Skip to content
LLC Q and AOne question, one reply, one source.

Short reply · North Dakota

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in North Dakota (2026): The Quick Answer

Best foreign registration services in North Dakota for 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199), North Dakota Registered Agent.co ($199) and ND Registered Agents.org ($199), ranked in that order. State fee: $135. Services over three years: $397 to $497.

LLC Q and A editorial team ·

Quick answers

State registration fee
$135
Home-state certificate?
Required
After registering
$50, annual report
Pick
Mainstay Filing, North Dakota Registered Agent.co then ND Registered Agents.org

North Dakota ranking

Scoring is explained on the method page.
1#1 pick

1. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in several states

Service $199 plus $135 to the state; agent renewal $149

Reason for Mainstay Filing at the top: $199 in every state, with the first registered agent year included.

The $100 premium over North Dakota Registered Agent.co across three years buys coverage outside North Dakota.

No registered agent fee in year one; $149 a year from year two.

Price covers

  • Registration filing
  • Registered agent, no charge in year one
  • One fee for all fifty states

For

  • $199 plus North Dakota's fee
  • First agent year covered
  • Ready for state number three

Against

  • Agent renews at $149, $50 above North Dakota Registered Agent.co
Mainstay Filing sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2North Dakota only

2. North Dakota Registered Agent.co: best for one extra state

Service $199 plus $135 to the state; agent renewal $99

North Dakota Registered Agent.co ranks second since $199 files the registration and the agent renews at $99.

Price covers

  • Foreign filing handled
  • First-year agent included

For

  • First agent year comes with it
  • $199 to register
  • $99/yr from year two

Against

  • North Dakota only; home state needs another agent
North Dakota Registered Agent.co sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3North Dakota only

3. ND Registered Agents.org: best for one more state only

Service $199 plus $135 to the state; agent renewal $99

ND Registered Agents.org ranks third since $199 files the registration and the agent renews at $99.

Price for price a tie with North Dakota Registered Agent.co.

Price covers

  • Foreign filing handled
  • First-year agent included

For

  • First agent year comes with it
  • $99/yr from year two
  • $199 to register

Against

  • North Dakota only; home state needs another agent
ND Registered Agents.org sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Side by side

#ServiceYear 1Renewal3-year costIncludes
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497registration filing; registered agent, no charge in year one; one fee for all fifty statesMainstay Filing sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2North Dakota Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397foreign filing handled; First-year agent includedNorth Dakota Registered Agent.co sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3ND Registered Agents.org$199$99/yr$397foreign filing handled; First-year agent includedND Registered Agents.org sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read November 13, 2026; three years = year one + two renewals.

Questions and replies

Must my LLC register here?

Register with the North Dakota Secretary of State first; do business in North Dakota second.

sos.nd.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

Cost to register?

State fee $135; add $199 if someone files for you.

Three-year state total, registration included: $235. sos.nd.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

Which form, filed where?

Once the North Dakota Secretary of State accepts the Application for a Certificate of Authority (foreign limited liability company), the LLC is registered.

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

What is due after registering?

A recurring annual report, at $50.

Due: November 15.

What decided #1?

Chores removed from your list (26%) goes to Mainstay Filing.

62% of the total is three-year price plus chores removed from your list.

Two states in play, so a provider for all states outranks North Dakota Registered Agent.co.

Method

North Dakota registration requirements

RequirementRule or amountOfficial page
Registration fee$135sos.nd.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Good standing certificateRequiredsos.nd.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Annual report$50sos.nd.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
State fees, 3 years$235Total of the rows above
The last row adds the filing, two reports and any minimum tax. Variable costs are explained in the text and left out of the sum.

More replies

Is an agent needed at home too?

Yes. Each state has its own rule. Mainstay Filing serves both from one account.

What do the picks cost over three years?

Mainstay Filing will run $497, North Dakota Registered Agent.co will run $397, ND Registered Agents.org will run $397, services only.

Are the fees official?

State fees come from North Dakota's official documents. Service prices come from each company's price page. Both are dated here.

Do I have to hire one?

No law requires a service; it is a paid convenience.

Does a service file it?

All of them do; only the service fee differs.

Who ranks first in North Dakota?

Mainstay Filing, because you pay $199 plus North Dakota's fee, nothing for the registered agent in year one, then $149 a year. Then North Dakota Registered Agent.co and ND Registered Agents.org.

Sources

  1. Reference line for North Dakota Secretary of State, drawn from sos.nd.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  2. Reference line for North Dakota Secretary of State, drawn from sos.nd.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  3. Reference line for North Dakota report due date, drawn from ndlegis.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  4. Reference line for North Dakota formation fee: Filing, drawn from sos.nd.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  5. Reference line for North Dakota registered agent statute, drawn from ndlegis.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  6. Reference line for Secretary of State, registered agents, drawn from sos.nd.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  7. Reference line for Secretary of State, business services, drawn from sos.nd.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  8. Price page: Mainstay Filing North Dakota service page, accessed November 13, 2026
  9. Price page: North Dakota Registered Agent.co pricing page, accessed November 13, 2026
  10. Price page: ND Registered Agents.org pricing page, accessed November 13, 2026