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Straight talk · North Dakota

3 Best Registered Agents in North Dakota (2026), No Jargon

In North Dakota for 2026, we like North Dakota Registered Agent.co ($99 a year), Mainstay Filing ($149 a year) and ND Registered Agents.org ($99 a year), ranked from first to last. Budget $99 to $149 for the first year and $297 to $447 for three.
From the LLC Plainly editorial team

Quick take

Mandatory?
Yes, you must
State term
Registered agent
Typical price
$99 to $149 per year
Our ranking
North Dakota Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing then ND Registered Agents.org

Our favorites in North Dakota

The order comes from our five checks: three-year cost first, then how much the price covers.
Start here

1. North Dakota Registered Agent.co: best for one-state companies

$99 yearly, renewing at $99

North Dakota Registered Agent.co gets the top spot: $99 a year gets you an agent right in the state.

Over three years it costs less than Mainstay Filing, which counts most with us.

Your money buys

  • A real address in the state
  • Legal papers scanned and posted online

The good

  • A smaller yearly bill than Mainstay Filing
  • Pay $99 a year with no change at renewal

Trade-offs

  • A second state means a second agent
  • You'll have to remember the annual report on your own
All 50 states

2. Mainstay Filing: best for one price in every state

$149 yearly, renewing at $149

Mainstay Filing comes next since one account at $149 a year works in whichever state you register in.

North Dakota Registered Agent.co is $150 less across three years, which is enough to rank higher.

Your money buys

  • A street address in the state
  • Three government mailings a year scanned for free
  • Works for LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits too

The good

  • Pay $149 a year and nothing changes at renewal
  • It follows you to any state

Trade-offs

  • You'd pay $50 more every year
  • It's the agent role only, with no report filing
A North Dakota favorite

3. ND Registered Agents.org: best for owners who like a local company

$99 yearly, renewing at $99

Why ND Registered Agents.org third? Honestly, $99 a year gets you an agent right in the state.

Its prices match North Dakota Registered Agent.co exactly, so either one works.

Your money buys

  • A real address in the state
  • Legal papers scanned and posted online

The good

  • A smaller yearly bill than Mainstay Filing
  • Pay $99 a year with no change at renewal

Trade-offs

  • A second state means a second agent
  • You'll have to remember the annual report on your own

Price check

#WhoStart priceRenewalThree-year totalWhat you get
1North Dakota Registered Agent.co$99$99/yr$297A real address in the state; legal papers scanned and posted onlineTake a look at North Dakota Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$149$149/yr$447A street address in the state; three government mailings a year scanned for free; Works for LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits tooTake a look at Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3ND Registered Agents.org$99$99/yr$297A real address in the state; legal papers scanned and posted onlineTake a look at ND Registered Agents.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
We read these prices on November 13, 2026. Three years means year one plus two renewals.

The questions, one by one

Do I have to name a registered agent?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

The law behind it: N.D. Cent. Code § 10-01.1-05. official: ndlegis.gov, October 2026

What does the state require of an agent?

A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: a North Dakota resident, or an entity registered with the Secretary of State that has a North Dakota business office. A business cannot serve as its own agent.

If you qualify, you can do it yourself at no cost.

What will I pay an agent?

Budget $99 to $149 a year, or $297 to $447 for three.

The state charges the same no matter the agent.

Why does the state want an agent?

It accepts legal papers and state notices for your company, using an address in North Dakota.

If papers arrive and nobody accepts them, a case may move ahead without you. What does "service of process" mean?

What does the state want from the LLC annually?

Plan for the annual report ($50, annual). It's due November 15, so add the date to your calendar.

official: sos.nd.gov, August 2026

What's behind the ranking?

North Dakota Registered Agent.co leads on cost across three years, a 33% check.

Cost across three years (33%) and work taken off your hands (31%) matter most, and three lighter checks sit behind them.

North Dakota Registered Agent.co's three-year total of $297 undercuts Mainstay Filing by $150.

See how we score

North Dakota requirements, with sources

ItemThe answerWhere we found it
LLC filing fee$135official: sos.nd.gov, October 2026
Registered agentYes, you mustofficial: ndlegis.gov, October 2026
Annual report$50 every yearofficial: sos.nd.gov, August 2026
Three-year state total$235Sum of the figures above
The last row is our own sum: the filing fee, the reports for years two and three and any minimum tax. Costs with no set price, like a newspaper notice, are left out.

More questions

Do I have to pay for an agent?

You can once you meet the rule on who can serve and where.

Which addresses does the state accept?

The address has to be a complete physical address in North Dakota. P.O. boxes are not accepted.

After three years, what have I paid?

Three-year totals are North Dakota Registered Agent.co, $297; Mainstay Filing, $447; ND Registered Agents.org, $297

What do the numbers rest on?

Official North Dakota sources on the state side and company pricing on the service side, all dated.

Is a filing service a must?

No law says you must hire anyone.

Which registered agent would you hire in North Dakota?

North Dakota Registered Agent.co comes first: its agent service costs $99 a year and puts a street address on file for you. Then come Mainstay Filing and ND Registered Agents.org.

Official sources and price pages

  1. August 2026: confirmed North Dakota Secretary of State using sos.nd.gov
  2. August 2026: confirmed North Dakota Secretary of State using sos.nd.gov
  3. August 2026: confirmed North Dakota report due date using ndlegis.gov
  4. October 2026: confirmed North Dakota formation fee: Filing using sos.nd.gov
  5. October 2026: confirmed North Dakota registered agent statute using ndlegis.gov
  6. pricing page from North Dakota Registered Agent.co, November 13, 2026
  7. North Dakota service page from Mainstay Filing, November 13, 2026
  8. pricing page from ND Registered Agents.org, November 13, 2026