Everything you need to register a foreign LLC in North Dakota.
State filing fee$135one-time
Registered agent$125/yrbased on Northwest RA
Total, all in$660
North Dakota data verified May 1, 2026 · sos.nd.govTotals include the $135 filing fee once, Northwest RA at $125/year, and North Dakota recurring state costs over the selected period.
North Dakota data verified May 1, 2026 · sos.nd.gov
Formation in North Dakota
Formation fee
$135
Annual cost
$50/year
State income tax
Income tax up to 2.5%
Privacy
Moderate
What triggers foreign qualification in North Dakota?
Physical office or place of business
Employees working in the state
Activities that do NOT require registration in North Dakota
The following activities are explicitly carved out by statute. On their own, they do not require a foreign LLC to register in North Dakota.
Maintaining or defending a lawsuit, administrative proceeding, or arbitration
Holding meetings of members or managers, or carrying on internal company affairs
Maintaining bank accounts
Maintaining offices or agencies for the transfer, exchange, or registration of the LLC's own securities
Selling through independent contractors
Soliciting or obtaining orders if orders require acceptance outside the state before becoming contracts
Creating or acquiring indebtedness, mortgages, or security interests in real or personal property
Securing or collecting debts, or enforcing mortgages or security interests
Owning real or personal property
Conducting an isolated transaction completed within 30 days that is not part of repeated similar transactions
Transacting business in interstate commerce
North Dakota's Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, codified at Chapter 10-32.1, lists activities at Section 10-32.1-82 ('Foreign limited liability company--Transactions not constituting transacting business'). Subsection (2) carves IN ownership of income-producing real or tangible personal property as transacting business, a deviation from the standard list.
This page provides general information based on publicly available state requirements. It is not legal advice. Verify with the North Dakota Secretary of State before filing.