Filed with
North Dakota Secretary of State
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your North Dakota LLC
North Dakota Secretary of State business filings →The name must contain "limited liability company", "LLC" or "L.L.C.". It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the North Dakota register.
Search the North Dakota Secretary of State business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every North Dakota LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in North Dakota, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
North Dakota Secretary of State →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the North Dakota Secretary of State, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
North Dakota operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
North Dakota business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether North Dakota requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for North Dakota sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your North Dakota LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →North Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due November 15 each year.
The first one is due November 15 of the year after the calendar year the LLC was formed.
Worth knowing in North Dakota
- Farm or ranch LLCs follow a different annual report deadline (April 15) than business LLCs.
- An LLC that misses its annual report falls into Not Good Standing status and can later be involuntarily terminated.
- Formation and annual reports are filed through the FirstStop Portal.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the North Dakota Secretary of State and pay the state fee, act as your North Dakota registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
Nearby states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in North Dakota?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in North Dakota, and file a Articles of Organization with the North Dakota Secretary of State. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in North Dakota?
North Dakota charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our North Dakota LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a North Dakota LLC have to file an annual report?
North Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due November 15 each year. The first one is due November 15 of the year after the calendar year the LLC was formed.
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the North Dakota Secretary of State that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in North Dakota, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in North Dakota?
Yes, if you have a physical address in North Dakota and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
