How to Start an LLC in North Dakota (2026): 7 Steps and the 3 Best LLC Services
We would send a new founder in North Dakota to Mainstay Filing ($199), ND Registered Agents.org ($199) and North Dakota Registered Agent.co ($199) for starting an LLC in 2026, in that order. After the picks come 7 short steps; the state's own charge to file is $135.
Prices from each company's own site, read November 12, 2026. Add North Dakota's $135 fee to each row.
Step-by-step lesson
Step1
Step 1: Check your name is available
Search the register kept by the North Dakota Secretary of State first. If the name is taken, choose another before you file.
TipHave a second choice ready.
Step2
Step 2: Name a 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.
TipAll of our picks include a registered agent.
Official source: Official: ndlegis.gov, October 2026
Step3
Step 3: File it yourself, or hire it out
Two routes: file yourself and pay only the $135 state fee, or let a service do it for $199 more. Our picks are above.
Step4
Step 4: File Articles of Organization
The North Dakota Secretary of State receives the Articles of Organization along with $135, under N.D. Cent. Code § 10-32.1-20.
Official source: Official: sos.nd.gov, October 2026
Step5
Step 5: Get an EIN from the IRS
After the North Dakota approval, the IRS issues an EIN, the number banks and payroll use for the LLC. Mainstay Filing files the EIN application as part of its price.
Step6
Step 6: Put an operating agreement in writing
Even with one owner, a written operating agreement for the North Dakota LLC is worth having in your records.
Step7
Step 7: Plan for year two and beyond
The LLC stays active by filing the annual report every year and paying $50; the deadline is November 15. Late: $50 added.
Official source: Official: sos.nd.gov, August 2026
What you will pay
What
Who you pay
Price
Filing the LLC
Paid to the state
$135
Annual report
Paid to the state
$50 every year
Late filing penalty
Paid to the state
$50
Optional service
The service
$199 to start
Three years of state fees
Paid to the state
$235
Every state figure links to its source under References; service prices come from each company's site.
Why Mainstay Filing comes first
What decided it: lesson steps handled, 35% of our rubric.
Having the annual report handled outweighed ND Registered Agents.org's lower three-year cost.
Common questions
What does it cost to form an LLC in North Dakota?
The official fee: $135. Add $199 if a service files it.
Which form creates the LLC?
It is called the Articles of Organization, and it goes to the North Dakota Secretary of State.
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 annual report: $50, every year, due November 15.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Yes. File directly with the state and pay $135; you also need a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
In order: Mainstay Filing, ND Registered Agents.org and North Dakota Registered Agent.co. Mainstay Filing comes first because you pay $199 a year and the annual report is filed for you along with the agent service.