Start a Business

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Start a Business

We are excited that you are considering choosing North Dakota as a place to do business. There are many planning steps in establishing your business. This section provides information to guide and connect you with state agencies that may help you on this journey. 

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Planning is an important first step when starting a business. It may include securing financing, conducting market research, creating a business plan, or seeing if special permits, licenses, or registrations are needed for your business. 

Go to the FirstStop PortalIf you have a name picked out but are not ready to register your business, you can reserve the name for up to 1 year if it is available. You will need to file a Reserved Name Application in the FirstStop Portal. This reserves the name, but you are not granted authority to use it until the business is registered.

Business advisors, attorneys, tax professionals, or financial advisors can help you address the different aspects of business ownership. Additionally, there are some North Dakota’s business guidance organizations available to help provide specific advice related to your situation and help determine the right type of structure for your business. These include:

Registering your business establishes legitimacy by creating a legally recognized entity that makes your business credible. 

State law requires businesses to register with the ND Office of the Secretary of State prior to transacting business unless you are doing business solely using your personal name. In addition to being required, registration may also provide your business with certain rights and protections under North Dakota law.

Learn How to Register

You may be required to get a license or registration from a state agency or board if you are involved in certain occupations. Use the following to find information on licensing requirements through varied agencies.

Licenses issued by Attorney General

  • Alcoholic Beverage Retailers
  • Amusement Games and Fair Boards
  • Firework Wholesalers
  • Charitable Gaming Organizations
  • Manufacturers and Distributors of Gaming Equipment and Supplies
  • Polygraph Operators
  • Tobacco Retailers, Wholesalers and Manufacturers
  • Transient Merchant

Licenses issued by Secretary of State 

  • Contractors
  • Home Inspectors
  • Lobbyists
  • Athlete Agents
  • Professional Employer Organizations
  • Professional Fundraisers
  • Combative Sports 

Other Licensing Information

North Dakota imposes a sales tax on retail sales, learn if you have requirements. 

Visit the Office of the State Tax Commissioner

If your North Dakota business hires employees, you may also need to contact:

Starting on January 1, 2024, some businesses are required to report ownership information to the U.S. Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Entities include (but are not limited to) many types of corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and trade names.

The reporting is mandated by the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) passed by Congress in 2021 and involves providing beneficial ownership information (BOI). This law requires United States businesses to report who owns or controls them and is part of the U.S. government’s efforts to make it harder for bad actors to hide or benefit from illicit activities.

For additional information, visit FinCEN's BOI Reporting website.