How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Montana?
Last updated: May 2026
Montana Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$35
Sales Tax Rate
0.0%
Minimum Wage
$10.55/hr
Cost of Living Index
96.8
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$0
Starting a Business in Montana
Montana businesses register with the Secretary of State. A Montana business license is required for businesses operating in the state.
Montana has no state sales tax and a graduated income tax with rates from 1% to 6.75%. Corporate income tax ranges from 6.75%.
Montana's growing tourism industry and influx of remote workers drive demand for hospitality, real estate, and service businesses. No sales tax is a competitive advantage for retail. LLC and corporation Annual Reports filed on or before April 15 each year are free; filings after that date incur a $35 late fee (per https://sosmt.gov/business/fees/).
For official formation documents, visit the Montana Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in Montana
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for Montana’s cost of living index of 96.8. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $6,790 | $19,400 | $44,620 |
| Airbnb & Vacation Rental Business | Real Estate | $10,670 | $29,100 | $87,300 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $77,600 | $194,000 | $485,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $9,700 | $29,100 | $77,600 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $19,400 | $53,350 | $126,100 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $4,850 | $29,100 | $97,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $72,750 | $194,000 | $485,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $19,400 | $92,150 | $291,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $97,000 | $339,500 | $824,500 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $14,550 | $63,050 | $169,750 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $29,100 | $97,000 | $291,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $24,250 | $97,000 | $291,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $242,500 | $388,000 | $1,455,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $120,765 | $322,040 | $1,207,650 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $120,765 | $527,680 | $1,507,380 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $10,185 | $27,160 | $67,900 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $11,640 | $51,410 | $126,100 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $97,000 | $116,400 | $291,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $1,455 | $10,670 | $35,890 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $29,100 | $97,000 | $291,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $58,200 | $116,400 | $339,500 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $24,250 | $63,050 | $145,500 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $1,940 | $8,730 | $25,220 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $48,500 | $271,600 | $727,500 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $7,760 | $21,340 | $53,350 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $19,400 | $53,350 | $145,500 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $19,400 | $77,600 | $242,500 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $58,200 | $174,600 | $485,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $29,100 | $77,600 | $194,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $339,500 | $485,000 | $970,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $3,880 | $11,640 | $31,040 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $4,850 | $14,550 | $48,500 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $14,550 | $53,350 | $155,200 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $7,760 | $38,800 | $116,400 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $48,500 | $126,100 | $339,500 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $19,400 | $53,350 | $126,100 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $19,400 | $72,750 | $194,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $9,700 | $50,440 | $126,100 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $194,000 | $242,500 | $727,500 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $43,650 | $116,400 | $194,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $15,520 | $34,920 | $77,600 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $48,500 | $194,000 | $582,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $19,400 | $53,350 | $126,100 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $19,400 | $58,200 | $145,500 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $19,400 | $67,900 | $194,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $48,500 | $242,500 | $970,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $14,550 | $72,750 | $242,500 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $1,940 | $9,700 | $32,010 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $38,800 | $126,100 | $291,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $19,400 | $67,900 | $194,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $19,400 | $72,750 | $194,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $14,550 | $38,800 | $87,300 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $14,550 | $38,800 | $97,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $24,250 | $87,300 | $242,500 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $9,700 | $38,800 | $116,400 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $97,000 | $242,500 | $582,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $11,640 | $32,980 | $78,570 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $38,800 | $87,300 | $213,400 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $48,500 | $174,600 | $485,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $4,850 | $17,460 | $48,500 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $19,400 | $67,900 | $194,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $19,400 | $63,050 | $194,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $97,000 | $339,500 | $970,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $145,500 | $388,000 | $970,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $14,550 | $48,500 | $145,500 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $29,100 | $97,000 | $291,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $9,700 | $48,500 | $145,500 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $19,400 | $87,300 | $242,500 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $4,850 | $24,250 | $77,600 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $4,850 | $24,250 | $97,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $9,700 | $38,800 | $116,400 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $29,100 | $97,000 | $291,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $242,500 | $388,000 | $970,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $58,200 | $174,600 | $436,500 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $72,750 | $169,750 | $388,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $14,550 | $48,500 | $145,500 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $1,940 | $5,820 | $17,460 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $48,500 | $145,500 | $388,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $10,185 | $23,280 | $53,350 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $9,700 | $27,160 | $67,900 |
| Real Estate Investing & Rental Business | Real Estate | $24,250 | $72,750 | $242,500 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $169,750 | $363,750 | $727,500 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $14,550 | $58,200 | $174,600 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $19,400 | $58,200 | $194,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $9,700 | $67,900 | $242,500 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $19,400 | $53,350 | $145,500 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $194,000 | $582,000 | $1,940,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $19,400 | $57,230 | $194,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $3,395 | $9,700 | $26,190 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $19,400 | $72,750 | $194,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $48,500 | $145,500 | $388,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $48,500 | $145,500 | $388,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $29,100 | $77,600 | $194,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $1,940 | $23,280 | $97,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $48,500 | $194,000 | $582,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $24,250 | $72,750 | $194,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $3,395 | $11,640 | $32,010 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $14,550 | $38,800 | $97,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $485,000 | $739,140 | $2,910,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $14,550 | $77,600 | $194,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in Montana
Licenses & Permits in Montana
General Business License
Montana does not have a statewide general business license. Businesses must register their entity with the Montana Secretary of State and register with the Montana Department of Revenue for withholding taxes. Montana has no sales tax, which simplifies business registration. Some Montana cities and counties require local business licenses. The state's outdoor economy and tourism industry influence many licensing requirements.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Food and Drug Establishment License — Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services — Food and Consumer SafetyCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Contractor Registration — Montana Department of Labor and Industry — Employment Relations DivisionCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Cosmetology Salon License — Montana Board of Barbers and CosmetologistsCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Real Estate Broker License — Montana Board of Realty RegulationCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Outfitter License — Montana Board of OutfittersCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Child Care Facility License — Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services — Child Care LicensingCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Beer or Liquor License — Montana Department of Revenue — Liquor Control DivisionCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Pesticide Dealer License — Montana Department of AgricultureCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Home-Based Business Rules
Home-based businesses in Montana face minimal regulation in rural and unincorporated areas, which make up most of the state's land area. Bozeman, Missoula, Billings, and Great Falls regulate home occupations through local zoning ordinances with standard restrictions on signage and customer traffic. Montana's cottage food law supports home-based food production. Remote home-based businesses are common in Montana's scattered rural communities.
Montana Business Resources
SBA District Office
Montana SBA District Office — Helena
Secretary of State
https://sos.mt.gov/BusinessZoning Information
Montana municipalities manage zoning. Billings, Missoula, and Bozeman have active commercial zoning; much of rural Montana is unzoned.
Health Department Notes
Food establishments require a license from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The state has a cottage food exemption for low-risk foods.
Workers Compensation
Required for all employers. Montana operates a state monopoly workers comp fund through Montana State Fund.