Florida vs Montana: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Florida and Montana — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Florida vs Montana
| Metric | Florida | Montana | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $125 | $35 | ✓ Montana |
| Annual Report | $138 | $15 | ✓ Montana |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $125 | $35 | ✓ Montana |
Filing Fee
✓ Montana is cheaper here
Annual Report
✓ Montana is cheaper here
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
✓ Montana is cheaper here
Florida: Annual report must be filed between January 1 and May 1 each year or a $400 late fee applies.
Montana: Montana has no sales tax — beneficial for product-based businesses.
Florida: No state income tax — major advantage for profitable LLCs.
Montana: Lowest formation fee in the US at $35. No sales tax.
Ready to Form Your LLC?
Let a trusted formation service handle the paperwork for your chosen state — starting at $39 + state fees.
Small Claims Court: Florida vs Montana
| Metric | Florida | Montana | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $8,000 | $7,000 | ✓ Florida |
| Min Filing Fee | $55 | $30 | ✓ Montana |
| Contract SOL | 5 yrs | 8 yrs | ✓ Montana |
Max Claim Limit
✓ Florida is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
✓ Montana is cheaper here
Contract SOL
✓ Montana is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Florida vs Montana
| Metric | Florida | Montana | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $400 | $120 | ✓ Montana |
| Sheriff Service | $40 | $50 | ✓ Florida |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
✓ Montana is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
✓ Florida is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Florida vs Montana
| Metric | Florida | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $10 | $10 |
| Jurat | $10 | $10 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $10 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee