State hub · North Dakota
North Dakota LLC true cost (2026)
North Dakota state side: $135 formation filing, $50 for Annual Report in the 3-year model, ~$285 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #28 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
North Dakota state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is North Dakota Secretary of State. Filings go through firststop.sos.nd.gov.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $135 | Articles of Organization / registration $135 (ND SOS LLC page). |
| Annual Report | $50 | First annual report due in the calendar year after registration. Late fee applies if missed. |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $285 | Formation $135 + 3× annual report $50 = $285 (standard business LLC schedule). |
When North Dakota actually bills you
North Dakota's recurring filing is due November 15 for standard business LLCs (April 15 for farming/ranching / ALF LLCs) — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What North Dakota charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $135 | $135 |
| Year 1 cycle | Annual Report | $50 | $185 |
| Year 2 cycle | Annual Report | $50 | $235 |
| Year 3 cycle | Annual Report | $50 | $285 |
Provider + North Dakota state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the North Dakota state subtotal of $285.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $574 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $782 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $583 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $1,032 |
Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices above are researched from public pages, not supplied by the provider. How this site makes money.
How North Dakota ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, North Dakota sits at #28 — the 28th cheapest three-year state charter — at $285 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $250 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $5 above the $280 median, and $2,225 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, North Dakota lands in the pricier half of the table.
- Just cheaper: Wyoming ($280), Georgia ($280).
- Just pricier: Vermont ($290), Texas ($300).
- Full table: all 51 states ranked by 3-year state fees — including where the ranking flips once you add a professional registered agent.
Registered agent (North Dakota)
- Registered agent in North Dakota required.
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of North Dakota state fees is $285, while the cheapest provider path in our national 3-year comparison runs $289 (Formation $39 (RA Y1 included)) and the most expensive runs $747 (Basic $0 + RA $249/yr) — a $458 spread for the same statutory job. On the cheapest path the service, not North Dakota, is about 50% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- Farm/ranch LLC annual report due date differs (April 15).
- Third-party annual report solicitation letters are common — file via FirstStop.
Who North Dakota is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- North Dakota-operating standard business LLCs.
Often a poor fit when…
- Entities seeking the cheapest formation among plains states (ND is mid-range).
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about North Dakota LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in North Dakota?
$135 to North Dakota Secretary of State for the formation filing. Articles of Organization / registration $135 (ND SOS LLC page). That is the state charge only. A formation service is a separate bill on top: Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) works out to $39 in year one, versus $249 on the most expensive path we track.
What are the ongoing North Dakota LLC fees after year one?
$50 for the Annual Report, due November 15 for standard business LLCs (April 15 for farming/ranching / ALF LLCs). First annual report due in the calendar year after registration. Late fee applies if missed. Recurring state charges are what make a low formation fee misleading — they are the reason this site models three years instead of one.
What does a North Dakota LLC really cost over three years?
$285 in North Dakota state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $574 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $1,032 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with North Dakota.
Do I need a registered agent in North Dakota?
Yes. Registered agent in North Dakota required. Confirm North Dakota's DIY-versus-commercial agent rules with North Dakota Secretary of State before you file — a home address here becomes public record. On the money side, the four providers tracked here charge $0–$249 in year one for formation plus the agent, then $125–$249 a year in agent renewal after that — separate from every North Dakota figure above.
Is North Dakota a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, North Dakota ranks #28 of 51 at $285 over three years, against a $35 floor and a $2,510 ceiling. But cheapest charter is not the same as cheapest outcome: if you operate somewhere else you will likely foreign-qualify there and pay that state's fees and taxes too. See the full 3-year state fee ranking for the comparison.
How the North Dakota three-year number is built
Formation $135 + 3× annual report $50 = $285 (standard business LLC schedule). Figures are re-derived from the cited North Dakota sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the North Dakota state subtotal:
- Professional registered agent fees (same shopping problem in every state)
- County newspaper publication (NY, AZ, and similar — variable)
- Card / portal convenience fees unless fixed on the SOS schedule
- Expedites, name reservations, certified copies, foreign qualification
- Income / sales / payroll taxes and variable gross-receipts tiers above a stated floor
Unverified / confirm before filing
- Provider checkout upsells: see the national comparison page.
- Re-check live North Dakota Secretary of State fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where North Dakota's $285 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the North Dakota math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.