Foreign registration · Form LLF-1

Montana LLC Foreign Registration in West Virginia

An LLC formed in Montana that wants to do business in West Virginia files Form LLF-1, with $151 in state fees. West Virginia also wants Montana's Certificate of Existence ($5). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division using your Montana records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

Montana vs West Virginia: the paperwork

	Montana formed here	West Virginia registering here
Document	Montana Certificate of Existence	Form LLF-1, West Virginia Application for Certificate of Authority of Limited Liability Company
State fee	$5	$151 at order (filing fee $150 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	Montana: online	Filed with West Virginia
Paid expedite		next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25, 2-hour $250, 1-hour $500
Office	Montana Secretary of State, Business Services	West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division
Official page	biz.sosmt.gov	sos.wv.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Must be current
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $20, every year	Annual Report, $25, every year
Due	April 15	July 1 each year
Late yearly filing	$15 late fee	$50 late fee
Agent	Your Montana registered agent	Our West Virginia agent for service of process

How Montana companies register with West Virginia

Order the Montana certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($5) is ordered from Montana separately; it is not part of our West Virginia order. West Virginia wants the Montana certificate current, so it is ordered close to the filing date.
We prepare and file Form LLF-1
It lists us as your West Virginia agent for service of process, next to your Montana name and formation date, with the certificate attached. Once Montana's certificate is in hand, West Virginia's filing goes in. Once West Virginia approves it, the Montana company can do business there.

West Virginia costs for Montana companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$151
Certificate of Existence, paid to Montana	$5
Our service, with a year of West Virginia agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total, Montana certificate included	$355

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

Your Montana name and West Virginia's rules

West Virginia accepts your Montana name if it includes limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC, with limited abbreviated Ltd. and company abbreviated Co.. If the Montana name already ends in LLC, it meets the rule. If West Virginia's records show it taken, you can use an alternate name for the Montana company. We check your exact Montana name against West Virginia's records before filing.

Your West Virginia agent and the Montana one

West Virginia calls it an agent for service of process; Montana says registered agent. Your current registered agent stays for Montana; ours takes West Virginia's papers and notices.

Yearly filings: West Virginia and Montana

Each year your LLC files Montana's Annual Report ($20) and West Virginia's Annual Report ($25). With our $149 agent for service of process renewal, Montana plus West Virginia comes to $194 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Montana to West Virginia

A corporation formed in Montana files Form CF-1 with West Virginia ($101 in state fees). After that come Montana's Annual Report (no fee) and West Virginia's Annual Report ($25). See the corporation filing.

Registering a West Virginia company in Montana

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

Questions Montana owners ask about West Virginia

Does my Montana company need to register in West Virginia?

Yes, once a Montana business operates there; West Virginia law lists 12 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does it cost to register a Montana LLC in West Virginia?

$350 at checkout plus $5 to Montana for the Certificate of Existence, $355 in all (checkout is $151 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Montana's certificate of good standing?

Yes: West Virginia wants Montana's Certificate of Existence ($5), current at filing.

How long does the West Virginia registration take?

West Virginia's standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days at no extra cost, once Montana's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25.

What are the yearly costs for Montana and West Virginia?

$194 a year: our $149 agent for service of process renewal, $20 to Montana and $25 to West Virginia for the yearly reports.

Does West Virginia require a registered agent?

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

Will West Virginia accept my Montana name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its Montana name at home. West Virginia names must include limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC, with limited abbreviated Ltd. and company abbreviated Co..

Can I form a new West Virginia LLC instead?

Yes, but Montana keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files West Virginia's Annual Report ($26), and the original keeps Montana's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from West Virginia later?

Montana companies leave by filing a withdrawal application; until then, West Virginia's report stays due alongside Montana's filings.

Official sources

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