How to Start an LLC in North Dakota

An LLC in North Dakota takes a single Articles filing with the state, a appointed agent on the public-record entry, and a few yearly responsibilities to keep it active. $135 is paid to the state at filing, about a week is the wait you should plan for, and the post-formation costs are recurring. Below you'll find the entire process, the cost details, and where we save you the busywork.

Start Your North Dakota LLC — $199

Hand the work to us for $199. We prepare the documents, file with North Dakota Secretary of State, and the state takes about about a week to respond.

Start Your North Dakota LLC — $199

The North Dakota LLC, Briefly Explained

An LLC is essentially a hybrid: corporate-style liability protection, partnership-style taxes, and a much lighter compliance burden. Across North Dakota's business community, the LLC dominates as the small-business entity of choice for its protection-plus-simplicity package.

The Numbers for North Dakota LLC Formation

Item	Cost
Our LLC formation service	$199 one-time
State filing fee (North Dakota Secretary of State)	$135 one-time
Registered agent (required for every North Dakota LLC)	$99/year
State annual report fee	$50/year

$199 for our work, state fee straight to North Dakota Secretary of State, agent product at $99/year — those are the three line items.

Important North Dakota-specific notes: yearly report $50 due on or before November 15 each year. $50 late fee. $135 reinstatement fee if charter revoked.

Step-by-Step: Forming Your North Dakota LLC

1. Pick a Compliant North Dakota LLC Name

Names of North Dakota LLCs must include an LLC designator (LLC, L.L.C., or the full Limited Liability Company), and they must be distinguishable in North Dakota Secretary of State's records. Run any candidate name through the state's entity search first. North Dakota Secretary of State maintains a public database for exactly this purpose.

Names that imply your business is a bank, insurance company, trust company, or state agency get rejected unless you have separate authorization. Skip those words.

2. Select Your Registered Agent

Every North Dakota LLC is required to maintain a continuously appointed agent with an in-state brick-and-mortar address and reliable presence across business hours. The agent's name and address are part of the entity's permanent public record at the state level.

For just $99 per year, our agent product covers North Dakota. We take the public-record slot so you don't have to.

3. File Articles of Organization with North Dakota Secretary of State

This is the filing that creates the entity: send Articles of Organization to North Dakota Secretary of State alongside the $135 fee. The Articles ask for the company name, the primary business address, agent identity and address, whether members or managers run the LLC, and organizer information.

Use the North Dakota business filings portal for Online submissions. Mail submissions to North Dakota Secretary of State take longer to process.

Plan on about a week for the state to process the filing. An expedited option exists for an added fee.

4. Prepare an Operating Agreement

North Dakota treats the operating agreement as your internal business — not filed, but very much expected. Topics covered: who owns the LLC, how profits and losses are allocated, who makes decisions, and how member changes are handled. Skip the agreement and North Dakota's default statutory rules take over. They're often a poor fit for the specifics of your LLC.

5. Get a Federal Tax ID (EIN)

An EIN serves as the federal tax identifier for the LLC. Required by banks, payroll providers, and the IRS for federal filings. The IRS issues EINs for free at IRS.gov. The application is fast — under a few minutes and you'll have the number.

Don't bother paying for an EIN through a third party — the IRS's free form handles it in ten minutes.

6. Keep Up With Ongoing Obligations

Post-formation, you're responsible for the following ongoing items:

• Keep an actively appointed agent with a North Dakota address on file throughout the LLC's life
• Get in the LLC's annual report annually, by the state's deadline
• Run with a thorough split between LLC banking and personal banking (separate cards, separate ledgers)
• Stay on top of federal and state tax obligations every year

North Dakota Secretary of State can dissolve LLCs that fall out of compliance. After dissolution, the liability shield disappears until you reinstate.

If you'd rather outsource: $199 covers the whole filing through our service.

Launch My North Dakota LLC — $199

The Registered Agent Requirement

There's no way around the agent requirement in North Dakota — each LLC, regardless of size, needs one. The agent must:

• Keep an actual North Dakota location with a street address (a PO box on its own isn't enough)
• Be available during the regular workday to receive legal mail
• Transmit legal documents and state notices the same business day they arrive

Some LLC owners list their home address as agent and later regret it. The address becomes available to anyone with internet access.

Our $99/year plan covers the agent role in North Dakota — we take the public-record slot so you don't have to.

Common North Dakota LLC Questions

How much does it cost to form an LLC in North Dakota?

North Dakota Secretary of State charges $135 for the formation filing. That's a fairly typical state filing fee. In addition, the annual report runs $50/year.

How long does it take to form an LLC in North Dakota?

North Dakota Secretary of State usually processes formations within about a week.

Does North Dakota require an annual report?

Yes. The annual report fee is $50/year.

Do I need a registered agent for my North Dakota LLC?

Yes. The North Dakota agent requirement is unconditional — a appointed agent with a North Dakota street address.

Can I form an LLC in North Dakota if I live in another state?

Yes. North Dakota does not require LLC owners to be residents. An in-state registered agent is the one in-state dependency; that's exactly what our $99/year service covers.

Get Your North Dakota LLC Filed

You're free to file directly through North Dakota Secretary of State through the North Dakota business filings portal. $135 goes to the state at filing. The agent requirement still applies regardless.

Our team is the registered agent you put on the North Dakota formation filing. Pricing: $99 annually — covers the public address, same-day document delivery, and deadline reminders for upcoming filings.

Form Your North Dakota LLC — $199

Want the RA service without the LLC formation? The standalone registered agent plan carries a $99/year price.

Curious about other parts of North Dakota LLC formation or the way our agent product operates? Our FAQ handles most questions; the contact form is open for the rest.