--- title: "North Dakota Entity Running Costs and Filings" description: "What it actually costs to keep a North Dakota entity compliant, from formation fees to corporate tax, and when Teamed's EOR is the faster path." canonical: https://www.teamed.global/country-hiring-guides/united-states/north-dakota/entity-running-costs-and-filings --- ![North Dakota business district.](/cluster-assets/country-hiring-guides/united-states/north-dakota/entity-running-costs-and-filings/images/hero.webp) # What does it cost to runa company in North Dakota. North Dakota charges a $135 formation fee and taxes corporate income at 4.31%, on top of ongoing compliance work Teamed can skip entirely. Served by Teamed US Inc., Delaware · Payroll via SUNA Solutions Last reviewed 22 September 2026 · North Dakota guide At a glance ## The two numbers that matter most Setting up an LLC in North Dakota costs $135 to register with the Secretary of State. Once the entity is running, North Dakota taxes corporate income at a flat 4.31%. Everything else, from registered agent fees to annual report filings to payroll tax administration, is recurring work that someone on your side has to own. Corporate income tax4.31% Formation / registration fee$135 Formation ## What it costs to open the door The North Dakota Secretary of State charges $135 to register an LLC. That figure covers the filing itself, not the legal, accounting, and banking work that usually surrounds it. Most companies underestimate the time cost more than the cash cost. Someone has to draft the operating agreement, open a US bank account, register for state and federal tax IDs, and set up a compliant payroll system before a single employee can be paid. None of that is instant, and none of it is free even when the filing fee is small. Ongoing costs ## What it costs to keep it running Corporate income earned through a North Dakota entity is taxed at 4.31%. That rate applies on top of federal corporate tax, and it's separate from payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation obligations that come with having employees on the books. Beyond tax, an entity needs a registered agent, annual state filings, and someone tracking deadlines across every jurisdiction where you have staff. For a single state that's manageable. For a company hiring across several states, it becomes a compliance calendar that someone has to run full-time, whether that's an in-house controller or an outside firm. The real comparison ## Entity costs versus EOR fees An EOR fee is a flat, predictable line item per employee. A North Dakota entity is a fixed setup cost plus a variable stream of tax, compliance, and administrative work that scales with headcount and doesn't stop when things get quiet. The honest way to compare them is to look at how long you plan to keep people in North Dakota and how many. Teamed's crossover calculator does that math directly, using your actual headcount and salary numbers rather than a rule of thumb. Before you commit ## Sometimes an employer of record is the better fit An employer of record is sometimes the better answer, not a lesser one, especially for a small or still-changing team, or when you're testing whether North Dakota is even the right market for you. Talk to a member of the team about your specific situation before assuming an entity is the next step, and run the crossover calculator to see where the numbers actually land. Contractors, employer of record and your own entity all run on one platform at Teamed, so moving between them later does not mean changing provider or re-onboarding anybody. Real HR and legal experts handle the work rather than a ticket queue. Talk to a member of the team and we will tell you plainly which one suits where you are. If you would rather look at the numbers yourself first, the crossover calculator models it on local salaries and employer costs rather than on a headcount rule of thumb. Talk to a member of the team Model the crossover for the United States Who carries it ## Your own entity, when it's time. We set it up, migrate you in, and hand it back intact. Global Entity and Employment Operations, which we call GEMO, is how Teamed forms your company, registers it for tax and payroll, runs it month to month and keeps its filings current, across 100+ countries. You stay the employer. We do the work behind it. In North Dakota, that means we handle the $135 Secretary of State filing, the registered agent setup, and every tax registration your entity needs, then transfer the completed entity to you once it makes sense to own it directly. You keep the option open without having to build the compliance machinery yourself on day one, and we do the same for entities across 100+ countries under GEMO. Entity Management (GEMO) The Graduation Model Employer cost calculator > They set up our EU entity and moved hires across without missing a payroll. *Helene Dubois, COO* Talk to an expert about North Dakota Questions ## Running costs FAQ for North Dakota How much does it cost to form an LLC in North Dakota? The North Dakota Secretary of State charges $135 to register an LLC. That's the filing fee alone, and it doesn't include legal, banking, or accounting setup costs that typically go with forming an entity. What's the corporate tax rate in North Dakota? North Dakota taxes corporate income at a flat 4.31%. That's separate from federal corporate tax and from payroll-related taxes you'll owe once you have employees on the entity's books. Is an EOR cheaper than setting up a North Dakota entity? It depends on headcount, salaries, and how long you plan to keep staff in the state. A small or short-term team often costs less through an EOR, while a larger, long-term presence can tip the other way, which is exactly what Teamed's crossover calculator is built to show. What ongoing filings does a North Dakota entity require? Beyond the initial registration, a North Dakota entity needs a registered agent, annual state filings, and ongoing tax compliance at both the state and federal level. None of these are one-time costs, they recur for as long as the entity exists. Can I switch from an EOR to my own North Dakota entity later? Yes, and that's how Teamed's GEMO service is designed to work. We set up and run the entity for you, then hand it over intact once you're ready to own it directly, so the decision doesn't have to be made all at once. Where these figures come from ## Sources Figures in this article are drawn from the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner and the North Dakota Secretary of State. ## More on entities in North Dakota - [Hiring in North Dakota, overview](/country-hiring-guides/united-states/north-dakota)parent - [North Dakota setting up](/country-hiring-guides/united-states/north-dakota/entity-setup)sibling - [North Dakota tax presence](/country-hiring-guides/united-states/north-dakota/permanent-establishment-risk)sibling - [North Dakota entity or eor](/country-hiring-guides/united-states/north-dakota/eor-vs-entity)sibling - [North Dakota moving from an eor](/country-hiring-guides/united-states/north-dakota/moving-from-eor-to-your-own-entity)sibling - [Set up an entity, by country](/entity-setup-by-country)hub - [Entity Management (GEMO)](/entity-management)core - [Talk to an expert about North Dakota](https://www.teamed.global/contact?from=entity-running-costs-and-filings)CTA