How to search and claim an LLC name in North Dakota
- Search North Dakota's official entity records at no cost, leaving “LLC” off the name.
- Make sure the name ends with one of North Dakota's accepted endings, such as “Limited Liability Company” or “LLC”.
- Hold the name with a $10 reservation for 12 months (renewable) if you need time before filing.
- File the Articles of Organization with the North Dakota Secretary of State for $135.
- Note the recurring report so the LLC stays in good standing: $50 each year (by November 15).
What a North Dakota LLC name must include
North Dakota accepts these endings for a limited liability company:
- Limited Liability Company
- LLC
- L.L.C.
Banking words are reserved in North Dakota: an LLC name can't include bank, banker, banking, trust, trust company or similar words without the Department of Financial Institutions' written approval. Those words are kept for the Bank of North Dakota, chartered banks and trust companies. The LLC endings it lists are “limited liability company”, “LLC” and “L.L.C.”.
How North Dakota decides two names are the same
North Dakota's keyword rule, in force since January 1, 2026, differs sharply from many states'. After setting aside entity words like LLC or Inc. and the filler words a, an, the, to, with and “and”, it treats almost any real difference as enough: reordered keywords, a plural, an abbreviation, a contraction, a numeral written differently, even a spelling that sounds identical. Only capitalization and spacing don't count. Entities, reserved names, trade names and trademarks are all in the comparison (N.D. Admin. Code ch. 72-03-02), and the holder can consent to a conflicting name for a $10 filing.
Where the rules are written. N.D.C.C. § 10-32.1-11 (LLC name); § 10-32.1-12 (reservation); N.D. Admin. Code ch. 72-03-02.
Searching for an LLC name in North Dakota
Search FirstStop for free; it returns trade names and trademarks along with entities. Because the comparison is by keyword, check every result that shares your keywords in the same order.
Open the official North Dakota entity search
Leave the ending off when you search, so every version of the name shows up, then compare each result word by word. If one matches apart from spacing, punctuation or a plural, change a real word in your name.
Live from North Dakota's records. Pick North Dakota in the LLC name check and it runs your words through the North Dakota Secretary of State's Business Search when you submit, then lists the registered names that share them, longer ones that open with them, and those starting with the same two words.
Holding the name: North Dakota LLC name reservation
North Dakota's reservation lasts a full 12 months for $10, and it can be renewed for another 12 months at a time (N.D.C.C. § 10-32.1-12). File it online through FirstStop.
File a North Dakota name reservation
Forming the LLC in North Dakota
Registering a domestic LLC costs $135, filed online through the FirstStop Portal.
File the Articles of Organization online
Every year from the year after registration, the LLC files a $50 annual report by November 15, and missing it adds a late fee. There's no franchise tax on LLCs and no newspaper notice. A Certificate of Good Standing costs $20; request it on the certificate form in FirstStop.
When the LLC trades under another name
If your LLC uses any name besides its registered one, North Dakota requires a trade name registration through FirstStop (N.D.C.C. ch. 47-25): $25, renewed every five years.
Sources
- Limited liability company llc, sos.nd.gov, checked 2026-10-07
- Register business, sos.nd.gov, checked 2026-10-07
- Maintain registration, sos.nd.gov, checked 2026-10-07
- ndlegis.gov, checked 2026-10-07
- ndlegis.gov, checked 2026-10-07
These are the official pages behind every fact above. If one of them now says something different, it's right and this page is out of date.
Common questions
Can two LLCs in North Dakota have the same name?
No. North Dakota accepts a new LLC name only if it can be told apart from every name on its record. Adding or changing an ending such as “LLC” doesn't make a name different.
How long can I hold an LLC name in North Dakota?
12 months (renewable), for $10.
Does a new North Dakota LLC have to publish a notice?
No. North Dakota has no newspaper publication requirement for LLCs.
How much is the North Dakota LLC filing fee?
$135, paid when you file the Articles of Organization.