North Dakota requires LLCs, corporations and other registered businesses to keep a registered agent with a physical North Dakota address. The agent can be a North Dakota resident (an owner or employee who lives in the state counts) or a commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, but the business cannot name itself. Changing a noncommercial agent costs $10 as of October 2026. Our pick is Mainstay Filing at $149 a year; ND Registered Agents.org is a budget alternative.
Updated October 2026.
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Best Registered Agents in North Dakota (2026)
If you’d rather not handle registered agent service in North Dakota yourself, these are the services we recommend, in order. The table compares price and what’s included.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Registered agent service with a flat renewal price | $149/year (renews at $149) | Registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost) |
| 2 | ND Registered Agents.org | North Dakota registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | North Dakota Registered Agent.co | North Dakota registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in North Dakota. It costs $149/year (renews at $149) and covers registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost). The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. ND Registered Agents.org
ND Registered Agents.org is a North Dakota registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. North Dakota Registered Agent.co
North Dakota Registered Agent.co is a North Dakota registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
North Dakota registered agent facts for 2026
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who must have one | Most registered entities, including LLCs and corporations (NDCC ch. 10-01.1) |
| Address | Physical address in North Dakota |
| Can the business serve as its own agent? | No, but an individual from the business who resides in North Dakota can |
| Agent consent | Required before you name the agent; proof is not filed |
| Fee to change a noncommercial agent or address | $10 |
| Commercial agent listing (paid by the agent) | $1,000 |
| LLC registration | $135 |
| LLC annual report | $50, due November 15 ($50 late fee) |
| Online portal | FirstStop |
Source: North Dakota Secretary of State Registered Agents and LLC pages, October 2026.
What is a registered agent in North Dakota?
The North Dakota Secretary of State describes a registered agent, also called a resident agent or statutory agent, as the party that accepts notifications of legal action, notices and demands for a business and passes them on. The rules sit in chapter 10-01.1 of the North Dakota Century Code.
The agent does not run the company and is not responsible for what it does. The Secretary of State says outright that serving as a registered agent does not make an individual liable for the organization’s actions. The role is about delivery: making sure the people who need to see a lawsuit or official notice actually see it, quickly.
Commercial vs. noncommercial registered agents in North Dakota
North Dakota sorts agents into two groups, and the difference affects your paperwork.
Commercial registered agent A commercial registered agent has filed a listing with the Secretary of State, which costs the agent $1,000. Listed agents appear in the FirstStop portal. When you choose one, you only enter its name; you do not need to supply its address. A commercial agent can be:
- An individual residing in North Dakota
- A North Dakota or out-of-state corporation registered with the Secretary of State and having a business office in North Dakota
- A North Dakota or out-of-state LLC registered with the Secretary of State and having a business office in North Dakota
Noncommercial registered agent Any eligible person or company that is not on the commercial list serves as a noncommercial agent. The same three categories qualify. If the noncommercial agent is a corporation or LLC, it must be authorized to transact business in North Dakota, have a physical North Dakota address and be in good standing. Your filing must include the agent’s complete North Dakota street address.
Can you be your own registered agent in North Dakota?
Partly. North Dakota does not let a business serve as its own registered agent. An owner, manager or employee who lives in North Dakota can, however, be named personally as the noncommercial agent.
Before you put your own name down, weigh the trade-offs:
- Cost: nothing beyond your time.
- Privacy: your North Dakota street address is listed on the public record in FirstStop.
- Availability: you need to be reachable at that address to accept papers. Seasonal work, travel and remote job sites make that harder.
- Residency: owners who live in Minnesota, Montana or anywhere else outside North Dakota are not eligible and need a resident or a commercial agent.
The Secretary of State also requires you to get any agent’s approval before naming them, and warns that naming an agent without approval may lead to involuntary dissolution of the business.
What does it cost to change your registered agent in North Dakota?
A statement of change of noncommercial registered agent or address costs $10, according to the North Dakota Secretary of State as of October 2026. Resigning as a noncommercial registered agent carries no fee, and service of process on the Secretary of State (used when no agent can be found) costs $25.
If a commercial agent moves its office, it files one $10 statement of change that updates the address for every business it represents, so its clients do not need to file anything.
For the bigger picture of what a North Dakota LLC costs to form and keep in good standing, see Mainstay’s North Dakota LLC cost guide.
Steps to change a registered agent in North Dakota
- Pick the new agent and get its approval. North Dakota does not ask you to file proof, but it does require consent.
- Sign in to FirstStop, the Secretary of State’s online portal.
- Find your business and start a statement of change for the registered agent.
- For a commercial agent, choose its name from the listing. For a noncommercial agent, enter the name and full North Dakota physical address.
- Pay the $10 fee and submit.
- Confirm the update with a FirstStop business search.
The annual report, due November 15 for LLCs, is also a good checkpoint: make sure the agent listed there is still correct.
More help with a North Dakota business
- Forming a company? Follow our guide to starting an LLC in North Dakota, or the broader North Dakota business startup guide
- Check name availability with our walkthrough of the North Dakota business name search
- Read our explainer on what a registered agent is and why every state requires one
- Brainstorm a company name with the business name generator
- Check whether the matching domain and social handles are free on namechk
FAQs
Does a North Dakota LLC need a registered agent?
Yes. North Dakota requires LLCs, corporations and most other registered businesses to keep a registered agent with a physical address in the state, under chapter 10-01.1 of the North Dakota Century Code. The agent is named when the LLC registers through FirstStop and must stay current. The business must also get the agent’s approval before naming it.
Can I be my own registered agent in North Dakota?
You can if you personally reside in North Dakota, serving as a noncommercial registered agent. The business itself cannot be its own agent. Your North Dakota street address becomes public, and you need to be available to accept legal papers. Owners living outside North Dakota must appoint a resident or a commercial registered agent.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in North Dakota?
The North Dakota Secretary of State charges $10 for a statement of change of noncommercial registered agent or address, as of October 2026. Resignation by a noncommercial agent is free. The change is filed online through FirstStop. Any new agent’s annual service fee is separate from the state filing fee.
What is a commercial registered agent in North Dakota?
A commercial registered agent is a person or company that has paid $1,000 to be included in the Secretary of State’s commercial registered agent listing. Listed agents appear in FirstStop, and businesses naming one only enter the agent’s name, not its address. Commercial agents must reside in North Dakota or have a business office there.
Is a North Dakota registered agent liable for the business?
No. The North Dakota Secretary of State states that serving as a registered agent does not make an individual liable for the actions of the organization it represents. The agent’s job is limited to accepting legal notices, demands and service of process and forwarding them to the business promptly.
What happens if my North Dakota registered agent resigns?
The agent files a statement of resignation with the Secretary of State, naming the business and the address where it will promptly send notice of the resignation to you. There is no fee for a noncommercial agent to resign. Once notified, the business should name a new agent through FirstStop, which costs $10 for the statement of change.
When is the North Dakota LLC annual report due?
North Dakota LLCs file their annual report by November 15 each year, and the fee is $50 according to the Secretary of State’s LLC page as of October 2026. The report is filed through FirstStop and is a good time to confirm that your registered agent information is still accurate.
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