The right registered agent can help you and your business in numerous ways, but finding a professional service you can trust can be a challenge. To help you out, we did the research and selected the best North Dakota registered agent services that offer everything you’ll need and suit different budgets.Â
If you don’t want to read through every single recommendation, don’t worry – our summary table below contains an overview of all the features and pricing of our top three recommendations.
Best North Dakota Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | North Carolina Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| IncFile | $119 a year / first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Fargo |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Bismarck |
| AAA North Dakota Registered Agent LLC | $30 a year | Fargo |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Bismarck |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Fargo |
| North Dakota Registered Agent | $49 a year | Fargo |
| Registered Agents Inc. | $200 a year | Not stated |
| Registered Agent Net | $89 a year | Not stated |
In addition to our recommendations, we’ll cover how to register your business in North Dakota and answer more questions in the FAQ section at the end.
But first, let’s see what the role of a registered agent is.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent is an individual or a company that has an obligation to accept all the documents and legal correspondence on behalf of your business, and then forward it to you.
Does North Dakota Require a Registered Agent Service?
The answer is yes – every business in North Dakota is required to designate and maintain a registered agent for their business.
Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent Service
Here are the benefits you can experience if you hire a registered agent service:
- You will have increased privacy and you won’t risk getting sued in front of your clients;
- You can maintain flexible business hours and travel without worrying about missing a document;
- You can easily expand your business across multiple states;
- You will always remain compliant with your state and won’t risk getting fined;
- You will maintain a clean business image;
1. IncFile
Our best overall pick for the best North Dakota registered agent services is IncFile. With over 800,000 happy customers, your business will remain in good hands and you’ll never have to risk being fined. Their registered agent service will grant you access to the following benefits:
- You’ll receive all your important correspondence in due time
- Tailored email and text notifications
- Automatic mail forwarding
- Access to all your correspondence on your personal dashboard
Another thing worth mentioning is their user-friendly interface that’s perfectly suitable for business owners who’re using registered agent services for the first time.
You can get a year of registered agent services for free if you purchase IncFile’s formation package. Otherwise, their yearly fee is $119. There are zero hidden fees and contracts and they’re one of the most affordable services on our list.
In addition to offering registered agent services, you can also hire IncFile for:
- Trademarking
- EIN Number
- Tax consultations
- Certificate of good standing
- Foreign qualification
- Virtual address
- Amendment
- Business licenses and permits
2. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness provide everything you need from a registered agent service. They’ve gained the trust and helped over 300,000 customers remain compliant with their business. Their registered agent service offer includes:
- Expert handling of all your documents
- Mail forwarding
- Email notifications
- Document scanning
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Fast turnaround
Other perks we love are the easy set-up process and navigation of their website.
In addition, they ensure that entrepreneurs across the United States remain supported thanks to their $5K Grant initiative, which allows entrepreneurs to get up to $5,000 in funding for their businesses.
Their yearly fee is $199 a year. You also have the option to upgrade the registered agent service to get access to two free filing changes a year and annual support alerts.
Other services offered by ZenBusiness include:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Annual reports
- Operating agreement
- Domain name and website
- EIN Number
- Banking and finances
- Taxes and accounting
- Business license reports
- Worry-free compliance
3. Northwest
Northwest is one of the most popular registered agent services across the United States. Known for their outstanding customer support, they’re an excellent option if you’re looking for both affordability and a comprehensive list of tools. Their registered agent service comes with:
- Document storage
- Pre-filled state forms
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report reminders
- Scanned documents
- Compliance alerts
Considering you can access all these tools for only $125, Northwest is definitely worth considering.
Besides the abovementioned perks, you’ll also get a free compliance calendar during your first year.
Northwest delivers an impeccable customer support experience through their Corporate Guides – a dedicated team of experts who are always prepared to help you with any issue that might arise.
And if that wasn’t enough, if you hire Northwest as your registered agent in five or more states, you get access to a multi-year discount, which lowers their yearly fee only $100.
Their North Dakota office is located in Fargo.
Northwest also offer the following services:
- Mail forwarding
- Phone service
- Foreign qualification
- Annual report filings
- Payment processing
- Trademarking
- Virtual office
4. LegalZoom
One of the most reputable names in the industry, LegalZoom offer a myriad of legal services that could massively help your business in addition to a top-notch registered agent service, which includes:
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Mail alerts
- Annual report reminders
- $1M in identity theft protection
Another reason to opt for LegalZoom is their offer to change your current registered agent for free and cover any fees in the process.
Overall, they’re an excellent option if you have a larger business and are worried about identity theft and IP protection.
Their yearly fee is $299, making them one of the most expensive options in our guide. However, if you purchase their business formation package, the first year will cost you only $249.
Here are all the legal services offered by LegalZoom:
- Incorporation
- Trademarking
- Business registration
- Foreign qualification
- Annual reports
- Taxation
- Residential lease
- Copyright
- Business formation
- EIN Number
- Power of attorney
5. CSC Global
CSC Global offer everything you’ll ever need from a North Dakota registered agent service, including:
- Electronic delivery of documents
- Annual compliance reminders
- Access to SOC-2 facilities
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
- Same-day document scans
Additionally, you’ll get access to their SOC-2 technology, which will ensure that your data remains protected from third parties.
While their pricing is slightly higher ($381 a year), just like LegalZoom, they’re an incredible option for larger businesses that can afford to pay a slightly higher fee for a quality registered agent service.
Their North Dakota office is located in Bismarck.
CSC Global also offer:
- UCC
- Legal management
- Real estate and erecording
- Entity management
- Corporate filings
- Digital brand services
6. AAA North Dakota Registered Agent LLC
If you’re looking for an extremely affordable yet efficient registered agent for your North Dakota business, look no further than AAA North Dakota Registered Agent LLC. Their registered agent package includes:
- Compliance notifications
- Instant SOP
- Great customer service
It’s the most affordable option on our list – their annual fee is only $30!
Their North Dakota office is located in Fargo.
In addition to registered agent services, they also offer LLC formation and incorporation.
7. InCorp
InCorp is a reliable and cost-efficient registered agent service that offers a great deal for those who want a multi-year service. Their offer comes with the following perks:
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report filings
- Access to their Entity Management System
- Legal notifications
They have utilized their EntityWatch technology to ensure that your business remains protected against identity theft, and that you receive up-to-date information regarding the status of your filings.
A year of registered agent services with InCorp will cost you $129. However, with their multi-year deal, your fee can be as low as $87.
Their North Dakota address is located in Bismarck.
InCorp also offer the following services:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- EIN Number
- DBA Filing
- UCC search
- Foreign qualification
- Articles of amendment
- Apostille service
- Trademarking
- Copyright
8. Harbor Compliance
Join over 35,000 customers in experiencing the perks of having Harbor Compliance as your registered agent. For only $99, your business will get access to:
- Pre-filled state forms
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
- Annual report reminders
- Customizable notifications
Since they’re known for their rapid processing speed, you’ll never have to worry about missing any important deadlines.
Customers also appreciate how user-friendly their software is.
Harbor Compliance’s yearly fee is $99, but you can get an additional 10% discount if you use their registered agent services for multiple years.
Their North Dakota office is located in Fargo.
Other services offered by Harbor Compliance include:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Amendments
- Business licenses
- Registration
9. North Dakota Registered Agent
Another excellent option for an affordable North Dakota registered agent service is North Dakota Registered Agent. For the price of $49, you can enjoy the following perks:
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Online document storage
- Annual report reminders
- Email notifications
Don’t be fooled by the affordable pricing – with North Dakota Registered Agent, you’ll never have to worry about hidden fees or unplanned costs.
Their North Dakota office is located in Fargo.
On top of registered agent services, they also offer:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Filing services
10. Registered Agent Inc.
Registered Agent Inc. is a nationwide registered agent service that covers all the basics a business will need to remain compliant throughout the year. They include tools such as:
- Access to a Corporate Accounts Portal
- Professional filer tips
- Compliance reminders
- Digital notifications
Another perk you’ll get to enjoy if you hire Registered Agent Inc. is the intuitive design of their website.
Their registered agent services cost $200 a year.
You can also hire them for:
- BOC-3 Process Agent Service
- Incorporation services
- Start-up formation
11. Registered Agent Net
Last but not least, Registered Agent Net delivers an outstanding service for just $89 a year. Their registered agent service will give you access to:
- A Compliance Calendar and a Compliance Entity Manager
- Two-year price guarantee
- Same-day document delivery
With their compliance tools, you can track all your important due dates to ensure that you’re never at risk of getting fined. Before any due date, you will be notified via email.
Not only does their registered agent service cost less than $100 and come with a two-year guarantee, but it also comes with no hidden fees or auto-renewals. Â
How Do I Register a Business in North Dakota?
If you’re unsure of the required steps to register a business in North Dakota, here’s a brief overview of all the mandatory steps.
Decide on a Name for Your Business
Assuming you’ve already come up with a business idea, the first step to registering a business in North Dakota is choosing its name.Â
There are a few things you should keep in mind when it comes to this step. For starters, it’s useful to do an online business entity search on the North Dakota Secretary of State Website since your name must be unique.
If you think you’ll spend a while sorting through all the formation documents, consider reserving your name for 12 months on the North Dakota Secretary of State website.
Choose Your Business Structure
Another important decision you’ll have to make at the start of the formation process is choosing your business structure. There are four main business structures to consider:
Each of these entities comes with different obligations with the state and requires a different starting/maintenance budget, so carefully consider this since it will impact all succeeding steps.
File Articles of Organization
If creating an LLC is your goal, you’ll need to file articles of organization with the North Dakota state. This is a mandatory step that includes submitting a document to the state that contains crucial information about your business and your registered agent.
The cost of filing articles of organization is $125.
File Articles of Incorporation
If, on the other hand, forming a corporation is more up your street, your obligation with the state will be to file articles of incorporation. This document has a similar purpose to articles of organization, with added information about the stocks of the business.
The cost of filing articles of incorporation is $100.
Apply for Licenses and Permits
North Dakota doesn’t require businesses to have a general business license.
With that said, almost every business will have to obtain a regulatory or a professional license or permit, depending on which industry it’s in.
If your business includes selling goods in North Dakota, you’ll be required to obtain a sales and use tax from the North Dakota Office of the State Tax Commissioner.
If you’re not sure about what licenses you’re required to obtain depending on your industry/location, check out the State of North Dakota Licensing Information website.
Get an Employee Identification Number
The last step of registering your business with the North Dakota state is to apply for an EIN on the IRS website. The application is easy to fill and it doesn’t have a filing fee.
Only businesses that have hired employees or are taxed separately from their owners are required by law to obtain an EIN, however, all businesses would benefit from having one. For instance, it can prevent identity theft, add credibility to your business, and help you open a business bank account.
FAQs
Where Can I Do a North Dakota Business Entity Search?
You can do a North Dakota business entity search on the North Dakota Secretary of State Website.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in North Dakota?
The cost of registering a corporation in North Dakota is $100, whereas LLCs cost $135.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed reading about our recommendations for the best North Dakota registered agent services!
Our top three recommendations are IncFile, ZenBusiness, and Northwest. Each of these registered agents comes with a comprehensive set of compliance tools, including mail forwarding, document scans, and an online dashboard, which will help you seamlessly keep track of your due dates and state obligations.
If you don’t have the budget to spend $100 or more annually on a registered agent, check out our under $100 North Dakota registered agent recommendations, AAA North Dakota Registered Agent LLC and North Dakota Registered Agent.
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