Montana Sets New Business Registration Record with 6,500 New Companies in May

Montana’s business boom continues with another milestone month, as Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen announced that more than 6,500 new businesses registered with her office in May 2025, according to the Montana Business Economic Report.

The strong May numbers mark the third consecutive month with more than 6,000 new business registrations, continuing a trend Western Montana News has been tracking throughout 2025. The year began with over 6,000 registrations in January, followed by 5,100 in February, 6,600 in March, and now 6,500 in May.

“I’m proud to be a partner to the Montana business community, getting government out of the way so they can create jobs, foster community growth, and make a positive impact on our state’s economy,” Jacobsen said in announcing the May figures.

Record-Breaking Pace

Montana is positioned to shatter its 2024 record of nearly 64,000 new business registrations. With more than 30,000 registrations filed in just the first five months of 2025, the state is well ahead of the pace needed to break last year’s mark.

The surge in business formation comes as Jacobsen’s office has implemented several pro-business reforms designed to reduce barriers and costs for entrepreneurs.

Key Policy Changes

Under Jacobsen’s leadership, the Secretary of State’s office has:

• Cut registration fees in half for new Montana businesses
• Waived annual report filing fees for both 2024 and 2025, resulting in significant statewide savings
• Enhanced online services with 24/7 access to filing and document retrieval through the office’s online portal

Broader Business Advocacy

Beyond state-level reforms, Jacobsen has taken her pro-business advocacy to the national stage. She successfully urged President Trump to repeal what she characterized as the Biden Administration’s “burdensome small business mandates” and celebrated the suspension of Corporate Transparency Act enforcement.

The Secretary of State also forced an out-of-state organization to cease sending deceptive mailings to Montana businesses, demonstrating her office’s commitment to protecting local entrepreneurs from predatory practices.

“Montana’s small businesses are crucial to our local communities and have a vital role in shaping our state,” Jacobsen said. “I remain committed to making it easier for them to thrive, and I won’t stop advocating on their behalf.”

The sustained growth in business registrations reflects both Montana’s economic momentum and the effectiveness of regulatory reforms designed to encourage entrepreneurship across the state.