Start an LLC by State

Start an LLC by State › North Dakota

Starting an LLC in North Dakota: step by step (2026)

To start an LLC in North Dakota, file the Articles of Organization with the North Dakota Secretary of State and pay the $135 state fee. North Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due November 15, for $50. Every North Dakota LLC must keep a registered agent with a North Dakota street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in North Dakota

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the North Dakota Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a registered agent: a commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: a North Dakota resident, or an entity registered with the Secretary of State that has a North Dakota business office. A business cannot serve as its own agent.
  3. File the Articles of Organization with the North Dakota Secretary of State and pay $135.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. North Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due November 15, for $50.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus North Dakota’s fees.

North Dakota LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$135
Formation document
Articles of Organization
Yearly filing
Annual Report, every year, $50
Due
November 15
Registered agent
Required. A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: a North Dakota resident, or an entity registered with the Secretary of State that has a North Dakota business office. A business cannot serve as its own agent.
Agent address
The address has to be a complete physical address in North Dakota. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
Filing fee rank
36th lowest of 50 (35 states charge less, 14 charge more)
Best overall for a North Dakota LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus North Dakota’s $135 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

North Dakota compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
North Dakota$135$50 / yr
Minnesota$155$0 renewal
Montana$35$20 / yr
South Dakota$150$55 / yr

All 50 states

North Dakota LLC questions

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

$135 to the state to file. North Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due November 15, for $50. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does North Dakota require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. North Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due November 15, for $50.

Do I need a registered agent in North Dakota?

Yes. A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: a North Dakota resident, or an entity registered with the Secretary of State that has a North Dakota business office. A business cannot serve as its own agent.

Can I form a North Dakota LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization directly with the North Dakota Secretary of State and pay the $135 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources