- Professional Corporation
- Nonprofit Corporation
An LLC offers limited liability protection to its owners (members) while allowing flexible management and pass-through taxation. It is created by filing Articles of Organization with the secretary of state and maintaining an operating agreement. LLCs avoid double taxation and require fewer formalities than corporations.
A series limited liability company allows the creation of multiple, separate series within a single LLC, each with its own assets, liabilities, and members. This structure provides liability protection between series, offering flexibility and protection similar to having multiple LLCs under one umbrella.
A DBA may be called different names in Montana, including a trade name, a fictitious business name, or an assumed business name. It is a name under which an entity's operation or business is conducted and presented to the Montana public.
How Do I Check If a Business Entity Name is Taken in Montana?
How Do I Set up A Business Entity in Montana?
You may set up a business entity in Montana in the following ways:
- Research and Plan the Business: By formulating a solid business plan, you can properly define your business concepts, objectives, target market, and financial goals. Also, a good business plan will help you analyze the industry, competitors, and customers.
- Select an Appropriate Business Structure: After defining your business concept and goals, you must decide on a befitting legal business structure that will help meet your goals. You may consult with professionals, such as attorneys and financial professionals in deciding the right entity type. Alternatively, you may use the resources provided by the Small Business Administration, Montana SBDC, and the Internal Revenue Service in determining your business structure.
- Register the Business: Not all businesses require registration with the Montana Secretary of State. However, most permitted business entity types do. If you need to file a DBA name registration or are setting up an entity type that requires registration with the state, use the business registration guideline on the Secretary of State website to complete the process.
- Obtain Necessary Licenses and Permits: Depending on the industry where your proposed business belongs, a state, local, or federal permit or license may be required.
- Register for Taxes: You may apply for an Employer Identification Number from the IRS for tax purposes. Also, you may need to register with the Montana Department of Revenue for state business tax, sales or use tax, or withholding tax, if applicable
- Register with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry (MDLI): If you are hiring employees, you must register with the MDLI for unemployment insurance and workers' compensation insurance
- Get Business Insurance: Protecting your business with relevant insurance policies is recommended to protect the business from certain unforeseen expenses. You may opt for liability insurance, property insurance, and other industry-specific coverage.
For further information on setting up a business in Montana, see the Montana Business Start Up Guide on the Montana Department of Commerce website.
How Much Does It Cost To Start a Business In Montana?
Typical costs involved with setting up a Montana business include the following:
Business Entity Formation Costs:
- Registrations:
Filing fees for entity types typically vary between $10 and $70. For instance, LLPs and LPs pay a $10 registration fee, nonprofit corporations pay $20, profit corporations and LLCs pay $35, while filings for a certificate of authority by foreign profit entities and foreign business trusts cost $70.
Assumed Business Name (DBA):If your business intends to operate under a name other than its legal name, filing a DBA or assumed name costs $20 and must be renewed every five years.
Expedited Processing:For faster filing with the Secretary of State, 24-hour processing is an additional $20, and 1-hour processing is $100.
Licensing Fees:
Fees for local licenses vary by city or county and may vary widely depending on the business type and location. In some jurisdictions, licensing fees may reach up to several hundred dollars.
Additional Information Available on the Montana Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Website
You may find information on the following on the Montana Secretary of State website:
FAQs About Business Entity Searches in Montana
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers about Montana business entity searches.
- Why would I need to search for a business entity in Montana?
A Montana business entity search is useful when you need to determine if a business entity is legitimate or has active registration with the State of Montana.
- What types of entities can I search for in Montana?
You may search for a sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability limited partnership, corporation, S-corporation, statutory close corporation, public benefit corporation, professional corporation, nonprofit corporation, limited liability company, series limited liability company, and DBA names.
- Where can I perform a business entity search in Montana?
You may perform a business entity search in the state using the Montana business entity search tool.
- What information do I need to conduct an entity search in Montana?
A business name or entity filing number is required to perform a search using the Montana business search tool.
- How do I find the official name of a Montana business?
If you know the filing number issued to a Montana business, you may use the state’s business search tool to find the official name of the business.
- Can I search for foreign entities in Montana?
Yes, foreign entities operating in Montana may be searched using the state’s business search tool.
- What information can I find in the Montana entity search?
When you perform a search using the business search tool, you may find information such as the business name, entity type, entity subtype, status, state of formation, business registration expiration date, principal address, mailing address, registration date, registration inactive date, and business filings.
- How do I verify if a Montana business is in good standing?
You may verify if a Montana business is in good standing using the state’s business search tool. If the search results indicate that the business registration is active or that the registration expiration date has not been reached, it shows that the business is in good standing.
- Can I search for an entity in Montana by its owner’s name?
You cannot search for an entity in Montana by its owner’s name using the business search tool on the Secretary of State website. You may need to perform a quick internet search to check if you find an entity by its owner’s name.
- How often is the Montana business entity database updated?
The office of the Montana Secretary of State updates the business entity database regularly. If a modification has been made to an entry in the database, you may expect the changes to be accessible to users within a few days.
- Can I obtain copies of business filings in Montana?
Some business filings are available from the result pages of business searches done via the Secretary of State webpage. If you cannot find a business filing after performing a business search for that specific business, you may contact the secretary of state.
- How do I find out who the registered agent of a Montana business is?
When you perform a business search with the business name or filing number, you will find information about the business’s registered agent from the search result.
- How can I search for Montana businesses by their tax ID number?
Searching by tax identification number is not possible on the Montana business search tool. However, you may contact the Montana Department of Revenue to check if it is possible to find a business by its tax ID number.
- What should I do if I can’t find a business entity in the Montana search?
Check if you have the correct name if a Montana business entity search does not return a matching result. Otherwise, you may contact the Business Services Division of the office of the secretary of state.
- Uncover In-Depth Information on Business Entities
- How To Find the Owner of a Business Entity in Montana?
- Why Conduct a Montana Entity Search?
- Who Holds Data for Montana Business Entity Search?
- What Entities Can You Register in Montana?
- How Do I Check If a Business Entity Name is Taken in Montana?
- How Do I Set Up a Business Entity in Montana?
- How Much Does It Cost To Start a Business In Montana?
- Additional Information Available on the Montana Secretary of the Commonwealth's Website
- FAQs About Business Entity Searches in Montana