How to Start an LLC in North Dakota (2026)
Last updated: August 28, 2026
Quick note: we're operators, not attorneys or accountants. This is general educational info, not legal or tax advice. North Dakota warns about misleading annual report letters from third-party companies, so file directly with the state.
North Dakota is a mid-priced state with one genuinely unusual feature: an autumn annual report deadline that catches people who assume every state files in the spring. Here is the whole process in plain English, written for people starting something real like a courier route.
How to start a North Dakota LLC in 6 steps
Name it, appoint a North Dakota registered agent, file the Articles through FirstStop ($135), write an operating agreement, get a free EIN, then file the $50 annual report by November 15.
Name your North Dakota LLC
The name must be distinguishable from other North Dakota entities and include an LLC designator. Search it in the FirstStop business search before you file, and grab the matching domain while you are there.
Appoint a North Dakota registered agent
You need a registered agent with a North Dakota street address available during business hours. You can be your own if you live in the state, or use a service to keep your home address off the public record. Northwest includes agent service free the first year with their $39 filing.
File the Articles of Organization
File with the North Dakota Secretary of State through FirstStop, the state's online business portal. The filing fee is $135.
Write an operating agreement
North Dakota does not require one, but write it anyway. It sets out ownership, management, and who can sign, it backs your liability protection, and banks usually ask for it at account opening. A simple template covers a single-owner courier business.
Get a free EIN from the IRS
Your EIN is free at irs.gov and takes about ten minutes. You need it for the business bank account, contracts, and hiring. Never pay a third-party site for one.
File the $50 annual report by November 15
North Dakota requires an annual report from every LLC. It costs $50 and is due November 15 for business LLCs and PLLCs, or April 15 for farming, ranching and ALF LLCs. File it through FirstStop directly rather than responding to a letter in the post.
North Dakota LLC cost breakdown
$135 to form and $50 a year, with an autumn deadline instead of the usual spring one.
| Item | Cost | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $135 | Yes |
| EIN | Free from the IRS | Yes (free) |
| Registered agent service | $0 (yourself) to $300/yr | No |
| Annual report (business LLC, due Nov 15) | $50 per year | Yes |
| Annual report (farming, ranching, ALF LLC, due Apr 15) | $50 per year | If applicable |
North Dakota figures as of August 2026, from the Secretary of State LLC page and maintain registration guidance. Confirm before filing.
Setting up to run courier routes in North Dakota?
The LLC is step one. Our course covers the rest: insurance and certifications, the business bank account, and how to find routes and win contracts with North Dakota clinics, labs, and hospitals.
Start Your 7-Day Free TrialNorth Dakota LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in North Dakota?
The Articles cost $135 through FirstStop and your EIN is free. The annual report is $50 a year, due November 15.
When is the North Dakota annual report due?
November 15 for business and professional LLCs. Farming, ranching and ALF LLCs file by April 15. The fee is $50.
Are those annual report letters I received real?
Often not. North Dakota has warned about third-party letters that look official and charge far more than the $50 state fee. File directly through FirstStop.
What is FirstStop?
It is the North Dakota Secretary of State online portal for name checks, formation, annual reports and agent updates. Using it directly avoids third-party markups.
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