North Dakota Secretary of State

Please Note

We are a service company that can help you file with the North Dakota Secretary of State. We are not associated with this nor any other government agency. We offer paid services and software to help you file. You are not required to purchase our service to file - you may file directly with this agency without using our service.

Contact Information

Mailing address:
600 E. Boulevard Ave. Dept. 108
1st Floor
Bismarck, ND 58505

Phone: 701-328-2900 Toll Free: 800-352-0867 TTY: 800-366-6888
Fax: 701-328-0106

Web: Home Name search Forms File online
Email: sosbir@nd.gov

Licenses

We track the following licenses with the North Dakota Secretary of State in order to provide compliance services to our clients. As a client, you see this and other reference data in License Manager in-line with your licenses.

A laptop placed on a desk with our License Manager software on display

North Dakota Charitable Organization Registration

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Law:

North Dakota Century Code, Ch. 50-22

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

One-Time Exemption Registration

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • An organization that solicits funds for an institution of higher learning
  • A private or public elementary or secondary school
  • An organization that uses only volunteer unpaid fundraisers and that solicits funds for a political subdivision or other government entity or for a civic or community project in which the contributions received are used solely for the project and none of the contributions inure to the benefit of any individual
  • A charitable organization or person that solicits contributions for any person specified by name at the time of the solicitation if all the contributions received are transferred within a reasonable time after receipt to the person named or that person's parent, guardian, or conservator with no restriction on their expenditure and with no deduction
  • A religious society or organization that is exempt from filing a federal annual information return pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 6033(a)(2)(A) (i) and (iii) [26 U.S.C. 6033(a)(2)(A)(i) and (iii)] or Internal Revenue Code section 6033(a)(2)(C)(i) [26 U.S.C. 6033(a)(2)(C)(i)]
  • Any candidate for national, state, or local elective office or political party or
    other committee required to file information with the federal election
    commission, a state election commission, or an equivalent office or agency.
Law:

NDCC § 50-22-01

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$25. Out-of-state nonprofits will also incur fees to qualify and appoint a registered agent.

Turnaround:

4-6 weeks

Notes:
  • One officer must sign and it must be notarized.
  • Some North Dakota counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.
Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
  • Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in North Dakota.
  • Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
  • Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in North Dakota.
  • Obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 6 months old when filing foreign qualification documents.
  • Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. Create a FirstStop online account and file entity formation documents through the North Dakota Secretary of State.
  2. After entity approval, file a charitable organization registration using FirstStop.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Create a FirstStop online account and file foreign qualification documents through the North Dakota Secretary of State.
  2. After entity approval, file a charitable organization registration using FirstStop.
Required Attachments:

  • IRS form 990
  • IRS determination letter
  • List of officers and directors
  • Professional fundraising contracts
  • A list of officer and director compensation

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$10

Due:

Annually by September 1. If you initially apply in July or August, you get a waiver until the following September.

Due Date Extension:

Due dates can be extended for 90 days beyond the original due date by submitting an amendment through the online portal.

Required Attachments:

  • List of officers and directors
  • A list of officer and director compensation

Change of Fiscal Year

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$10

Notes:

Changes to the fiscal year of a charity can be reported through the online portal.

Cancellation

Notes:

To close out your registration, either file a final report with “Final” across the top of front page and submit it with a $10 filing fee (if you haven’t filed the charity annual report for this year yet) or simply send an e-mail requesting the cancellation (if you have already filed a report for this year).

North Dakota Class A Contractor License

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Law:

NDCC § 43-07-02

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Insurance Requirements:

A current certificate of liability insurance from the insurance provider verifying coverage is required. Contractors with employees must also have workers' compensation insurance.

Bond Requirements:

There is no bond requirement for this license.

Notes:

A class A license is required for contracts over $500,000.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$450

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$90

Due:

Annually by March 1

North Dakota Class B Contractor License

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Law:

NDCC § 43-07-02

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Insurance Requirements:

A current certificate of liability insurance from the insurance provider verifying coverage is required. Contractors with employees must also have workers' compensation insurance.

Bond Requirements:

There is no bond requirement for this license.

Notes:

A class B license is required for contracts valued between $300,000 and $500,000.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$300

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

Annually by March 1.

North Dakota Class C Contractor License

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Law:

NDCC § 43-07-02

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Insurance Requirements:

A current certificate of liability insurance from the insurance provider verifying coverage is required. Contractors with employees must also have workers' compensation insurance.

Bond Requirements:

There is no bond requirement for this license.

Notes:

A class C license is required for contracts valued between $100,000 and $300,000.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$225

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$45

Due:

Annually by March 1.

North Dakota Class D Contractor License

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Law:

NDCC § 43-07-02

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Insurance Requirements:

A current certificate of liability insurance from the insurance provider verifying coverage is required. Contractors with employees must also have workers' compensation insurance.

Bond Requirements:

There is no bond requirement for this license.

Notes:

A class D license is required for contracts of $100,000 or less.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$30

Due:

Annually by March 1.

North Dakota Entity Registration

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State

North Dakota Name Reservation

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State

Amendment of Reserved or Registered Name

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$10

Cancellation of Reserved or Registered Name

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$10

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$10

Notes:

Names are reserved for 12 months.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$10

Due:

Reserved names expire after 12 months.

Notes:

Filing a renewal extends the reservation for an additional 12 months.

North Dakota Professional Employer Organization License

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Law:

NDCC § 43-55-03

Eligible Entity Types:

  • Corporation
  • Sole Proprietorship
  • General Partnership
  • Limited Liability Company
  • Limited Partnership
  • Limited Liability Partnership
  • Limited Liability Limited Partnership
Bond Requirements:

PEOs must maintain a bond with a minimum value of the lesser amount of $100,000 or 5% of the total wages reported on the employer's quarterly contribution and wage report to job service North Dakota for the quarter ending immediately before the date submitted to the secretary of state.

Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Form SFN 58619: License Application

Agency Fee:

$1,000

Required Attachments:
  • Surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit
  • Quarterly Contribution and Wage Report or a letter from Job Service North Dakota stating that the applicant is not liable for unemployment insurance
  • Address of each office the professional employer organization maintains in North Dakota
  • List of the jurisdictions (states or countries) where the professional employer organization has operated in the preceding five years, including the business name used and any alternate names, previous names of predecessors, and, if known, successor business entities
  • Names of individuals who manage the professional employer organization or otherwise have the authority to act as a senior executive officer of the
    professional employer organization
  • Names and complete addresses of persons owning or controlling 25% or more of the equity interests of the professional employer organization

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form SFN 58947: License Renewal Application

Agency Fee:

$500

Due:

Annually

Required Attachments:
  • Surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit
  • Quarterly Contribution and Wage Report or a letter from Job Service North Dakota stating that the applicant is not liable for unemployment insurance
  • Address of each office the professional employer organization maintains in North Dakota
  • List of the jurisdictions (states or countries) where the professional employer organization has operated in the preceding five years, including the business name used and any alternate names, previous names of predecessors, and, if known, successor business entities
  • Names of individuals who manage the professional employer organization or otherwise have the authority to act as a senior executive officer of the
    professional employer organization
  • Names and complete addresses of persons owning or controlling 25% or more of the equity interests of the professional employer organization

"Professional fundraiser" means a person who, for financial compensation or profit,
performs for a charitable organization a service in connection with which contributions
are, or will be, solicited in this state by the compensated person or by a compensated
person the person employs, procures, or engages to solicit; or a person who for
compensation or profit plans, manages, advises, consults, or prepares material for, or
with respect to, the solicitation in this state of contributions for a charitable
organization. A bona fide full-time salaried officer or employee of a charitable
organization maintaining a permanent establishment within the state may not be
deemed to be a professional fundraiser.
An attorney, investment counselor, or banker who advises any person to make a
contribution to a charitable organization may not be deemed, as the result of that
advice, to be a professional fundraiser.

North Dakota Professional Fundraiser Registration

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Law:

NDCC § 50-22-02.1

Bond Requirements:

$20,000

Initial Registration
Professional Fundraiser Registration

Form:

Form SFN 11303: Professional Fundraiser Application

Agency Fee:

$100

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Notes:

A copy of all contracts with charitable organizations must be submitted with the application.

Registration Renewal
Professional Fundraiser Registration Renewal

Form:

Form SFN 11303: Professional Fundraiser Application (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

Annually by August 31.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required

Contract Filing

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

After the filing of the Professional Fundraiser Registration, any contracts entered into with any charitable organizations must be submitted to the Secretary of State within 10 days of the execution of those contracts.

North Dakota Trade Name Registration

Is registration mandatory?

Filing a trade name registration is required for any person or entity intending to conduct business under an assumed name.

County Level Filing:

Filing is not required at the county level.

Does registration prevent others from using the name I choose?

Registration gives exclusive name rights to the registrant.

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Law:

ND Statutes § 47-25-01

Initial Registration
Trade Name

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$25

Is registration mandatory?:

Filing a trade name registration is required for any person or entity intending to conduct business under an assumed name.

Law:

ND Statutes § 47-25-01

County Level Filing:

Filing is not required at the county level.

Does registration prevent others from using the name I choose?:

Registration gives exclusive name rights to the registrant.

Notes:
  • Publication of registration is not required in North Dakota.

Registration Renewal
Trade Name Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$25

Due:

By the date of registration every 5 years.

Corporate Filings

We track the following filings with the North Dakota Secretary of State in order to provide compliance services to our clients. We share this reference information with the general public as a courtesy. As a registered agent client, you get access to state templates pre-filled with our company information to help you save time looking up information.

Abandonment of Merger

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Form:

The state does not issue a form for mergers.

Agency Fee:

$50

Notes:

Use the statutory instructions to create a draft of merger documents, then file these documents along with the required fee.


Annual Report

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$10

Due:

Annually by February 1.

Law:

N.D.C.C. § 10-33-139 

Penalties:

$5 late fee and your corporation may face dissolution or revocation at one year late.

Notes:
  • Anyone with authority may file.
  • Original signatures are not required.

Certificate of Authority

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Form:

Foreign Business Corporation Certificate of Authority Application

Agency Fee:

$145

Law:

ND Cent Code § 10-19.1-134

Certified Copy Requirement:

Certified copies not required.

Certificate of Good Standing Requirement:

Certificate of existence, or certificate of good standing, dated within 90 days.


Certificate of Fact of Merger/Consolidation

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Form:

The state does not issue a form for mergers.

Agency Fee:

$50

Notes:

Use the statutory instructions to create a draft of merger documents, then file these documents along with the required fee.


Certificate of Good Standing

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Agency Fee:

$20

Notes:

Request a certificate by calling, faxing, mailing, or email a request to the secretary of state.


Merger/Consolidation

Agency:North Dakota Secretary of State
Form:

The state does not issue a form for mergers.

Agency Fee:

$50

Notes:

Use the statutory instructions to create a draft of merger documents, then file these documents along with the required fee.


Professional Fundraiser Registration

Form:

Form SFN 11303: Professional Fundraiser Application

Agency Fee:

$100

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Notes:

A copy of all contracts with charitable organizations must be submitted with the application.


Professional Fundraiser Registration Renewal

Form:

Form SFN 11303: Professional Fundraiser Application (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

Annually by August 31.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required

Trade Name

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$25

Is registration mandatory?:

Filing a trade name registration is required for any person or entity intending to conduct business under an assumed name.

Law:

ND Statutes § 47-25-01

County Level Filing:

Filing is not required at the county level.

Does registration prevent others from using the name I choose?:

Registration gives exclusive name rights to the registrant.

Notes:
  • Publication of registration is not required in North Dakota.

Trade Name Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$25

Due:

By the date of registration every 5 years.


Related Government Agencies

Explore other North Dakota government agencies we can help you stay compliant with:


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