North Dakota Certificate of Authority · State fees
What each entity type pays for a North Dakota certificate of authority
A North Dakota certificate of authority costs $135 for a foreign LLC, $145 for a foreign corporation, $50 for a nonprofit corporation, and $110 and $60 for LPs and LLPs. We add $199 for preparing and filing, itemised separately at checkout.
Application, amendment and withdrawal by entity
| Entity | Certificate of authority | Amendment | Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign LLC | $135 | $50 | $20 |
| Foreign business corporation | $145 | $40 | $20 |
| Foreign nonprofit corporation | $50 | Write to us | Write to us |
| Limited partnership (foreign) | $110 | $40 | $25 |
| Limited liability partnership (foreign) | $60 | $25 | $10 |
Registering a nonprofit LLC costs $40.
Annual reports and the costs of missing them
| Entity | Report fee | Due | Late or reinstatement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign LLC | $50 | November 15 | $50 late; $135 to reinstate |
| Foreign business corporation | $25 | May 15 | A late fee applies |
| Limited partnership (foreign) | $25 | March 31 | Write to us |
| Limited liability partnership (foreign) | $25 | March 31 | $20 late; $50 to reinstate |
For other statements or reports filed for a foreign LLC the statute sets $10.
Worked totals
| Scenario | State charges | How it adds up |
|---|---|---|
| LLC authority only | $135 | Application |
| LLC authority plus first report | $185 | $135 + $50 |
| LLC authority plus a trade name | $160 | $135 + $25 |
| LLC authority plus an agent change | $145 | $135 + $10 |
| LLC authority, then withdrawal | $155 | $135 + $20 |
| LLC: apply, one report, withdraw | $205 | $135 + $50 + $20 |
| An LLC report filed late | $100 | $50 + $50 |
| Corporation authority plus first report | $170 | $145 + $25 |
| Corporation: apply, one report, withdraw | $190 | $145 + $25 + $20 |
| Delaware LLC: authority plus Delaware tax | $535 | $135 + $400 |
| Wyoming LLC: authority plus Wyoming minimum | $195 | $135 + $60 |
Why the fees differ
North Dakota prices each entity under its own chapter of the Century Code. The LLC fee is in the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, the corporation fee in the Business Corporation Act, and the partnership fees in the partnership chapters. That is why a corporation pays $145 and an LLC $135 for what feels like the same step, and why an LLP pays less than half of either.
The home-state certificate costs extra
Each version needs a certificate from the home state, priced by that state. Delaware lists $50 for a certificate of good standing and Wyoming $0. Your own state may differ.
Costs the state list does not show
The state list does not include professional fees, what a commercial agent charges, or North Dakota taxes. The Secretary of State counts a sales tax collection duty among the signs of transacting business, and says the statute's list of excluded activities does not decide tax questions.
What our charge covers
$199 pays for choosing the right application, drafting it from your answers, checking the home certificate and agent, and filing. A registered agent from us is priced on its own. It does not change any state fee. For a do-it-yourself route, see getting a certificate of authority yourself.
Amendment and change fees in context
Most entities never pay an amendment fee, but several events cause one: a name change, a change in the purposes pursued in the state, or the discovery that a statement in the application was wrong. An LLC then pays $50 and a corporation $40. Partnerships pay $40 for a limited partnership and $25 for an LLP. A change of registered agent is separate at $10, and a trade name registration is $25.
Name-related charges
Besides the trade name fee, the Secretary of State charges $25 to renew a trade name, $10 to cancel one, and $10 for a consent to use a business name. A trade name lasts 5 years. These matter to an entity that trades under a brand name rather than its formation name.
Certificates from the North Dakota office
If you later need North Dakota to certify the standing of an entity it has authorized, the office lists $20 for a certificate of good standing, and $20 for a certificate of fact for a business structure other than a trade name. A lender or a licensing board may ask for one.
Reading the yearly cost
The application fee is a single payment; reports are not. An LLC pays $50 every year, a corporation $25. For a company with a small North Dakota footprint, the yearly cost is the number to weigh when deciding whether to hold the certificate or withdraw.
Registered agent: first year included, then $149 a year
$199 plus the state fee, including your first year of registered agent service; after that the agent service renews at $149 a year.
Fee questions
Which entity pays least?
A limited liability partnership, at $60.
Does a corporation pay more than an LLC?
Yes: $145 against $135.
What does an amendment cost?
$50 for an LLC and $40 for a corporation.
Is the first report due the same year?
No. It is due in the year after the entity is authorized.
What our service and the state cost
Get my North Dakota certificate of authority
North Dakota$199
+ state fee from $60
- The right version of the application for your entity type
- Your home-state certificate, reviewed against the statute
- A registered agent in the state from our office, or one you choose
- Your certificate of authority sent to you when issued
- Renewal: after the first year, the agent service renews at $149 a year
State fees by entity: LLC $135, corporation $145, nonprofit corporation $50. Our charge is a separate line. $199 plus the state fee, including your first year of registered agent service; after that the agent service renews at $149 a year.
Sources
- North Dakota Secretary of State, limited liability companies
- North Dakota Secretary of State, partnerships
- North Dakota Secretary of State, general business corporation fees
- North Dakota Secretary of State, maintain your registration
- North Dakota Secretary of State, out-of-state nonprofit
- North Dakota Century Code, chapter 10-32.1 (Uniform Limited Liability Company Act)
- North Dakota Century Code, chapter 45-22 (Limited Liability Partnerships)
- North Dakota Secretary of State, register a business
- North Dakota Secretary of State, registered agents
- Delaware Division of Corporations, LLC/LP/GP annual tax
- Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Division fee schedule
- Delaware Division of Corporations fee schedule (PDF)
Need North Dakota authority?
Give us your entity type and its home state.