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Biz Formation Report

Rankings of registered agents, LLC formation and foreign registration services in all 50 states.

Foreign registration report · North Dakota

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in North Dakota (2026)

By the Biz Formation Report editorial team

Biz Formation Report ranks foreign registration services in North Dakota for 2026 as Mainstay Filing ($199), ND Registered Agents.org ($199) and North Dakota Registered Agent.co ($199), in that order. Mainstay Filing earns the top grade: $199 plus the state's fee, with the registered agent free for year one and one price in every state.

No.1

Top pick on this page

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies registered in several states

Score9.3out of 10
A $199 service fee and the state fee ($334 today), then the agent at $149

Top grade, Mainstay Filing: the North Dakota registration is filed for $199, and the registered agent is free in year one, then $149 a year.

There is no agent charge in year one; after that it is $149 a year in every state.

Over three years Mainstay costs $100 more than ND Registered Agents.org; our grading treats the broader coverage as worth that.

What you get

  • Preparation and filing of the registration documents
  • The first year as your registered agent, at no cost
  • Free scan-and-upload of served papers within the same business day

Good

  • Registered agent at no cost in year one
  • $199 service fee plus the state's fee
  • Served papers scanned within the same business day, free
  • One price across all fifty states

Weak spots

  • The agent renews at $149, $50 more than ND Registered Agents.org
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Mainstay Filing review
No.2

Best value here

2. ND Registered Agents.org: best for companies adding North Dakota alone

Score8.8out of 10
A $199 service fee and the state fee, then the agent at $99

Second grade, ND Registered Agents.org: the North Dakota registration for $199 with year-one agent service included, then $99 a year.

The plan seats the company at an in-state street address and posts scans of papers served there to your online account.

What you get

  • Filing with the state
  • Year-one registered agent service

Good

  • $199 service fee, state fee added
  • The first year as your registered agent is included
  • Agent at $99 a year after year one

Weak spots

  • Serves North Dakota only; the home state still needs its own agent
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit ND Registered Agents.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the ND Registered Agents.org review
No.3

Best for a North Dakota-only company

3. North Dakota Registered Agent.co: best for registering in North Dakota only

Score8.5out of 10
$199 service fee and the state fee on top; the agent is $99 annually from year two

Third grade, North Dakota Registered Agent.co: the North Dakota registration for $199 with year-one agent service included, then $99 a year.

The plan seats the company at an in-state street address and posts scans of papers served there to your online account.

The two state services, ND Registered Agents.org and North Dakota Registered Agent.co, match on price and features, and the order between them is a narrow call.

What you get

  • Filing with the state
  • Year-one registered agent service

Good

  • The first year as your registered agent is included
  • Registration costs $199 before the state fee
  • Agent at $99 a year after year one

Weak spots

  • Serves North Dakota only; the home state still needs its own agent
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit North Dakota Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the North Dakota Registered Agent.co review

Summary of the 3 grades

RankProviderGradeService feeYear twoBest fitSite
1Mainstay Filing9.3$199$149/yrCompanies with a presence in several statesVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2ND Registered Agents.org8.8$199$99/yrThe lowest agent renewal we rank hereVisit ND Registered Agents.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3North Dakota Registered Agent.co8.5$199$99/yrThe lowest agent renewal we rank hereVisit North Dakota Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Each grade out of 10 comes from Biz Formation Report's editors and the weighted criteria on How we rank; no customer ratings are involved.

North Dakota foreign registration service prices, 2026: year one, renewal and three-year outlay

ProviderYear 1Year 2Year 3Three-year outlayYear-one agent covered
Mainstay Filing$199$149$149$497Free
ND Registered Agents.org$199$99$99$397Included
North Dakota Registered Agent.co$199$99$99$397Included

All prices were taken from the companies' own websites on November 12, 2026. North Dakota's $135 registration fee is payable on top of each row and is not part of these totals.

The basis for the order

Biz Formation Report grades three-year bill and what the money buys at 32% each, leaving 36% for renewal handling, local rules match and pricing openness. In North Dakota, what the money buys settled the order.

Foreign registration always involves two states, and one provider with one price in both graded best on coverage, ahead of ND Registered Agents.org.

Every criterion and weight is listed on How we rank.

North Dakota foreign LLC registration: fee, document and filing office

To register, the outside company submits the Application for a Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company) to the North Dakota Secretary of State, with a state fee of $135. North Dakota also wants certificate of status, good standing or existence from the home-state filing office.

After registration the company owes the annual report ($50), due November 15.

Documents to have on hand

  • Certificate of status, good standing or existence from the home-state filing office.
  • The legal name as recorded in the home state, and the date of formation.
  • An in-state registered agent; any provider in this report can serve.
  • Payment of the $135 state fee with the filing.
  • The due date of the annual report and its $50 fee, noted in your calendar.

North Dakota foreign registration service: common questions

Must an LLC from another state register with North Dakota?

Yes, as soon as it transacts business there.

How much does North Dakota foreign registration cost?

$135 goes to the state and $199 to the service.

Does North Dakota demand proof of good standing from the home state?

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

Is a registered agent still needed after foreign registration?

Yes. A registered agent with a street address in the state has to remain on file.

Which foreign registration services does this report rank?

Mainstay Filing ($199), ND Registered Agents.org ($199) and North Dakota Registered Agent.co ($199), in descending order of grade.

What is the best foreign registration service for North Dakota?

Mainstay Filing: $199 added to the state fee in any state, with a year of registered agent service included.

Related pages

Source notes

  1. North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Division (verified August 2026)
  2. North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Division (verified August 2026)
  3. North Dakota report due date (verified August 2026)
  4. North Dakota formation fee: Filing fee, official source (verified October 2026)
  5. North Dakota registered agent statute (verified October 2026)
  6. Secretary of State, registered agents (verified October 2026)
  7. Secretary of State, business services (verified October 2026)
  8. Pulled November 12, 2026: Mainstay Filing, North Dakota service page
  9. Pulled November 12, 2026: ND Registered Agents.org, pricing and service pages
  10. Pulled November 12, 2026: North Dakota Registered Agent.co, pricing and service pages