North Dakota LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | North Dakota amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $135 |
| Annual report | $50 |
| When it is due | 15 November every year (15 April for farm and ranch LLCs) |
| State tax on the LLC | No franchise tax or minimum tax |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $135 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $50 |
| Registered agent | Required. Free if you act as your own; commercial services charge a yearly fee |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 |
Fees verified October 2026 against the North Dakota Secretary of State and other official North Dakota sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in North Dakota?
The North Dakota Secretary of State charges $135 to file articles of organization for an LLC or a professional LLC. Filing goes through FirstStop, the Secretary of State’s online business portal. A foreign LLC pays the same $135 to register.
Names can be reserved through FirstStop for up to one year before you file.
Our walkthrough on how to file articles of organization in North Dakota covers the form field by field.
How much does a North Dakota LLC cost every year?
Every North Dakota LLC files an annual report by 15 November, and the fee is $50. Most states set spring deadlines, so the November date is easy to miss for founders who run LLCs in more than one state.
Farm and ranch LLCs follow a different schedule and file by 15 April. A foreign LLC registered in North Dakota also files a $50 annual report.
What does a North Dakota LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees a North Dakota LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts North Dakota charges. The second column adds the BusinessAnywhere registered agent service, which is free for the first year and $147 a year after that.
| Year | State fees only | With a registered agent service |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $135 | $135 |
| Year 2 | $50 | $197 |
| Year 3 | $50 | $197 |
| Three-year total | $235 | $529 |
Does North Dakota charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
North Dakota charges no franchise tax and no minimum tax on LLCs. An LLC taxed as a partnership or a disregarded entity pays no state tax itself.
Members pay North Dakota individual income tax on their share of profit at 0%, 1.95% or 2.5% under the 2025 brackets. A single filer owes 0% on taxable income up to $48,475.
How much does a registered agent cost in North Dakota?
Every North Dakota LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in North Dakota. Acting as your own agent costs nothing, but your address goes on the public record and you must be available at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services charge a yearly fee for the same role.
The BusinessAnywhere registered agent service is free for the first year and $147 a year after that, with every document scanned to your online dashboard the day it arrives.
Our North Dakota registered agent guide explains the state rules in full.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does a North Dakota LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. A North Dakota LLC needs one to hire employees, to open a business bank account and whenever it has more than one member. US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply through the IRS online EIN application and receive the number at the end of the session.
Founders outside the United States cannot use the online tool. They apply by phone, fax or post with IRS Form SS-4, and do not need an SSN to do it. The BusinessAnywhere EIN application service handles that process for $97. Our guide on how to obtain an EIN for your LLC covers both routes.
What other North Dakota LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the North Dakota state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of good standing | $20 | Certificate of Good Standing requested through FirstStop |
| Amending the articles | $50 | Amendment for domestic or foreign LLC |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | $25 | Trade name registration, renewed every 5 years ($25 renewal) |
| Changing registered agent | $10 | Statement of change of noncommercial registered agent or address |
| Foreign LLC registration | $135 | Same registration fee as domestic LLCs; foreign annual report also $50 |
An operating agreement carries no state fee in North Dakota, and North Dakota does not collect it, but every LLC should have one to set out ownership and decision rights. BusinessAnywhere sells an operating agreement template for $97.
What happens if you miss a North Dakota LLC deadline?
A North Dakota annual report received after 15 November incurs a late filing fee, and the LLC drops out of good standing. An LLC that stays delinquent is involuntarily terminated, and it then has one year to reinstate.
The Secretary of State does not publish the late fee or reinstatement charges on its maintenance page, so confirm the current amounts with the office before filing a late report.
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in North Dakota sets out the steps.
How does North Dakota compare with other states?
North Dakota costs a little more than the median to form and less than most states to keep. Its $135 formation fee is $35 above the $100 national median, and the $50 annual report costs less than South Dakota’s $55 online report. Montana next door costs $35 to form and nothing a year when its report is on time.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $135 | $50 | $135 to form, $50 annual report due 15 November |
| Montana LLC cost | $35 | $0 | Cheapest formation fee; free annual report if filed by 15 April |
| South Dakota | $150 | $55 | $55 annual report online |
| Minnesota | $155 | $0 | Free annual renewal, $155 online formation |
| Wyoming LLC cost | $100 | $60 | $60 minimum license tax, no income tax |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form a North Dakota LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your North Dakota LLC for $0 plus the $135 state fee. The filing comes with a free first year of registered agent service, so your first-year cost is the state fee and nothing else.
- Formation: $0 service fee plus the North Dakota filing fee.
- Registered agent: free for the first year, then $147 a year.
- EIN application: $97, with no SSN required for non-US founders.
- Compliance reminders: every North Dakota deadline on this page tracked in your dashboard.
- Virtual mailbox: a US street address with mail scanning, from $20 a month.
Start with our LLC formation service, or read the full guide on how to start an LLC in North Dakota first.
North Dakota LLC cost FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in North Dakota?
A North Dakota LLC costs $135 to form and $50 a year for the annual report.
When is the North Dakota LLC annual report due?
By 15 November every year. Farm and ranch LLCs file by 15 April instead.
Does North Dakota charge franchise tax on LLCs?
No. North Dakota has no franchise tax or minimum tax on LLCs. Members pay North Dakota individual income tax on their share of profit.
What happens if I miss the North Dakota annual report?
A late filing fee applies and the LLC loses good standing. An LLC that stays delinquent is involuntarily terminated and has one year to reinstate.
How much does a foreign LLC pay to register in North Dakota?
$135, the same as a domestic LLC, plus a $50 annual report each year.
How much does a North Dakota LLC cost over three years?
At the minimum, $235 in state fees: $135 to form and two $50 annual reports. With a commercial registered agent from year two at $147 a year, the total is $529.
Sources
- North Dakota Secretary of State, limited liability company
- North Dakota Secretary of State, maintain your registration
- North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, individual income tax
- Official North Dakota source: DBA (assumed or trade name) fee
- Official North Dakota source: Changing registered agent fee
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the North Dakota Secretary of State before you file.
