 Montana |  Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| All-in to start with usOur $40 fee with the EIN, the registered agent for the first year, and the state fee. | $120 | $392 |
| State filing fee | $35 | $307 |
| Typical approval time | 1–3 business days | 3–5 business days |
| What the state asks each year | Annual report $20 | Franchise tax report (no tax under threshold) |
| Yearly state cost, about | $20 | $0 |
| Total over 5 years, aboutFormation, then four years of registered agent ($45) and state fees. Excludes bookkeeping and IRS filings, which are the same in every state. | $380 | $572 |
| State income tax on wages | Yes | None |
| Owners in the public formation document | Can be listed | Can be listed |
| Newspaper publication after formation | No | No |
Montana against Texas
Advantages
- Cheaper to form: $35 state fee against $307 in Texas.
- Faster approval: usually 1–3 business days, against 3–5 business days.
Disadvantages
- About $20 a year more to keep than Texas (annual report $20).
- Has a state income tax, though it normally only reaches income connected to the state.
Texas against Montana
Advantages
- No yearly state fee (franchise tax report (no tax under threshold)), against about $20 a year in Montana.
- No state income tax on wages.
- A large economy, and a name that reads well on an invoice.
Disadvantages
- Costs $272 more to form than Montana.
- Slower approval: usually 3–5 business days.
Which one to choose
Montana comes out ahead on both cost and speed: about $192 less over five years, and usually approved in 1–3 business days.
If your company will have staff, an office or a warehouse in one particular state, form it there: otherwise you register in that state anyway. Federal taxes and IRS filings are the same in every state.
General information about the states, not legal or tax advice. State fees change occasionally; the price at checkout is the price you pay.
Montana or Texas
Questions about this comparison
Is a Montana or a Texas LLC cheaper?
Montana is cheaper to form: $120 all-in with us, against $392. Each year after, Montana costs the state about $20 and Texas about $0, plus $45 for the registered agent.
Which is faster, Montana or Texas?
Montana usually approves an LLC in 1–3 business days, Texas in 3–5 business days. We file within 48 hours of payment in either state.
Can a non-US resident form an LLC in Montana or Texas?
Yes, in both. Neither state asks for citizenship or residency, and the registered agent we include provides the in-state address. The EIN is included without an SSN.
Another pair