LLC Cost in North Dakota (2026)
State Filing Fee: $135 | Annual Report: $50/year
Forming an LLC in North Dakota requires filing Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $135. North Dakota LLCs also have a Annual Report of $50 per year.
Use our LLC Cost Calculator to estimate your total first-year cost including registered agent and optional formation services.
# LLC Cost in North Dakota (2026) — Filing Fees and Annual Costs ## How to Use This Calculator This calculator helps you determine the total cost of forming and maintaining an LLC in North Dakota. To get accurate results, you’ll need to provide several pieces of information. Start by indicating whether you’re forming a new LLC or calculating costs for an existing one. If you’re forming a new LLC, the calculator includes initial filing fees. For existing LLCs, it focuses on recurring annual costs. Next, specify whether you’ll file the paperwork yourself or hire a registered agent service. North Dakota requires all LLCs to maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state. If you live in North Dakota and plan to serve as your own agent, you can skip this expense. Otherwise, budget for registered agent fees. Enter the number of years you want to calculate costs for. This helps you understand long-term expenses, not just the first year. Many business owners underestimate ongoing costs, so projecting multiple years gives you a realistic picture. Finally, indicate if you’ll need any optional services like expedited filing, certified copies of your formation documents, or name reservation before filing. These are not required but may be beneficial depending on your timeline and needs. ## How We Calculate This Our calculator bases its figures on official North Dakota Secretary of State fee schedules and typical third-party service costs for 2026. **Initial Formation Costs:** The North Dakota Secretary of State charges $135 to file Articles of Organization, the primary document that creates your LLC. This is a one-time fee paid when you establish your business. If you want to reserve your LLC name before filing (to ensure it’s available), there’s an additional $10 fee, and the reservation lasts 12 months. **Expedited Processing:** Standard processing takes approximately 5-7 business days. If you need faster service, North Dakota offers expedited options. Same-day processing costs an additional $100, while 2-business-day processing costs $50 extra. The calculator adds these amounts to your initial costs if you select expedited service. **Registered Agent Fees:** If you hire a commercial registered agent service, expect to pay between $100 and $300 annually. Our calculator uses $150 as the average annual cost, which reflects typical pricing from reputable registered agent companies serving North Dakota. This is a recurring annual expense. **Annual Report Fees:** North Dakota requires LLCs to file an annual report by November 15 each year. The filing fee is $50. This is a mandatory recurring cost for as long as your LLC exists. Missing this deadline results in a $25 late fee, and continued non-compliance can lead to administrative dissolution of your LLC. **Biennial Report Alternative:** North Dakota offers an option to file biennially (every two years) instead of annually, which costs $100. This can simplify your compliance schedule, though it doesn’t provide cost savings—it’s the same $50 per year amortized over two years. The calculator multiplies annual costs by the number of years you specify, then adds any one-time formation fees to give you a total projected cost. ## What the Results Mean The calculator provides three key figures: initial costs, annual recurring costs, and total projected costs over your specified timeframe. **Initial Costs:** This is what you’ll pay in year one to form your LLC. At minimum, expect $135 for the filing fee. If you reserve a name ($10), expedite processing ($50-$100), or hire a registered agent ($150), your first-year costs increase accordingly. A typical first-year total ranges from $285 to $445 for most new North Dakota LLCs. **Annual Recurring Costs:** After formation, you’ll pay at least $50 annually for your annual report. If you use a registered agent service, add approximately $150, bringing your yearly maintenance cost to around $200. These costs continue every year your LLC remains active. **Total Projected Costs:** This figure helps you budget for multi-year operations. For example, maintaining an LLC for five years with a registered agent service would cost approximately $1,285: $285 in year one (filing fee + registered agent + annual report) plus $200 per year for years two through five ($800), totaling $1,085 at minimum. Understanding these figures helps you avoid surprises and ensures you budget adequately. Many entrepreneurs focus solely on formation costs and forget about annual obligations, leading to compliance issues later. ## Tips and Common Mistakes **Don’t skip the registered agent:** Every North Dakota LLC must have a registered agent. If you serve as your own agent, you must have a physical North Dakota address (not a PO Box) and be available during business hours. Many home-based business owners find this impractical and hire a service for consistency and privacy. **Mark your annual report deadline:** November 15 is North Dakota’s annual report deadline. Set multiple reminders starting in October. The $25 late fee is avoidable, and falling seriously behind can dissolve your LLC. **Consider the biennial option carefully:** While filing every two years simplifies compliance, it doesn’t save money. Only choose this option if you have difficulty remembering annual deadlines and prefer less frequent filing. **Expedited filing is rarely necessary:** Unless you have a time-sensitive contract or specific deadline, standard processing is sufficient. Save the $50-$100 unless speed is truly essential. **Budget for other business costs:** This calculator covers state filing fees only. Remember to budget for business licenses, permits, federal EIN registration (free from the IRS), insurance, and accounting services. **Keep your information current:** If you change your registered agent, principal office address, or member information, file an amendment with the state. There’s a $25 fee for amendments, but maintaining accurate records prevents legal and tax complications. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: Can I form an LLC in North Dakota if I don’t live there?** Yes, non-residents can form North Dakota LLCs. However, you must maintain a registered agent with a physical North Dakota address, which typically means hiring a registered agent service. You’ll also need to consider whether you need to register as a foreign LLC in your home state, which involves additional fees. **Q: Are there any ongoing state taxes for North Dakota LLCs?** North Dakota doesn’t impose a franchise tax or capital stock tax on LLCs. However, your LLC may owe state income tax if it’s profitable. LLCs are typically pass-through entities, meaning profits pass to members who report them on personal tax returns. The state income tax rate ranges from 1.1% to 2.9%. These taxes are separate from the filing fees calculated here. **Q: What happens if I don’t file my annual report on time?** North Dakota charges a $25 late fee if you miss the November 15 deadline. If you remain non-compliant for an extended period, the Secretary of State can administratively dissolve your LLC. Reinstatement requires filing all overdue reports, paying all fees and penalties, plus a $25 reinstatement fee. Dissolved LLCs lose liability protection and good standing status.