--- title: "Montana Entity Running Costs and Filings" description: "See what it actually costs to run an entity in Montana, from the $35 filing fee to Montana's 6.75% corporate tax and $50 minimum franchise tax." canonical: https://www.teamed.global/country-hiring-guides/united-states/montana/entity-running-costs-and-filings --- ![Montana business district.](/cluster-assets/country-hiring-guides/united-states/montana/entity-running-costs-and-filings/images/hero.webp) # What does it costto run an entity in Montana. Teamed's EOR model absorbs Montana's formation fees, corporate tax filings, and minimum franchise tax so you never touch a state filing. Served by Teamed US Inc., Delaware · Payroll via SUNA Solutions Last reviewed 22 September 2026 · Montana guide At a glance ## Montana running costs in brief Montana charges a $35 fee to register a new entity with the Secretary of State, then taxes corporate income at a flat 6.75%. Even a corporation with no taxable income still owes the state's minimum franchise tax of $50, because Montana sets that floor as a flat amount rather than scaling it to revenue. Corporate income tax6.75% Minimum franchise tax$50 Franchise tax basisflat Formation / registration fee$35 Formation costs ## What it costs to stand up a Montana entity Montana's Secretary of State charges a $35 filing fee to register a corporation or LLC, a modest entry cost compared with many states. That fee gets you on the state's books, but it's only the start. Once the entity exists, it carries ongoing tax and compliance obligations every year it stays open, whether it's actively employing people or sitting dormant. Corporate tax ## Corporate income tax and the minimum franchise tax Montana taxes corporate income at a flat 6.75% rate, set out in Montana Code Annotated 15-31-121. The same statute also sets a minimum franchise tax of $50. Because Montana treats this as a flat basis rather than a percentage tied to revenue or assets, an entity owes it even in a year with little or no taxable income. Filings ## The filings that keep an entity in good standing Running an entity in Montana means more than paying the corporate tax once a year. It means keeping a registered agent in place, filing the required annual paperwork with the Secretary of State, and staying current on the minimum franchise tax regardless of how the business performed. None of this is complicated on its own, but it adds up as an ongoing administrative load that someone has to own. Teamed's EOR structure means that load never lands on you in the first place, because you're employing through an entity we already maintain. The honest answer ## When an EOR beats forming your own entity Setting up and running your own Montana entity makes sense once you know you'll be there for the long haul with a team that's grown past the early stage. An employer of record is sometimes the better answer, not a lesser one, especially while your Montana team stays small or your plans are still taking shape. Talk to a member of the team about your specific situation, and if you want the numbers side by side, run them through the crossover calculator. Your own entity, on your terms ## Your own entity, when it's time. We set it up, migrate you in, and hand it back intact. When you're ready to move from EOR employment to your own legal presence, Teamed's Global Entity and Employment Operations service, which we call GEMO, handles the setup and transition across 100+ countries. In Montana, that means we handle the $35 registration filing, keep the flat 6.75% corporate tax and $50 minimum franchise tax filings current, and then hand the entity to you fully compliant, once you decide it's time to run it yourself. Before you commit ## Sometimes an employer of record is the better fit An employer of record is sometimes the better answer, not a lesser one, especially while your Montana team stays small or your plans are still taking shape. Talk to a member of the team about your specific situation, and if you want the numbers side by side, run them through the crossover calculator. Contractors, employer of record and your own entity all run on one platform at Teamed, so moving between them later does not mean changing provider or re-onboarding anybody. Real HR and legal experts handle the work rather than a ticket queue. Talk to a member of the team and we will tell you plainly which one suits where you are. If you would rather look at the numbers yourself first, the crossover calculator models it on local salaries and employer costs rather than on a headcount rule of thumb. Talk to a member of the team Model the crossover for the United States Who carries it ## Your own entity, when it's time. We set it up, migrate you in, and hand it back intact. Global Entity and Employment Operations, which we call GEMO, is how Teamed forms your company, registers it for tax and payroll, runs it month to month and keeps its filings current, across 100+ countries. You stay the employer. We do the work behind it. In Montana, that means we handle the $35 registration filing, keep the flat 6.75% corporate tax and $50 minimum franchise tax filings current, and then hand the entity to you fully compliant, once you decide it's time to run it yourself. Entity Management (GEMO) The Graduation Model Employer cost calculator > They set up our EU entity and moved hires across without missing a payroll. *Helene Dubois, COO* Talk to an expert about Montana Questions ## Montana running costs, answered What does it cost to register a company in Montana? Montana's Secretary of State charges a $35 filing fee to register a new corporation or LLC. That covers the initial filing, not the ongoing tax and compliance obligations that follow. What is Montana's corporate income tax rate? Montana taxes corporate income at a flat 6.75% rate under Montana Code Annotated 15-31-121. There's no tiered structure, the rate applies flat across taxable income. Does a Montana entity owe tax even if it made no profit? Yes. Montana sets a minimum franchise tax of $50 as a flat amount, so an entity owes it regardless of whether it turned a profit that year. Is Montana's minimum franchise tax based on revenue or assets? No, it's a flat basis rather than a figure scaled to revenue, payroll, or assets. Every qualifying entity owes the same $50 minimum, regardless of size. Can Teamed cover these Montana running costs for me? Yes. Under Teamed's EOR model, you employ through an entity Teamed already maintains, so the formation fee, corporate tax filings, and minimum franchise tax obligations stay on our side, not yours. Where these figures come from ## Sources These figures are drawn from Montana Code Annotated 15-31-121, rate of tax and minimum tax, and the Montana Secretary of State business filing fees schedule. ## More on entities in Montana - [Hiring in Montana, overview](/country-hiring-guides/united-states/montana)parent - [Montana setting up](/country-hiring-guides/united-states/montana/entity-setup)sibling - [Montana tax presence](/country-hiring-guides/united-states/montana/permanent-establishment-risk)sibling - [Montana entity or eor](/country-hiring-guides/united-states/montana/eor-vs-entity)sibling - [Montana moving from an eor](/country-hiring-guides/united-states/montana/moving-from-eor-to-your-own-entity)sibling - [Set up an entity, by country](/entity-setup-by-country)hub - [Entity Management (GEMO)](/entity-management)core - [Talk to an expert about Montana](https://www.teamed.global/contact?from=entity-running-costs-and-filings)CTA