In this slideshow, we'll walk through how to register a business in the state of
Montana using our online filing portal system.
To use these slides as a guide while you file your business registration,
just open up a separate browser on your computer so you can easily toggle back
and forth. Please note that you can file a registration from mobile
devices, but it's easier on a computer.
Before we dive in, please note that the Secretary of State's office can only help
you with business registrations, not a business license,
contractor registration, or tax ID numbers.
Those are handled by other agencies, and we recommend you
refer to slide 16, titled "Additional
Resources," to determine who you should contact for help.
Okay, let's get started.
The first step is to open your internet browser and type
sosmt.gov in the search bar.
Step two,
click on the Business & UCC button in the top left of your screen.
Then select Business & UCC Homepage from the
dropdown menu.
If you're on a mobile device, click the three lines in the top right corner.
Click Business & UCC, then select Biz
Homepage from the dropdown menu.
The Business & UCC homepage provides a great overview of our services and
important resources. We encourage you to review these
resources when you have time.
On to step three, click the Filing Portal Login link
in the top right-hand corner of your screen.
This will direct you to our online filing portal system, where you will
register your business.
If you're on a mobile device, click the three lines in the top right corner,
then click Filing Portal Login.
Step four,
log in or create an account. When prompted in the portal, you will
either need to log into an existing account or create an account.
If you have an existing login, please enter it now.
If not, click Create an Account button.
You'll receive a verification email to activate your account.
Go to your email, click on the link, and then you can sign in.
You'll know that you're logged in to our SOS filing portal when you see the
shopping cart icon with your name and username in the top right-hand
corner.
In step five, we're choosing a business form.
Click the Forms tab on the left-hand side of your screen.
On mobile devices, tap the three white bars in the top left
corner.
In the Forms section, you'll see options like Registration of an Assumed
Business Name,
Articles of Organization for a Limited Liability Company, and
more. If you're unsure of which form applies to
you, click the link on this slide to view helpful
information on different business structures.
You can also access this resource by clicking the Help button in the filing
portal. That's on the left side of your screen.
Okay, step six. On the Forms tab, select the appropriate
form based on your business structure.
Please note, domestic refers to
Montana-based businesses, while foreign refers to
businesses that were formed in another state or
country that will be doing business in the state of Montana.
Okay. In step seven, we will be filling out the form.
Follow the guided template in this form by answering all the questions.
Fields with the red asterisks are the ones that are required,
and if there are errors, you will see a red X in the selection
tab.
Correct the errors and continue to move forward through the form.
Remember that everything you enter is public information.
Please do not include private or sensitive information like
Social Security numbers, tax ID numbers, or bank account
information.
After each selection, scroll down and hit Next Step.
You will continue to need to scroll down through each page to
see all the required fields.
Okay, step eight,
select a registered agent if your form requires one.
You can act as your own registered agent, but remember, this makes your physical
Montana address public information.
If you prefer, you can hire
a commercial registered agent. Please click the Lists tab
on the left-hand side of your screen for a list of available commercial
registered agents to choose from.
If you choose to use a commercial registered agent, you can search their name in
the registered agent search to auto-fill their information.
Just please be sure to select the option that says Commercial
Registered Agent.
Sometimes multiple results will pop up, and you will need to
choose the one that states commercial.
Otherwise, it will be sent back for correction.
For more information on the purpose and duties of a registered agent, please click
the question mark button in the top right-hand corner.
Some filings may require some additional documentation.
All attachments must be uploaded in a PDF format.
Attachments cannot include sensitive information.
If you submit a filing with sensitive information, it will be sent back for
correction.
Okay. We're on step nine. Almost done.
You are going to sign the filing.
All boxes must be completed on the final page of the filing.
Please be sure to check each declaration and scroll down for any
additional questions.
For the signer details, you must include a full first and last
name. We cannot accept initials. There's also a phone number and
email address required.We're on to step 10.
You're going to click the File Online button and pay.
This will direct you to the payment portal system.
Click Add New Payment Method on the right, and enter the payment
information for your credit card or e-check.
You'll see a confirmation page if the payment is successful.
If not, you may need to re-enter your information.
Once submitted, your application will appear as pending in your work queue.
You'll see updates under My Work Queue on the left side of the screen.
You'll also receive communication from our office, such as approval documents
or correction notices. Please be sure to download and save or
print approval documents for your records.
Filings are processed in the order that they are submitted.
For a quicker turnaround, you can choose to pay for a 24-hour or
1-hour processing options. Otherwise, our team will work through
standard processing as quickly and accurately as possible.
As stated at the beginning of this slideshow, our office only handles business
registrations. For your convenience, we've listed some other
organizations you may need to contact in the process of starting a
business, and that's depending on the business type and industry.
This is not an exhaustive list. It is just meant to be a helpful
starting point for your business journey.
If you need assistance, we got you covered.
The quickest way to get your answers is by utilizing our
FAQ section on our Business Help Center.
It's full of information, easy to use, and provides step-by-step
instructions on our most common questions that we get asked.
The chatbot feature allows you to quickly search for your answers using
keywords.
If you're unable to find an answer in the help center, you can always
email your questions to
sosbusiness@mt.gov or give our team a
call.
On behalf of the Secretary of State's office, thank you for doing business in
Montana. We are proud to support you and welcome your business to our
great state.