The essentials · North Dakota
3 Best Foreign Registration Services in North Dakota (2026): Simply Ranked
The short version
- Registration fee
- $135
- Certificate from home?
- Yes
- After registering
- $50, annual report
- Our pick
- Mainstay Filing, North Dakota Registered Agent.co then ND Registered Agents.org
Ranked in North Dakota
The order follows five checks. Three-year cost comes first, then what the price covers. See method.1. Mainstay Filing: best for adding more states
$199 plus the state fee, then $149 a year
Mainstay Filing ranks first in North Dakota. North Dakota's fee plus $199 gets you registered, with no registered agent bill until year two.
The $100 extra over North Dakota Registered Agent.co across three years pays for coverage outside North Dakota.
From year two the registered agent renews at $149.
Includes
- Registration, filed
- Registered agent, free in year one
- The same price anywhere
Good
- No registered agent fee in year one
- $199 plus North Dakota's fee
- The same fee in every state
Against
- Agent renews at $149, $50 above North Dakota Registered Agent.co
2. North Dakota Registered Agent.co: best for adding only this state
$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year
Second place: North Dakota Registered Agent.co, since it charges $199 with first-year agent service included, then $99 a year.
Includes
- North Dakota registration filing
- Agent for year one
Good
- $199 to register
- Renewal $99
- A free agent year at the start
Against
- North Dakota only. The home state needs another agent
3. ND Registered Agents.org: best for another local option
$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year
Third place: ND Registered Agents.org, since it charges $199 with first-year agent service included, then $99 a year.
Price for price, a tie with North Dakota Registered Agent.co.
Includes
- North Dakota registration filing
- Agent for year one
Good
- $199 to register
- Renewal $99
- A free agent year at the start
Against
- North Dakota only. The home state needs another agent
Side by side
| # | Company | Start | After year one | Total | Includes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | Registration, filed; registered agent, free in year one; the same price anywhere | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | North Dakota Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | North Dakota registration filing; agent for year one | Visit North Dakota Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | ND Registered Agents.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | North Dakota registration filing; agent for year one | Visit ND Registered Agents.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Key questions
Must my LLC register here?
Registration comes first. Business in North Dakota comes second.
sos.nd.gov as of October 2026, our only source here
How much to register?
Budget $135 for the state and $199 for help.
Over three years state fees reach $235, counting any recurring report. sos.nd.gov as of October 2026, our only source here
What registers the LLC?
The Application for a Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company) goes to the North Dakota Secretary of State. One filing registers the LLC.
Include certificate of status, good standing or existence from the home-state filing office.
Is there a filing that repeats?
Expect the annual report ($50).
Date set by the state: November 15.
Why this order?
Mainstay Filing scores best on work included, which is 27% of the score.
Five checks: three-year cost (38%), work included (27%), readable pricing (13%), renewal steadiness (11%) and state coverage (11%).
North Dakota Registered Agent.co covers North Dakota only. The home state needs someone else.
What North Dakota requires to register
| Item | Rule or amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee | $135 | sos.nd.gov as of October 2026, our only source here |
| Home-state certificate | Yes | sos.nd.gov as of October 2026, our only source here |
| Annual report | $50 | sos.nd.gov as of October 2026, our only source here |
| State fees, three years | $235 | The rows above, added |
Questions
Do I still need an agent at home?
Yes, in most cases. A provider active in every state, such as Mainstay Filing, can cover home and this state together.
What do the picks cost over three years?
Across three years: Mainstay Filing at $497, North Dakota Registered Agent.co at $397, ND Registered Agents.org at $397, services only.
Where do the figures come from?
Official North Dakota sources for the state side. Published prices for the service side.
Does the law require one?
Not required. The state takes filings from owners.
Does a service file it for me?
Yes. Every pick files it, and the state fee is the same for all.
Which foreign registration service should I use in North Dakota?
Mainstay Filing ranks first. It pairs a $199 service fee with a free first registered agent year, then $149 yearly. After it, North Dakota Registered Agent.co and ND Registered Agents.org.
References
- Entry for North Dakota Secretary of State: read at sos.nd.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for North Dakota Secretary of State: read at sos.nd.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for North Dakota report due date: read at ndlegis.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for North Dakota formation fee: Filing: read at sos.nd.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for North Dakota registered agent statute: read at ndlegis.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Secretary of State, registered agents: read at sos.nd.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Secretary of State, business services: read at sos.nd.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Mainstay Filing North Dakota service page, read November 13, 2026
- North Dakota Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026
- ND Registered Agents.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026