Best LLC Service in North Dakota (2026): Top Picks for ND Formation
Budget pick: Bizee - $0 service fee + $135 state fee. Free year of registered agent. Shares data with marketing partners.
$39 service fee + $135 state fee = $174 total year one. Registered agent service included free for year one, then $125/year. Privacy-focused, family-owned, in business since 1998. Does not sell your data.
Form Your North Dakota LLC with Northwest →North Dakota LLC At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Formation document | Articles of Organization |
| Filing agency | North Dakota Secretary of State |
| State filing fee | $135 |
| Processing time | 2-5 business days |
| Annual/biennial requirement | Annual Report, due November 15 each year. Late penalty: $50 (doubles total to $100). |
| Annual/biennial fee | $50 |
| State income tax | Graduated: 1.10% to 2.50% |
| Franchise tax | No franchise tax for LLCs |
| Registered agent required | Yes, physical North Dakota address required |
North Dakota compliance note: The annual report ($50) is due November 15, an unusual fall deadline. Most states use spring deadlines, so a November reminder from your registered agent service is especially valuable. A $50 late penalty applies immediately after the deadline, doubling the cost.
North Dakota LLC Formation Services Compared
| Service | ND Service Fee | State Fee | RA Year 1 | RA Renewal | Year-1 Total | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest | $39 | $135 | $0 (included) | $125/yr | $174 | ~$549 |
| ZenBusiness Starter | $0 | $135 | $199/yr (add-on) | $199/yr | $135 + $199 RA | Higher |
| Bizee Basic* | $0 | $135 | $0 (included) | $119/yr | $135 | Moderate |
| Inc Authority | $0 | $135 | $0 (included) | $179/yr | $135 | Moderate |
| LegalZoom Pro | $249 | $135 | Not included | $249/yr | Highest | Highest |
*Bizee Basic: articles of organization filing only. RA free year one, then $119/year. Bizee shares customer data with marketing partners. LegalZoom RA not included at any price point; auto-renewal applies on add-on services. Rates verified June 2026.
Northwest Registered Agent: Top Pick for North Dakota
Northwest Registered Agent
Service fee: $39 • State fee: $135 • Year-1 total: $174
Northwest has formed LLCs since 1998. Family-owned, A+ BBB rating, physical offices in all 50 states. They do not sell customer data, a meaningful distinction from most competitors. The $39 formation fee includes a free year of registered agent service (then $125/year), an operating agreement template, and same-day filing.
For North Dakota specifically: Northwest files the Articles of Organization with the North Dakota Secretary of State and sends compliance reminders for Annual Report. Their Business Identity suite (added January 2026) includes business address and phone services.
Not included: EIN assistance is a $50 add-on. Get your EIN free at IRS.gov in 15 minutes.
Form Your North Dakota LLC with Northwest →ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness
Service fee: $0 (Starter) • State fee: $135 • RA: $199/year add-on (auto-renewing)
ZenBusiness offers $0 formation on its Starter plan, but registered agent service is $199/year and not included. On a 3-year basis, most North Dakota LLC owners needing registered agent service pay more with ZenBusiness than with Northwest. ZenBusiness has a good dashboard and compliance alert system; the auto-renewing subscriptions require careful attention at checkout.
Bizee (formerly Incfile)
Bizee
Service fee: $0 (Basic) • State fee: $135 • RA: Free year 1, then $119/year
Bizee offers $0 formation with a free first year of registered agent service (then $119/year). Important caveat: Bizee shares customer data with marketing partners. If data privacy is important to you or your clients, this is a meaningful drawback. Bizee is a reasonable budget option for price-focused formation but falls short on privacy.
View Bizee →Inc Authority
Inc Authority
Service fee: $0 • State fee: $135 • RA: Free year 1, then $179/year
Inc Authority offers $0 formation with free registered agent for year one. The year-two renewal at $179/year is higher than both Bizee ($119) and Northwest ($125), making it more expensive long-term. Inc Authority upsells aggressively on add-on packages during checkout.
View Inc Authority →LegalZoom
LegalZoom
Service fee: $249+ • State fee: $135 • RA: $249/year, never included
LegalZoom's Pro plan costs $249 and registered agent service is never included at any price, adding another $249/year. Auto-renewal traps on bookkeeping and attorney trial add-ons are a known issue. LegalZoom's brand recognition does not translate to better formation quality than Northwest at $39. Not recommended for North Dakota LLC formation on a cost basis.
DIY Filing in North Dakota
You can file your Articles of Organization directly with the North Dakota Secretary of State without a formation service:
- Search the North Dakota business entity database for name availability
- Complete the Articles of Organization online
- Pay the $135 filing fee
- Designate yourself or a service as registered agent
DIY saves the $39 service fee but requires managing compliance deadlines independently. For most new LLC owners, the $39 Northwest fee is worth it for same-day filing, compliance tracking, and a year of included registered agent service.
Frequently Asked Questions
The state filing fee for Articles of Organization is $135, filed through the FirstStop online portal. Using Northwest Registered Agent adds $39, for a $174 year-one total, including a free first year of registered agent service.
North Dakota LLC annual reports are due November 15 each year, filed through the FirstStop portal. The fee is $50. A $50 late penalty applies immediately after November 15, making the total $100 if late. The first annual report is due November 15 of the year following the calendar year of formation.
North Dakota has a graduated individual income tax from 1.10% to 2.50%, one of the lowest in the country. LLC pass-through income is taxed at these rates on your personal North Dakota return, making it a favorable state for business owners.
No. North Dakota does not impose a franchise tax on LLCs. Your main state compliance costs are the $135 formation fee (one-time) and $50 annual report. Farm and ranch LLCs have additional reporting requirements specific to their industry.
Online filing through the FirstStop portal typically processes in 2-5 business days. Mail or fax filing takes 5-10 business days. There is no dedicated expedited processing option, though online filings are generally faster.
Related Guides
- How to Form an LLC in North Dakota (2026)
- Northwest Registered Agent Review
- Bizee Review
- Compare All LLC Formation Services
- All State LLC Formation Guides
Why I Choose Northwest Registered Agent
After forming 3 LLCs myself and helping clients through the process, I keep coming back to Northwest Registered Agent. Here is why:
- Remarkable Customer Support: Quick, human responses every time.
- Caring & Privacy-Focused: Genuine service with full respect for your privacy.
- Lightning-Fast Formation: Often faster than promised.
- Incredible Value: $39 includes free business address, mail scanning, phone line, business email, domain name, website, and brand protection.
- Clear & Transparent: No hidden fees or surprises.
Ready to form your business? Choose Northwest today!
Frédéric has founded and operated businesses across multiple countries, including 3 LLCs formed using Northwest Registered Agent. He holds certifications as a holistic coach and therapist trainer, is a published author, and has been featured in Le Parisien, IMDb, Goodreads, and international encyclopedias.
FTC Disclosure: OnlineLLCGuide.com earns affiliate commissions when you use our links. These commissions do not affect our ratings, rankings, or editorial positions. We independently evaluate each service. , OnlineLLCGuide.com