Cost summary
Year one: $135[2]. Each year after: $50[3], due november 15.
Mainstay Filing will file it for you for $199 a year plus North Dakota's $135 fee, with the North Dakota registered agent and the Annual Report included[1].
- Formation fee
- $135
- Annual Report
- $50, every year
- Ongoing, per year (avg.)
- $50
- Late fee
- $50
- Change of agent
- $10
- Other states, ongoing fees
- 28 lower, 18 higher
Updated October 29, 2026. Fees from official sources; prices from providers' own pages.
North Dakota fees at a glance
| Filing | Fee | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation (Articles of Organization) | $135 | Once | [2] ndlegis.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Annual Report | $50 | Every year | [3] sos.nd.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Late filing penalty | $50 | If late | [2] ndlegis.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Change of registered agent | $10 | When filed | [4] sos.nd.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
Fees paid to North Dakota agencies only; card and portal charges and expedite options are not included.
The recurring cost is the Annual Report: $50, every year. Changing the registered agent later costs $10.
Regional comparison
Averaged per year, North Dakota's ongoing state cost is $50. Nationally the median is $30; 28 states charge less and 18 charge more. Of its 3 neighbors, 2 cost less per year and one costs more.
| State | Formation | Report | Per year (avg.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $135 | $50 / yr | $50 |
| Minnesota | $155 | $0 / yr | $0 |
| Montana | $35 | $20 / yr | $20 |
| South Dakota | $150 | $55 / yr | $55 |
"Per year" halves biennial fees; revenue-department taxes are not included. Sources: each state's statute or fee schedule (August 12, 2026).
When the North Dakota report is due
North Dakota's recurring requirement is one filing, every year. Here is what the rules say about it:
- Filing: Annual Report
- Filed with: North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Division
- Fee: $50, every year[3]
- Deadline: November 15[2]
- How to file: online
- Late fee: $50
A late Annual Report costs $50 on top of the $50 fee. Continued non-filing can lead to the North Dakota company being dissolved or its registration revoked[2].
Who pays these fees
The Census Bureau counted 78,219 small businesses in North Dakota in 2022, the 50th most of any state. 59,106 of them had no employees. These counts cover every legal form, not only LLCs.
Registered Agent and filing service costs
Every North Dakota LLC has to keep a registered agent on record. A member or manager who lives in North Dakota can be the registered agent as an individual. What North Dakota does not allow is the company listing itself.
Agent-only service from Mainstay Filing costs $149 a year in North Dakota[1]. For $199 a year it also forms the company, applies for the EIN and files the Annual Report when due. Both prices stay the same at renewal.
We also read 8 other services' North Dakota prices on October 20, 2026. First-year prices ran $99 to $596; renewals ran $125 to $596.
Questions
How much is the North Dakota LLC Annual Report?
$50, every year[3]. It is due november 15.
What happens if a North Dakota LLC misses the deadline?
North Dakota charges a $50 late fee. The LLC loses good standing with the North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Division, and continued non-filing can end in administrative dissolution or revocation.
Can someone file the North Dakota reports for me?
Yes. For $199 a year, Mainstay Filing files the formation with the North Dakota Secretary of State, serves as registered agent and applies for the EIN[1]. It also files the Annual Report every year, adding the $50 state fee at cost.
Is North Dakota an expensive state for an LLC?
On the $135 it charges to form an LLC, 35 states charge less and 14 charge more. After formation it averages $50 a year; 28 states charge less and 18 charge more.
Sources
- Mainstay Filing pricing, registered agent and FAQ pages. Updated October 29, 2026.
- N.D. Cent. Code § 10-32.1-20 (North Dakota Uniform Limited Liability Company Act — Formation of a limited liability company; Articles of organization); fee set by § 10-32.1-92(1). ndlegis.gov/cencode/t10c32-1.pdf. Updated October 29, 2026.
- North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Division: Annual Report rules and fee. www.sos.nd.gov/business/business-services/maintain-registration. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Statement of Change of Registered Agent fee. www.sos.nd.gov/business/business-services/registered-agents. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022 and Nonemployer Statistics 2022. www.census.gov/programs-surveys/susb.html. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment Dynamics, Establishment Age and Survival, Table 7 (data through March 2025). www.bls.gov/bdm/bdmage.htm. Updated October 29, 2026.