North Dakota lesson 3 of 6
File the Articles of Organization
The document that creates a North Dakota LLC is the Articles of Organization, filed with the Secretary of State for a $135 fee, most commonly through FirstStop.
What the filing asks for
The Articles of Organization cover the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office address, and whether it will be member-managed or manager-managed. A general purpose statement is normally sufficient.
- Members and managers are not required to be listed individually on the Articles
- The organizer filing the document does not need to be an owner of the LLC
- FirstStop requires an account before you can submit the filing online
Fee and filing route
The standard filing fee is $135. Filing through FirstStop is the most direct route and lets you track your filing status online. Mailed paper filings to Bismarck are also accepted. Check the Secretary of State's fee schedule for current processing times before you file.
After approval
Keep your confirmation and entity identification number, since the Tax Commissioner's office and your bank will both reference it. North Dakota does not require an operating agreement to be filed with the state, but adopting one internally is what actually governs ownership, voting and distributions rather than relying on default statutory rules under NDCC 10-32.1.
Key takeaways
- The Articles of Organization costs $135, filed with the Secretary of State.
- FirstStop is the most direct filing route and lets you track status online.
- An operating agreement is not filed with the state but is worth adopting internally.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to live in North Dakota to form a North Dakota LLC?
No. There is no residency requirement for members or managers. Only the registered agent must have a physical North Dakota street address.
Is an operating agreement required in North Dakota?
It is not filed with the Secretary of State, but it is the internal document that governs ownership, voting and distributions, and banks commonly ask to see one.
Official sources
Or let us file your North Dakota LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization, act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team