Foreign registration · Form 972

Montana LLC Foreign Registration in Louisiana

To do business in Louisiana, an LLC formed in Montana registers there on Form 972, with $190 in state fees. Louisiana also wants Montana's Certificate of Existence ($5), dated within 90 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division using your Montana records and act as your registered agent there for the first year.

Montana vs Louisiana: the paperwork

	Montana formed here	Louisiana registering here
Document	Montana Certificate of Existence	Form 972, Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company
State fee	$5	$190 at order (filing fee $185 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	Montana: online	Filed with Louisiana
Paid expedite		24-hour $35, 2 to 4 hour $60
Office	Montana Secretary of State, Business Services	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Official page	biz.sosmt.gov	sos.la.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 90 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $20, every year	Annual Report, $35, every year
Due	April 15	On or before the anniversary date of registration in Louisiana
Agent	Your Montana registered agent	Our Louisiana registered agent

How Montana companies register with Louisiana

Order the Montana certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($5) is ordered from Montana separately; it is not part of our Louisiana order. Louisiana accepts it within 90 days of Montana's issue date, so it is ordered shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form 972
It names us as your Louisiana registered agent, with your Montana name and formation date and the certificate attached. The Montana certificate comes first; then the Louisiana filing goes in. After approval, your Montana LLC is registered with Louisiana.

First-year cost, Montana to Louisiana

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$190
Certificate of Existence, paid to Montana	$5
Our service, with a year of Louisiana registered agent service	$199
First-year total, Montana certificate included	$394

Louisiana's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Will your Montana name work for Louisiana?

We check your exact Montana name against Louisiana's records before filing.

Agents: Louisiana and Montana

Montana and Louisiana both call it a registered agent. Louisiana papers come to us; Montana's agent is unchanged.

Staying in good standing in Montana and Louisiana

Each year your LLC files Montana's Annual Report ($20) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($35). With our $149 registered agent renewal, Montana plus Louisiana comes to $204 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Montana to Louisiana

A corporation formed in Montana files Form 326 with Louisiana ($160 in state fees). After that come Montana's Annual Report (no fee) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($30). See the corporation filing.

The other way: Louisiana into Montana

An LLC formed in Louisiana that registers with Montana files Montana's registration (no form number) with $70 in state fees; no Louisiana certificate is needed. See that filing.

Common questions: Montana to Louisiana

Does my Montana company need to register in Louisiana?

Yes, once a Montana business operates there; Louisiana law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does the Louisiana registration cost?

$389 at checkout plus $5 to Montana for the Certificate of Existence, $394 in all (checkout is $190 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Montana's certificate of good standing?

Yes: Louisiana wants Montana's Certificate of Existence ($5), no more than 90 days old at filing.

What are the yearly costs for Montana and Louisiana?

$204 a year: our $149 registered agent renewal, $20 to Montana and $35 to Louisiana for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with Louisiana?

A Montana company cannot sue in court there until it registers, and Louisiana can add a civil penalty of up to $1,000.

Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

Yes: the Montana registered agent stays, and ours covers Louisiana for year one.

Can I form a new Louisiana LLC instead?

Yes, but Montana keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Louisiana's Annual Report ($40), and the original keeps Montana's Annual Report.

What does a Louisiana company file to register in Montana?

It files Montana's registration with $70 in state fees.

Official sources

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