There are three ways to incorporate your business in North Dakota:
- Hire a lawyer to do the job for you (the most expensive option)
- Walk in to the Secretary of State office and do it by yourself
- Use a professional incorporation company, like Active Filings.
North Dakota Articles of Incorporation Requirements
The Articles of Incorporation is the formation document you file with the North Dakota Secretary of State to register your corporation with the state (LLCs file Articles of Organization). In North Dakota, you can file Articles of Incorporation by mail, fax or in person (it will take the SOS 30 days to process your filing). If you hire Active Filings to incorporate your business, we are authorized to file online with the state, and we’ll form your LLC or corporation in 1 business day.
To complete your North Dakota Articles of Incorporation, you’ll need to include the following information:
| Company Name | Must be in English language or any other language expressed in English letters or characters; must contain word “corporation”, “incorporated”, “limited”, or “company” or an abbreviation thereof; may not contain word that implies that it is incorporated for a purpose other than business purpose for which a corporation may be incorporated; may not be the same, or deceptively similar to, name of a domestic or foreign corporation or limited liability company or limited partnership or any reserved name, registered fictitious name or trade name unless consent had been given. |
| Company Purpose | List the reason for forming the corporation or the business/activity which the corporation will engage in. |
| Authorized Shares | List the number of shares of corporate stock you are currently authorizing. Technically, this is when you “create” your stock (more can always be authorized later), and that stock will be issued to your shareholders at your first shareholder meeting. |
| Registered Agent Information | In North Dakota, a registered agent (also known as a resident agent) is an individual or business that serves as your company’s official point of contact for lawsuits and legal notices. As part of Active Filings’ incorporation service, we include a year of registered agent service when you hire us to incorporate your business in North Dakota. |
| Names and Addresses of the Incorporators | The incorporator is the person or company authorized to form the corporation. For example, if you hired us, we would list ourselves as the incorporator. The incorporator does not have any stake in or claim to the corporation being formed. |
Director Information
| Minimum Number | One or more |
| Residence Requirements | No provision |
| Age Requirements | Eighteen or older |
| Articles of Incorporation | Directors are required to be listed |
Officer Information
| Articles of Incorporation | Officers are not required to be listed |
Stock Information
An increase in the shares may cause an increase in the initial filing fee.
Yearly Requirements
Annual Statements
Domestic corporations and foreign corporations authorized to transact business in North Carolina must file an annual report with the Secretary of State within 60 days following the last day of the month in which the corporation was incorporated (or received a certificate of authority). Filing fee, $10.
Income Tax Rate
First $3,000 of taxable income, 3%; $3,000 to $8,000, 4 1/2%, $8,000 to $20,000, 6%; $20,000 to $30,000, 7 1/2%; $30,000 to $50,000, 9%; over $50,000, 10 1/2%.
For more information on taxes, visit www.state.nd.us/taxdpt
When you hire Active Filings to incorporate your business in North Dakota, you’ll receive everything you need to track and maintain your company, this includes:
- Free expedited service
- One year of registered agent service
- An online account where you can add additional services, track orders, maintenance requirements and digital notifications.