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Montana Business Entity Search

Montana’s business search takes a business name or a state filing number. A basic search, a record’s details and its filing-history list worked without a login or payment in our review. A security check appeared first and then cleared by itself.

Official agency: Montana Secretary of State, Business Services

Open Official Government SearchOpens biz.sosmt.gov in a new tab. This is the official government site, not EntityLocator.

Direct links on the official site

Search methods offered

  • Search by name or filing numberOne main field. Filing numbers use the format X########.
  • AdvancedClicking Advanced took us to a login page, so its fields were not verified.

How to search

  1. Open the Montana business search using the button above.
  2. Let any automatic security check finish. If verification doesn’t complete, contact Business Services for help rather than trying to get around the check.
  3. Enter the business name or the state filing number in the search box.
  4. Select Execute search.
  5. Review Form Info, Status, Registration Date and Agent in the results.
  6. Select the entity name button to open the detail drawer.
  7. Select View Filings to see the list of available filings.

What you can expect to find

  • The results table has the columns Form Info, Status, Registration Date and Agent. Form Info includes the name, filing number, entity type and previous names where present, and assumed business names also appeared.
  • The detail drawer for an LLC showed the Filing Number, Entity Type, Entity SubType, Status, Managed By, Previous Entity Names, Formed In, Principal Address, Mailing Address, Registration Date, AR Due Date and the Registered Agent (classification, agent identifier, name and address). It also had Request Information and View Filings controls.
  • The Principal Address read N/A in our sample, so don’t expect every field to be filled in.
  • View Filings opened a dialog listing filing titles and dates, including annual reports, amendments and the initial filing. We did not check whether document images are available.
  • Our sample showed the status Active-Good Standing, which is a record status and not a separately issued certificate.

Limitations, fees and notices

  • A basic search, a record’s details and the filing list were free. This doesn’t extend to certified products or document downloads, whose prices we didn’t confirm.
  • The page says results are limited and suggests using Advanced to narrow them. The inspected instructions give no numerical limit.
  • Advanced led to a login page when we tried it, although returning to the public search let us run a basic search. We can’t say whether Advanced always requires an account. Signing in is also how you register or maintain a business.
  • A security check may appear. It cleared by itself for us, and we don’t claim it never blocks anyone.
  • The search page links Montana Administrative Rule 44.5.131 on whether business names are distinguishable. That rule isn’t a name availability search, and an ordinary search result does not show a name will be approved.

Sources and research notes

Sources reviewed: . Official sites change; always confirm current details on the government site.

Research for this guide used the official Montana sites in a web browser. A name search, one LLC record and its filing list were tested. Advanced search led to a login page and was not reviewed.

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