Use FirstStop to form a North Dakota LLC and file its annual reports. Ordinary business LLCs and farm/ranch LLCs have different report deadlines.
This guide covers forming a new North Dakota LLC. If your LLC already exists in another state or country, use the foreign-registration process instead.
North Dakota LLC at a glance
- Official filing website
- North Dakota Secretary of State
- Business name check
- Search business namesA name search does not reserve or approve the name.
- Formation document
- Articles of Organization
- State filing fee
- $135Formation filing only; other required costs and optional services are separate.
- Processing time
- Online5 business daysPaper5 business days; add mail transitPublished guide estimate. Published guide estimate for a complete filing; not a state guarantee. Check the filing office before setting a deadline.
- Ongoing report or tax
- LLC Annual Report
- Report / renewal charge
- $50Use the FirstStop business record and the instructions for the relevant LLC type.
- Frequency / due date
- Annually; confirm the deadline for the LLC type
- Sales tax base rate
- 5%Local rates may apply. July 1, 2026 snapshot; not an address-specific rate. General rate for ordinary taxable sales; exemptions, special products and local rules can change the result.Official tax agency ↗
- Names in formation records
- No management roster requiredThe ordinary articles identify the company, office/agent and organizers without a membership roster. Agricultural and professional entities have separate rules. Other filings and private bank/tax records may identify owners.
Before you file in North Dakota
Prepare the name, executive-office and mailing addresses, North Dakota agent, business purpose and organizers.
File the Articles of Organization
- In FirstStop, choose an in-state LLC and the type matching the business.
- Complete the office, agent, purpose, duration and organizer fields.
- Sign, submit and save the articles and entity ID. Keep access to the company’s FirstStop record.
What to enter in the form
- Business type
- Use the ordinary business-LLC route for an ordinary business. Farm/ranch and professional entities have additional rules.
- Executive office / mail
- Enter the physical office and mailing destination in their separate fields.
- Purpose
- Describe the work your business will actually do.
- Organizer
- The organizer signs the Articles of Organization. The annual report asks separately for the people who manage the LLC.
After approval in North Dakota
- If another person formed the LLC, obtain authorized FirstStop access before the first annual report is due.
LLC Annual Report
North Dakota annual-report guidance ↗
- For an ordinary business LLC, file by November 15, starting the year after registration. Farm/ranch LLCs use the April 15 deadline.
- Open the report in FirstStop. Update or confirm offices, agent, business activity and the management information requested.
- Sign, pay and download the accepted report.
Compare the filing cycles in our annual report and recurring-fee table.
Next steps: operating agreement · get an EIN · starting checklist.
Sources and filing links
Sources checked . Confirm the state’s current fees and instructions before filing.
- North Dakota Secretary of State: Limited Liability Companies
- North Dakota Secretary of State: Maintain Registration
Research and walkthrough references
These references provide background and filing walkthroughs. Follow current state instructions if an older walkthrough differs.
See our editorial policy for the research process and contact page for correction information.