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North Dakota CorporationForm a Corporation or S-Corp in North Dakota for $0 service fee plus the $100 state fee. Articles, bylaws, 10M authorized shares, founder stock with vesting, EIN, BOI included.
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North Dakota Corporation Formation, 2026
Incorporating live in North Dakota · C-Corp & S-Corp supported

How to form a corporation in North Dakota for $0 service fee.

North Dakota state filing fee is $100. Standard processing 5 to 10 business days. We file Articles of Incorporation with the North Dakota Secretary of State, issue 10M authorized shares (QSBS-eligible), prepare North Dakota corporate bylaws, issue founder common stock with vesting and 83(b) templates, obtain your EIN, and file your BOI report.

Start your North Dakota Corporation Is a corp right for me
$0 service fee QSBS preserved 60-day money-back
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
North Dakota C-Corporation
Authorized shares10,000,000
Par value$0.0001
State fee$100
Processing5 to 10 business days
ND
SEAL
2026
$100
North Dakota incorporation fee
10M
Authorized shares (standard)
QSBS
Capital gains exclusion
$0
Our service fee
$0
Service fee
we file it free
$100
North Dakota state fee
passed through at cost
5-7 biz days
Processing
state office turnaround
C-Corp + S-Corp
Both supported
with S-Corp election
SOC 2 Type II · 2025 report 4.9 · 8,200+ reviews E&O Insured · carrier on request 51 Jurisdictions 220,000+ Formed
See disclosures + carrier names →
Bylaws + minutesNorth Dakota-specific corporate governance ready
Founder stock + 83(b)Vesting agreement, 83(b) template included
Cap table toolFree under 50 stakeholders, SAFE-ready
Is a North Dakota corporation right for you

When the corporation structure fits.

FORM A CORPORATION IN NORTH DAKOTA IF
  • You plan to raise venture capital (institutional investors require C-Corp)
  • You want to issue stock options to employees (ISOs)
  • You want QSBS eligibility for capital gains tax exclusion
  • You expect significant retained earnings (C-Corp can retain at 21% federal rate)
  • You want clear separation between operators and shareholders
FORM AN LLC INSTEAD IF
  • You are a solo operator or small business not raising outside capital
  • You want pass-through taxation with no corporate formalities
  • You prefer minimal annual compliance burden
  • You will own real estate (LLCs are standard for property holding)
  • You want simpler ownership transfer without share certificates
The North Dakota business environment

Why North Dakota for your corporation.

Bakken oil formation drove rapid economic growth in 2010s. Agricultural economy. Among the lowest historical unemployment in the US. State income tax phasing to 2.5% flat.

State GDP$73BTotal state output
Population785kCensus estimate
Small businesses~75,000Per SBA
Notable#1 lowest unemployment historicallyEconomic distinction
Top industries in North Dakota
Oil & gas (Bakken formation)Agriculture (wheat, soybeans)ManufacturingEnergy (wind)Tech (growing)
Top cities

Where North Dakota corporations are headquartered.

Fargo
Largest city. Microsoft regional, healthcare, agriculture, growing tech.
Bismarck
State capital. Government, oil & gas services.
Grand Forks
UND, military (Grand Forks AFB), aviation.
Minot
Oil & gas, military (Minot AFB).
West Fargo
Suburb, growing manufacturing.
Ready to incorporate in North Dakota?5 minutes. $0 service. $100 state fee at cost. C-Corp default with 10M authorized shares.
Start your North Dakota Corp →Pay only state fee
What is included on Starter

Free with your North Dakota corporation LLC formation.

Starter is genuinely $0. We pass through the $state North Dakota corporation state fee at cost. Everything below is included free.

  • Articles filed with the North Dakota Secretary of State, our service fee $0
  • IRS EIN application (Form SS-4) filed for you
  • North Dakota corporation-specific Operating Agreement or Bylaws template
  • North Dakota corporation Registered Agent service: first year free, then $99/year
  • Basic North Dakota corporation compliance calendar (annual report dates)
  • Document storage, 5 GB
Upgrade to Growth · $49/mo

Add the operating stack most North Dakota corporation businesses need.

BOI filing + annual report filing + custom domain (1 free) + business email (3 mailboxes) + business phone line + brand kit (logo + 100 cards) + website builder + books + CRM + e-signature unlimited + document vault unlimited + audit trail + priority support. See full Growth features →

Or pay as you need

BOI filing $249 one-time · Annual report filing $149 + state fee · Foreign qualification $149/state · Trademark $249/class + USPTO fee · Custom Operating Agreement $199 · Expedited state filing state fee + $50 service. Full add-on pricing →

Filing timeline

From form to filed in North Dakota.

1
Day 0
Tell us about your businessEntity name, incorporators, share structure, founder allocations
2
Day 1
We file with North DakotaArticles submitted to the North Dakota Secretary of State
3
Day 2-5
EIN + governance docsEIN issued. Bylaws, board minutes, founder stock prepared
4
Day 5-30
83(b) + cap table83(b) mailed (30-day deadline). Cap table populated. Ready to operate
Skip the North Dakota paperwork.Articles, bylaws, founder stock, 83(b), EIN, BOI, all done end to end.
Start your North Dakota Corp →Pay only state fee
Compare to alternatives

North Dakota corp vs other formation states.

Delaware (default for VC-backed)$89+Required by most VCs. Foreign qualification in North Dakota still needed.
South Dakota$150No state income tax, faster filing
Montana$35Much lower fees, no sales tax
Minnesota$135Larger Twin Cities economy
North Dakota Corp$100Form here if you operate in North Dakota.
Local resources

North Dakota corporate resources.

ND Department of CommerceState business support
ND SBDCStatewide network
Greater Fargo-Moorhead EDCFargo metro EDC
Bismarck-Mandan ChamberCapital region chamber
60day promise

The File.Business Promise

If we miss a filing deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we pay the state penalty. If you change your mind in the first 60 days, we refund our service fee in full. Your data stays yours, always.

60-day money-back Penalty-free filings Cancel anytime QSBS preserved
FAQ

North Dakota Corporation questions.

Should I form my North Dakota corporation as a C-Corp or S-Corp?
Most North Dakota corporations start as C-Corps (default federal tax treatment). S-Corp is a federal election (Form 2553) you file later, typically when net profit crosses $60-80k. For venture-backed startups, C-Corp is required: S-Corp cannot have institutional investors, non-US shareholders, or multiple share classes. We file the North Dakota corporation; you can elect S-Corp anytime by filing Form 2553.
What is the difference between forming an LLC and a corporation in North Dakota?
LLCs are simpler (no shares, fewer formalities, pass-through tax by default). North Dakota corporations have shareholders, a board of directors, officers, bylaws, board minutes, and double taxation by default. Corporations are the standard structure for raising venture capital because investors require preferred stock, ESOPs, and other corporate-specific instruments LLCs cannot provide.
Do I need bylaws for my North Dakota corporation?
Yes. North Dakota corporations are governed internally by bylaws (board structure, officer roles, meeting requirements, voting rules) plus the Articles of Incorporation filed with the North Dakota Secretary of State. We include North Dakota-appropriate bylaws with every formation, along with initial board minutes and a corporate governance binder.
How many shares should my North Dakota corporation authorize?
Standard for a new C-Corp: 10,000,000 authorized shares of common stock with a small percentage actually issued to founders. The 10M structure leaves room for an option pool (typically 10-20%) and future preferred stock issuances in financing rounds. We file the 10M authorized share structure by default; you can specify a different number.
What is QSBS and does my North Dakota corporation qualify?
Qualified Small Business Stock (IRC Section 1202) lets shareholders exclude up to $10M (or 10x basis) of capital gains on qualifying C-Corp stock held more than 5 years. North Dakota C-Corps qualify if they meet the active business test (80% of assets used in qualified trade) and the gross asset test (under $50M at issuance). We preserve QSBS eligibility from day one.
Do I need to issue founder stock with vesting?
Highly recommended. North Dakota founder stock without vesting means a co-founder who leaves after 6 months keeps 100% of their shares. With standard 4-year/1-year-cliff vesting, the company can reclaim unvested shares. We issue founder stock with vesting and prepare Section 83(b) election forms (due to IRS within 30 days of issuance).
When should my North Dakota corporation elect S-Corp status?
S-Corp election (IRS Form 2553) can save self-employment tax when net profit crosses ~$60-80k. Restrictions: 100 shareholders max, US individuals only (no entities, no non-resident aliens), single class of stock. If you plan to raise venture capital, stay C-Corp. Our service fee for filing Form 2553 is $99.

Start your North Dakota Corporation in 5 minutes.

Tell us a few details. We file with the North Dakota Secretary of State, prepare your bylaws, issue founder stock with vesting, file your 83(b) reminder, obtain your EIN, and file BOI.

Start your North Dakota CorpTalk to a North Dakota specialist
Pay only state fee QSBS preserved 60-day money-back

Related searches: form a corporation in North Dakota · North Dakota C-Corp · North Dakotan S-Corp · North Dakota incorporation cost 2026 · how to incorporate in North Dakota · North Dakota Secretary of State corporation · North Dakota corporate bylaws · North Dakota QSBS · Delaware vs North Dakota C-Corp

Built for real businesses

Corporations we have formed in North Dakota.

Funded startup · North Dakota
Funded startup · North Dakota
C-Corp + 83(b)
C-Corp + 83(b)
S-Corp election
S-Corp election
$129/yr Compliance Annual Filings · penalty-free

On the $129/yr Compliance Annual Filings plan, we cover state late fees.

When you autofile your annual report through the $129/yr plan and we miss the deadline, we pay the state's late fee. The guarantee applies to that specific plan and the filings it includes. Other File.Business services are billed at the prices on this page.

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