In the United States, just because you are registered to do business in one state does not mean that you can legally do business in another state.  If you want to transact any serious business in a state other than the state in which your LLC is registered, most likely you will have to register with the state in which you want to do business before you can legally conduct business there. 

For example, a LLC that is registered in California wants to do business in North Dakota.  The California LLC is a "Domestic" LLC in California and will be a "Foreign" LLC in North Dakota.

The California LLC needs to register with the North Dakota Secretary of State as a North Dakota Foreign LLC.

The use of the term Foreign in this case refers specifically to individual US states.  The US government, including the IRS, considers a Foreign company to be a company that is registered outside of the United States.

You want to do business in the state of North Dakota but are registered as a LLC in another state.  In order to legally conduct business in the state of North Dakota you must register with the North Dakota Secretary of State as a Foreign LLC.  The process of registering as a Foreign LLC in North Dakota is called North Dakota LLC Foreign Qualification.

The process of North Dakota LLC Foreign Qualification is similar to the process of forming a Domestic LLC in North Dakota.  Your original home LLC formation documents (frequently called Articles of Organization) and By Laws apply to your North Dakota Foreign LLC.  The Officers and Directors of your home LLC will have the same roles in the North Dakota Foreign LLC.  Specific requirements to qualify as a Foreign LLC in North Dakota are explained below. 

Once you have made the decision to Qualify as a Foreign LLC in North Dakota, a North Dakota lawyer can file your documents and act as a middle man for a few hundred dollars an hour; or you can use an online service provider like All Business Documents to perform these services.

The short answer is no.  The state of North Dakota does not legally require a lawyer to form a North Dakota Foreign LLC.

Our detailed Foreign Qualification page may help you understand some of the implications of forming a North Dakota Foreign LLC.  However, if there is anything about forming a Foreign LLC in North Dakota that you're not sure about you should seek the advice of a competent North Dakota lawyer, a North Dakota accountant, or both before you form a Foreign LLC in North Dakota.

Once you have made the decision to form a Foreign LLC in North Dakota, a North Dakota lawyer can file your documents and act as a middle man for a few hundred dollars an hour; or you can use an online service provider like All Business Documents to perform these services and save money that you can use in your new North Dakota Foreign LLC.

You are not legally required to reserve a Company Name for a new North Dakota LLC Corporation before you submit your application to Form a Foreign LLC in North Dakota.

The LLC name that you have registered in your home state may or may not be available in North Dakota.  In that case you need a different name your North Dakota Foreign LLC.  Whether or not you need to reserve a company name for your new North Dakota Foreign LLC depends entirely on your business situation.  The North Dakota Secretary of State uses LLC names on a first come first served basis.  So if you think that someone may snatch the Company Name that you have in mind, you may want to reserve that North Dakota Foreign LLC Name.

If the Name you have chosen for your new North Dakota Foreign LLC is already in use by a currently active North Dakota Corporation or LLC then you will have to register a DBA Name with the North Dakota Secretary of State.  "DBA" is an abbreviation for "Doing Business As."

We verify that the Name you have chose for your new North Dakota Foreign LLC is available before we submit your Foreign LLC filing to the North Dakota Secretary of State.  If necessary we can register a DBA Name in North Dakota for you so that you can open your new North Dakota business as quickly as possible.

1. Prove that you are registered in a state other than North Dakota as a Domestic LLC
2. Choose a name for your North Dakota Foreign LLC
3. File Registration Documents with the North Dakota Secretary of State
4. Determine how you want your North Dakota Foreign LLC to be taxed

1. Prove that you are registered in a state other than North Dakota as a Domestic LLC
   
   In order to register as a Foreign LLC in the state of North Dakota, you must first prove that you are registered in another state as a Domestic LLC.  You prove this with a Certificate of Good Standing, sometimes referred to as a Certificate of Existence or a Certificate of Fact, from the state in which you are registered as a Domestic LLC.  Cost of a Good Standing Certificate for your Domestic LLC varies from state to state.
   
   
   If you already have a Good Standing Certificate from your home state, please note that it must be dated no older than 90 days from the date of your application for North Dakota LLC Foreign Qualification.
   
   
   If the date on your Good Standing Certificate is older than 90 days then you need to get an updated certificate.   If you get your own Good Standing Certificate you must scan and email or send a copy to us before we submit your application for a North Dakota Foreign LLC.
   We can get your LLC Good Standing Certificate from any state - in most states within 2-3 hours.
2. Choose a name for your North Dakota Foreign LLC
   
   You can use the same name in North Dakota that you use in your home state, however, if the name of your Domestic LLC is not available you need to choose another name.  Your North Dakota Foreign LLC name can identify the type of products and services your business will provide; or it may be the name of the founder; or it can be a combination of the two or something else.
   
   In any case, the North Dakota Foreign LLC name that you choose must be distinguishable from the name of any other registered North Dakota LLC or other business entity and the name must also be different from any reserved names on record with the state of North Dakota.  Your North Dakota Foreign LLC name must not imply that it was formed for a purpose other than that stated in the Articles of Organization for your Domestic LLC and your North Dakota Foreign LLC name must not be a name that is likely to mislead the public.
   
   The name of a North Dakota Foreign LLC must include the word "Limited Liability Company" or or the abbreviation "LLC" or "L.L.C.".
   
   It's important to choose a good name for your North Dakota Foreign LLC because if you want to change it after you qualify you will have to file amended documents with the North Dakota Secretary of State (and pay a fee).
   We will check to make sure that your requested North Dakota Foreign LLC name is available and conforms to all state of North Dakota Limited Liability Company naming regulations.
3. File Registration Documents with the North Dakota Secretary of State
   
   In order to Qualify as a Foreign LLC in North Dakota you must file Registration Documents with the North Dakota Secretary of State.  In North Dakota the registration documents are named "Certificate of Authority of Foreign Limited Liability Company Application".
   
   The registration documents must include certain specific information about your North Dakota business.  If the LLC Registration Documents do not conform exactly to state of North Dakota Foreign LLC requirements they will be rejected. 
   
   If you need to change any of the information on your registration documents after your North Dakota Foreign LLC has been approved, you may amend the registration documents for your North Dakota Foreign LLC but you will have to pay a fee to the state of North Dakota in order to make the changes official.
   
   
4. Determine how you want your North Dakota Foreign LLC to be taxed
   
   The North Dakota Corporate Income Tax Rate is variable depending on the annual net income of the North Dakota Foreign LLC.  North Dakota Corporate Income Tax Rates vary from 2.1 to 6.4%.  You may choose that your North Dakota Foreign LLC is to be taxed as a C Corporation or S Corporation. 
   
   A C Corporation is what you may think of as a traditional Corporation like General Electric or Ford.  C Corporations pay a Corporate income tax to the state if that state taxes Corporations. 
   
   You may choose to have your North Dakota Foreign LLC taxed as a S Corporation.  S Corporations "pass through" all corporate profits to the shareholders (owners) who then pay tax at their applicable personal rate.  S Corporations do not pay any North Dakota Corporate Income Tax.
   
   The Corporation Tax structure in the state of North Dakota consists of three tax brackets:
   • 0- $25,000 - 2.1%
   • $25,001 - $50,000 - 5.3%
   • Over $50,000 - 6.4%
   
   
   If you form a Single Member North Dakota Foreign LLC and do not specify to the IRS how you want to be taxed your Single Member North Dakota Foreign LLC will be taxed as a Sole Proprietorship.  If you form a Multiple Member North Dakota Foreign LLC and do not specify to the IRS how you want to be taxed your Multiple Member North Dakota Foreign LLC will be taxed as a Partnership.
   
   Click here for more North Dakota Corporate Tax Information .
   If you choose to be taxed as an S Corporation, we can prepare the S Corporation election form for your North Dakota Foreign LLC and include it with your final Foreign LLC documents.

1. Obtain Business Licenses from the cities and counties in which you plan to do business
2. File the required reports for your North Dakota Foreign LLC
3. Keep proper records of your North Dakota Foreign LLC on file
4. Pay your taxes to the state of North Dakota

1. Obtain Business Licenses from the cities and counties in which you plan to do business
   
   Note that forming a North Dakota Foreign LLC doesn't take the place of obtaining a local business license, tax registration certificate, or other required business permits.  A North Dakota Foreign LLC merely creates an ownership structure that limits the owners' personal liability.  You may still need to take care of getting set up to do business with your local government.
   
   Depending on the nature of the business and the location of your North Dakota Foreign LLC within North Dakota you may need to get one or more local business licenses or permits.  The business licenses or permits that are required for your North Dakota Foreign LLC vary depending on your business activities and the specific locations within the state of North Dakota in which you want to conduct business.
   
   If your North Dakota Foreign LLC will be selling products in North Dakota you may be required to obtain a Reseller's Permit from the appropriate North Dakota state agency.  If your North Dakota Foreign LLC will be selling products in North Dakota you will also be responsible for all applicable local and state of North Dakota sales taxes if there are any.
   We have the expertise to find out exactly which state and local permits that you need for your specific business.
2. File the required reports for your North Dakota Foreign LLC
   
   The North Dakota Annual Report includes basic information about your North Dakota Foreign LLC including information on your business location as well as the names of the Officers and Directors.
   
   Failure to submit a properly completed North Dakota Annual Report to the North Dakota Secretary of State on or before the due date may subject the North Dakota Foreign LLC to being administratively dissolved in the state of North Dakota or having its authority to transact business in the state of North Dakota revoked by the North Dakota Secretary of State.
   
   Penalties may accrue if you fail to file any North Dakota Foreign LLC Annual Report to the North Dakota Secretary of State by the due date.
   
   
3. Keep proper records of your North Dakota Foreign LLC on file
   
   Keep the following records on file and available at the principal business office of your North Dakota Foreign LLC:
   • Names and addresses of all Members and Managers of the North Dakota Foreign LLC
   • Foreign LLC formation documents and any Amendments to them
   • North Dakota Foreign LLC Operating Agreement and any Amendments to them
   • Copies of any LLC Resolutions which have been adopted by the North Dakota Foreign LLC
   • Copies of all tax returns and Annual Reports for the North Dakota Foreign LLC for the last 3 years
   
   
4. Pay your taxes to the state of North Dakota
   
   Foreign LLCs that either do business in the state of North Dakota or that derive income from sources within the state of North Dakota are subject to North Dakota and federal tax laws.  If you are engaged in intrastate business and derive income from other states besides North Dakota, you must allocate the amount of income derived from the state of North Dakota in order to determine your North Dakota state taxes.

In order to Form a Foreign LLC in North Dakota you'll need the following information about your LLC:

• The name of your new North Dakota Foreign LLC along with your second choice of a name in case the name that you want is not available
• Physical address of the Foreign LLC office in North Dakota (not a PO Box)
• A description of the nature of the business you are planning to operate with the North Dakota Foreign LLC
• A good standing certificate from your home state no older that 90 days

Remember - ALL the information that you provide when you Form a Foreign LLC in North Dakota becomes part of the public record.  Our data entry forms include the absolute minimum amount of information that is required in order to Form a new Foreign LLC in North Dakota.

Processing times for new North Dakota Foreign LLC applications vary depending on the work load of the Secretary of State's staff.  We've found that normal processing of new North Dakota Foreign LLC applications takes the state around one month.  Add 2-3 days for the time period for shipping the final documents by mail.  Choosing our Express Mail option can shave a couple of days off the total processing time for your new North Dakota Foreign LLC.

The North Dakota Secretary of State reserves the right to extend expedite periods in time of extreme volume, staff shortage or equipment malfunction.  We are dependent on, and have no control over, the staff and systems of the North Dakota Secretary of State.

In our experience one month is the time it usually takes the North Dakota Secretary of State to process a new North Dakota Foreign LLC application. We get your North Dakota Foreign LLC application to the ND Secretary of State ASAP. Once it is at the state we have no control over the new North Dakota Foreign LLC application process.

The state of North Dakota charges $157.00 to Form a Foreign LLC in ND.  Also add the cost of a good standing certificate from your home state.   If you choose All Business Documents to help you Form your Foreign LLC in North Dakota our processing fees are $145.00.  This includes:

• Same day processing in of your new North Dakota Foreign LLC order
• ND Name Check and Reservation
• Prepare Certificate of Authority of Foreign Limited Liability Company Application
• File Formation Documents with the North Dakota Secretary of State
• Certified Copies of Formation Documents
• North Dakota Foreign LLC Checklist
• Priority Mail Delivery
• Unlimited Customer Support