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State Filing Data LLC fees by state, read from the source.

Foreign LLC guide · North Dakota

North Dakota Foreign LLC Registration (2026): Fees and the 3 Best Services

Mainstay Filing ($199), North Dakota Registered Agent.co ($199) and ND Registered Agents.org ($199): that is our 2026 order for foreign LLC registration in North Dakota. Registration costs $135 at the North Dakota Secretary of State, then $50 per report: 21st of 50 states on three-year state fees.
State Filing Data research desk

North Dakota at a glance

of 50 on foreign LLC state fees

Counted from the least expensive. Compare states

Registration fee

$135

sos.nd.gov · October 2026

Yearly report

$50

Annual report

Home-state certificate

Required

File it with the application

Three-year state fees

$235

Registration, then two report years

North Dakota picks

Scored on five weighted criteria (methodology). Biggest weights: three-year service fees and filings covered.

Our first choice

1. Mainstay Filing: best for multi-state registrations

$199 plus fees; $149 a year later

We'd start with Mainstay Filing: the registration for $199 plus state fees, with a free first year as your registered agent.

It costs $100 more than North Dakota Registered Agent.co over three years; on our method the extra filings it covers outweigh that.

Year two onward the agent costs $149 a year.

What you pay for

  • Registration prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, free for the first year
  • Any state, same fee

For

  • $199 over the state fee
  • No agent fee in year one
  • Covers all fifty states

Against

  • Agent renews at $149, $50 above North Dakota Registered Agent.co
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
North Dakota specialist

2. North Dakota Registered Agent.co: best for a low yearly agent cost

$199 plus fees; $99 a year later

Pick 2, North Dakota Registered Agent.co: registration at $199 plus state fees, agent included for year one.

What you pay for

  • North Dakota registration prepared and filed
  • A year of agent service

For

  • Agent included for year one
  • $199 to register
  • $99 a year for the agent after that

Against

  • Home state needs a separate agent
Visit North Dakota Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
North Dakota specialist

3. ND Registered Agents.org: best for a low agent renewal

$199 plus fees; $99 a year later

Pick 3, ND Registered Agents.org: registration at $199 plus state fees, agent included for year one.

Same published prices as North Dakota Registered Agent.co.

What you pay for

  • North Dakota registration prepared and filed
  • A year of agent service

For

  • $99 a year for the agent after that
  • Agent included for year one
  • $199 to register

Against

  • Home state needs a separate agent
Visit ND Registered Agents.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3 picks, side by side

#ServiceYear oneFrom year twoThree-year service fees
1 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 North Dakota Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397
Visit North Dakota Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 ND Registered Agents.org $199$99/yr$397
Visit ND Registered Agents.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Service prices from each company's own pages, read November 12, 2026. Each row excludes the $135 state fee.

Registration cost calculator

State registration and report fees plus each service's price, by year.

State fees $235 plus Mainstay Filing at $497: $732 over 3 years.

Where North Dakota sits in the 50-state table

RankStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
19th Kansas$205
20th Wisconsin$230
21st North Dakota$235
22nd New Jersey$250
23rd Louisiana$255

Full ranking: Foreign LLC fees by state. 1st is the least expensive.

Registering a foreign LLC in North Dakota

An LLC formed elsewhere files the Application for a Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company) with the North Dakota Secretary of State and pays $135. It also needs certificate of status, good standing or existence from the home-state filing office.

After that it files the annual report ($50), November 15.

Filing checklist

  • Certificate of status, good standing or existence from the home-state filing office.
  • The registered name and formation date from home.
  • A registered agent with a North Dakota street address (each service above acts as one).
  • Funds for the $135 filing fee.

Why Mainstay Filing is first

Deciding factor in North Dakota: state filings covered (30%). Mainstay Filing beat North Dakota Registered Agent.co on it.

A foreign LLC already exists in another state, so a provider that covers both states scored best on coverage.

North Dakota: questions

How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC in North Dakota?

$135 in state fees. Service fees: $199.

Which form registers a foreign LLC in North Dakota?

File Application for a Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company) with the North Dakota Secretary of State.

Do I need a certificate from my home state?

Yes: certificate of status, good standing or existence from the home-state filing office.

What does a foreign LLC file after registering?

The annual report, $50.

Is a registered agent needed there?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Who should file the registration?

Mainstay Filing, North Dakota Registered Agent.co and ND Registered Agents.org, in that order.

Keep going

Sources

  1. North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Division at sos.nd.gov, confirmed August 2026
  2. North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Division at sos.nd.gov, confirmed August 2026
  3. North Dakota report due date at ndlegis.gov, confirmed August 2026
  4. North Dakota formation fee: Filing fee, official source at sos.nd.gov, confirmed October 2026
  5. North Dakota registered agent statute at ndlegis.gov, confirmed October 2026
  6. Secretary of State, registered agents at sos.nd.gov, confirmed October 2026
  7. Secretary of State, business services at sos.nd.gov, confirmed October 2026
  8. Kansas Secretary of State, register a business at sos.ks.gov, confirmed October 2026
  9. Form FA, foreign business application at sos.ks.gov, confirmed October 2026
  10. K.S.A. 17-7932, activities that are not doing business at ksrevisor.gov, confirmed October 2026
  11. K.S.A. 17-76,126, effect of failing to register at ksrevisor.gov, confirmed October 2026
  12. Kansas Secretary of State, information reports at sos.ks.gov, confirmed October 2026
  13. DFI Form 521, foreign registration statement for an at dfi.wi.gov, confirmed October 2026
  14. DFI fees at dfi.wi.gov, confirmed October 2026
  15. DFI file online at dfi.wi.gov, confirmed October 2026
  16. Wis at docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, confirmed October 2026
  17. Wis at docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, confirmed October 2026
  18. DFI Form 524, withdrawal of registration at dfi.wi.gov, confirmed October 2026
  19. NJ Division of Revenue, Business Formation service at njportal.com, confirmed October 2026
  20. NJ Division of Revenue, fee schedule at nj.gov, confirmed October 2026
  21. Public Records Filing for New Business Entity at nj.gov, confirmed October 2026
  22. New Jersey Revised Uniform LLC Act at pub.njleg.gov, confirmed October 2026
  23. NJ Annual Reports and Change Services at njportal.com, confirmed October 2026
  24. Louisiana Secretary of State, forms and fee schedule at sos.la.gov, confirmed October 2026
  25. Form 972, foreign LLC application at sos.la.gov, confirmed October 2026
  26. Fee schedule effective October 1, 2026 at static.sos.la.gov, confirmed October 2026
  27. R.S. 12:1345, application for authority at legis.la.gov, confirmed October 2026
  28. R.S. 12:1354, effect of failing to obtain authority at legis.la.gov, confirmed October 2026
  29. R.S. 12:1350, registered agent at legis.la.gov, confirmed October 2026
  30. Mainstay Filing: North Dakota service page as published on November 12, 2026
  31. North Dakota Registered Agent.co: pricing page as published on November 12, 2026
  32. ND Registered Agents.org: pricing page as published on November 12, 2026