How to Perform a North Dakota Business Entity Search

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Winter scene of downtown Fargo, North Dakota, representing the concept of a North Dakota business entity search​
You should do a North Dakota business entity search before starting a business in the state. This post shows you a few methods for doing so.

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North Dakota has a strong agricultural economy, generating $41.3 billion annually in gross business volume. But the state is so much more than that; its economy has been growing fast, and there are now 97,400 businesses, and the growth rate’s held at 2.2% over the last five years. If you’re interested in learning more about these businesses, you might want to use a North Dakota business entity search.

This means that if you’re searching for a state to start a business in, then it should be North Dakota. If this has you convinced, then there are certain steps you need to take before registering your company.

The first is performing a North Dakota business entity search. Keep reading to learn several ways.

In most states, the Secretary of State is responsible for business registrations and records, and that’s the case in South Dakota. Before you register your company, you can do a North Dakota business search on their website.

Luckily, it’s very straightforward. You’ll see one blank, and it says “Search by name or system ID.” Type in your desired business name, and then click on the magnifying glass to complete your search.

Should you want to apply more parameters, click on “Advanced.” This lets you choose between “Contains” and “Starts with,” but we’d suggest leaving it on “Contains” for a broader net. You can also check the box for “Active entities only.”

After you’ve hit “Search,” the page loads hits below the search bar. You’ll find the:

  • Form info
  • SOS control ID#
  • Status
  • Standing
  • Filing date

If you click on any of the entity names, you’ll get a pop-up with more details. It’ll show you the:

  • Filing type
  • Entity type
  • Owner name
  • Owner address
  • Term of duration
  • Initial filing date
  • Expiration date

Plus, there’s a button to view the company’s history. 

Google or Another Search Engine

You can easily use Google or another search engine to do a state of North Dakota business entity search.

In the search bar, type in the business name you want in combination with “North Dakota.” If you’ve got a specific location in mind, or want to narrow down your search, you can try a combo of different city names too.

To be as thorough as possible, you should read through several results pages. Check for similar-sounding names too; if yours is too close to any of them, you may be risk being sued by other business owners.

Ideally, you’ll reserve domain names and social media handles if they’re available and match your business name. This can give you peace of mind since it’ll enable you to have consistent branding after you get your company up and running.

Our Search Tool

Speaking of getting your company up and running, we have a free business registration service. You don’t have to pay a penny besides the state fees, as well as any other services you might find beneficial. We have a comprehensive list of these services alongside their prices on our page, so there are never any hidden fees.

FREE Business Registration

On this page is also a bar where you can do an ND business entity search. Just type in your potential company name, and then select the business type in the dropdown menu (LLC, PLLC, or corporation). You can then click on “Check availability.”

The next page will tell you if the name’s taken. Don’t worry if it is, because you can go back and use our search tool as many times as you want for free. 

Regardless of how many times you use our tool, you won’t be obligated to use our services either. However, if you’d like to hear more, then fill out the contact form on the results page and we’ll reach out to you soon.

We highly recommend that you perform a North Dakota business entity search if you want to start a business there. It may take a little longer to get everything set up, but it’s worth it when you know you’re not at risk of being sued.

Plus, the methods we’ve mentioned are all free to use, so you won’t have to spend money to do these searches. With a little effort on your part, you’ll find the perfect business name that’s truly yours.

Sign up with Business Anywhere now to use our free business registration service. You’ll get a free year’s worth of registered agent services, too.

Register Your Business for FREE

About Author

Picture of Rick Mak

Rick Mak

Rick Mak is a 30-year veteran businessman, having started, bought, and/or sold more than a dozen companies. He has bachelor's degrees in International Business, Finance, and Economics, with masters in both Entrepreneurship and International Law. He has spoken at hundreds of conferences around the world during his career on entrepreneurship, international tax law, asset protection, and company structure. Business Anywhere Editorial Guidelines

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