North Dakota LLC Cost

It can be hard to determine the average cost to start a business in North Dakota because every business has different needs. Your LLC might have to fulfill multiple requirements before opening, including some of the following.

North Dakota LLC Filing Fee – $135

To properly file your LLC’s Articles of Organization in North Dakota, you need to pay a $135 filing fee.

Business Taxes – Varies

North Dakota boasts fewer taxes than other states in the nation. But your LLC might still have to pay several taxes, depending on its activities. Your LLC might have to pay the following kinds of taxes:

• Property
• Sales and Use
• Workers’ compensation insurance
• Unemployment insurance

It’s important to speak to a tax professional about the specific tax liabilities your business can expect to face.

Registered Agent Fee – Free

Having a Registered Agent is crucial to running an LLC. You don’t have to pay for a Registered Agent if you’re willing to fill the role yourself, but this is probably not the best choice. A North Dakota LLC must continuously maintain a Registered Agent in the state to accept legal notices on behalf of the business. And that agent must be available during all business hours.

Taking on Registered Agent duties yourself while running your business can be a lot to handle. This is why many businesses choose to pay a small fee to hire someone else as their Registered Agent. Our North Dakota Registered Agent Service can help you quickly find a Registered Agent who suits your business’s needs.

The filing fee for your Articles of Organization might be your most significant cost, but you’ll likely have to pay additional fees to keep your LLC running smoothly and in line with the law. These fees may include some of the following.

Certificate of Good Standing

To receive third-party funding or resources for your LLC, you might have to show proof of your LLC’s status with the state to a third party. This can be achieved with a Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of State. To get a Certificate of Good Standing you have to pay $20.

DBA Name in North Dakota

If your LLC offers multiple services, you might want to consider marketing your LLC using different business names to represent each service. Any name you use for your LLC that isn’t its official name is a “doing business as” or DBA name. This is called a Trade Name in North Dakota, and it has to be registered with the Secretary of State. Registration of an LLC Trade Name costs $25.

Foreign LLC

Suppose you’ve already started an LLC outside of the state, but you want to begin doing business in North Dakota. You’ll need to file for a Certificate of Authority from the Secretary of State to conduct business within North Dakota. You have to pay $135 to file for a Certificate of Authority. Your Certificate of Authority needs to include a Certificate of Good Standing or a Certificate of Existence from the place where you formed your LLC, so you’ll likely need to pay a fee for that as well.

Business Licensing

To run your new LLC, you might need certain permissions from the government. Your new LLC might have to apply and pay fees for:

• Business licenses
• Permits
• Registrations

Your need to apply for licenses, permits, and registrations depends on what kind of business you’re running and where your business is located. You might also need to pay fees for multiple licenses and permits at the local, state, and federal government levels.

How do you determine what licenses and registrations your business needs? This requires lots of research. With our partners at Avalara, we can do this research for you and give you a comprehensive list of your licensing needs in our Business License Report.

For just $0 plus state fees, we can form your North Dakota LLC for you in just minutes. No LegalZoom promo code required: Pay just $0 plus filing fees for fast LLC formation in North Dakota. 

If you don’t fulfill your business’ financial obligations or pay your fees on time, you could be subject to penalties. North Dakota might also refuse to recognize your LLC as a business entity if you don’t pay your fees. 

If you can’t pay your filing fee, then your business can’t become an LLC. If your LLC isn’t official, you’re running your business as a sole proprietorship or general partnership by default. These other business structures leave you open to personal liability. 

You pay your LLC formation filing fees to the Secretary of State. 

What does it cost to start a business in North Dakota? That depends on your specific business needs. Your largest LLC fee will likely be the $135 you have to pay to file your Articles or Organization.

You can use a credit card, check, cashier’s check, or money order to pay your filing fees to the Secretary of State.