Lesson 1 · North Dakota
How to Start an LLC in North Dakota (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
Key facts
Lesson goals
- The official fee and form in North Dakota
- The registered agent requirement
- What to file every year afterward
- Who we would hire to file
North Dakota: the services that earned a grade
1. ND Registered Agents.org: best for an inexpensive North Dakota start
ND Registered Agents.org earns the highest mark because formation costs $199 beyond the state fee, and the agent renews at $99.
Mainstay Filing costs more over three years, and that hands this service the top spot.
Set aside time for the annual report every year, since the price does not include it.
What the price covers
- Your North Dakota formation is prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Agent covered for year one
- Then $99 a year
- A formation fee of $199
Where it loses points
- The annual report filing is not included
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
2. North Dakota Registered Agent.co: best for a low agent renewal
For number 2 we picked North Dakota Registered Agent.co: formation costs $199 beyond the state fee, and the agent renews at $99.
Set aside time for the annual report every year, since the price does not include it.
It costs exactly what ND Registered Agents.org does.
What the price covers
- Your North Dakota formation is prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Then $99 a year
- A formation fee of $199
- Agent covered for year one
Where it loses points
- The annual report filing is not included
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
3. Mainstay Filing: best for skipping the annual report paperwork
Mainstay Filing lands in third place, and the reason is clear: three chores, the filing, the registered agent and the annual report, are folded into a single $199 annual price.
That $200 three-year gap to ND Registered Agents.org settles where it lands.
You never file the annual report yourself; only the $50 state fee is added.
What the price covers
- Formation prepared and filed
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Annual report prepared and filed
- The EIN application
- Official fee, at cost
Marks in its favor
- Renews at $199
- $199 yearly, everything in one
- It files the EIN application for you
Where it loses points
- Renews $100 higher than ND Registered Agents.org
The grades and prices at a glance
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ND Registered Agents.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit ND Registered Agents.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | North Dakota Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit North Dakota Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
The lesson, step by step
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Step
1Come up with a name
Look up the name on the North Dakota business register at the North Dakota Secretary of State first.
Have a spare name ready.
-
Step
2Find your registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. 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.
The address has to be a complete physical address in North Dakota. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
You can hire any of the graded services for this job.
Where this comes from: The official page is ndlegis.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
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Step
3Choose between DIY and a service
You can file on your own and pay the state $135, or let a service do it for $199 more; the grades are above.
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Step
4Fill out and file the Articles of Organization
When the North Dakota Secretary of State accepts the Articles of Organization together with $135 (N.D. Cent. Code § 10-32.1-20), the LLC exists.
Where this comes from: The official page is sos.nd.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
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Step
5Get the company a tax ID (EIN)
With the North Dakota approval in hand, ask the IRS for an EIN so the LLC can open accounts in its own name. Mainstay Filing treats the EIN application as part of the package.
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Step
6Put your operating agreement on paper
An operating agreement spells out who owns the North Dakota LLC and how decisions are made. You keep it with your records, and the state never sees it.
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Step
7Stay in good standing in North Dakota
File the annual report every year ($50), by November 15, and the LLC stays active. Late filings add $50.
Where this comes from: The official page is sos.nd.gov, last confirmed in August 2026
What each step costs in North Dakota
| Cost item | Payee | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The formation step | State | $135 |
| Annual report | State | $50 every year |
| If the report is late | State | $50 |
| Filing service (optional) | Service | $199 for year one |
| State total over three years | State | $235 |
Behind the ranking
won on tuition over three years (32% of the grade), with right behind.
Over years one to three, ND Registered Agents.org costs $397 and Mainstay Filing costs $200 more.
Test yourself on North Dakota
Which fees come with forming an LLC in North Dakota?
$135 goes to the state. A service from our graded list adds $199 in year one.
Which form creates the LLC?
Look for the Articles of Organization; the North Dakota Secretary of State is where it gets filed.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does North Dakota require each year?
The yearly task is the annual report ($50, every year, due November 15).
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Yes, you may. Pay the state $135 when you file, and remember that the LLC still needs a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
By grade: ND Registered Agents.org, North Dakota Registered Agent.co and Mainstay Filing. ND Registered Agents.org is first because $199 on top of the state fee, with the first year of agent service thrown in, then $99 yearly.
Class references
- Class reference on North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Division: sos.nd.gov (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Division: sos.nd.gov (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on North Dakota report due date: ndlegis.gov (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on North Dakota formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sos.nd.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on North Dakota registered agent statute: ndlegis.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- ND Registered Agents.org, pricing page, as it appeared on November 13, 2026
- North Dakota Registered Agent.co, pricing page, as it appeared on November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing, North Dakota service page, as it appeared on November 13, 2026