What "foreign LLC" means
"Foreign" here means out-of-state, not out-of-country. If your LLC is formed in Wyoming but you're physically doing business in Montana, you generally need to register the Wyoming LLC as a "foreign LLC" with Montana.
Montana foreign LLC registration cost
- Certificate of authority filing fee: roughly the same as a new domestic LLC in Montana — ~$35.
- Certificate of good standing from home state: $10-$50.
- Registered agent in Montana: $50-$200/year (you need a separate one for each state).
- Annual report in Montana: $20 per year.
- No franchise minimum.
When you must register
"Doing business" definitions vary, but typically include: having an office or employees in Montana, owning property in Montana, or executing repeated transactions with Montana customers. Casual sales to Montana customers usually don't trigger registration.
Penalties for not registering
- Loss of access to Montana courts for collections.
- Back-payment of all years' annual fees with penalties.
- Personal liability exposure (the corporate veil weakens in some states).
The math: is it worth forming out-of-state?
If you operate in Montana, forming in Wyoming or Delaware almost always costs more than just forming in Montana, because you pay both states. Forming out-of-state pays off only for true holding companies and non-residents.