SOS Business Search

How to search North Dakota business entities online

Updated August 2026

Quick Answer

North Dakota's business search is FirstStop at firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/business, run by the Secretary of State. Search by entity name (or use Advanced for Contains/Starts With matching) to open a detail panel with the SOS Control ID, status, addresses, and filing history. Registration and annual report filing route through a separate hub, sos.nd.gov/business/business-services, rather than the FirstStop search portal itself.

  1. Go to FirstStop at firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/business.
  2. Search by entity name (or switch to Advanced for more matching options).
  3. Open the detail panel for the SOS Control ID, status, and filing history.
Open Official North Dakota Entity Search Portal ↗

What the search covers

The database covers entity types registered with the Secretary of State: LLCs, professional LLCs, business corporations, professional corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited partnerships, LLPs, limited liability limited partnerships (LLLPs), and cooperatives. Trade names and fictitious partnership names registered statewide are also included.

Search options

The basic search matches on entity name, including partial names. An Advanced search adds Contains and Starts With matching modes, plus a checkbox to limit results to active entities only.

Clicking a result opens a detail panel with the entity's SOS Control ID, status, principal and mailing addresses, term of duration, and filing history.

Annual report due dates

North Dakota annual report due dates differ by entity type, which makes compliance planning more involved than in states with a single universal deadline:

  • March 31 — limited partnerships, LLPs, LLLPs, professional LLPs, and cooperatives
  • April 15 — farming/ranching LLCs and corporations, and authorized livestock farm entities
  • May 15 — foreign business corporations and foreign professional corporations
  • August 1 — domestic business corporations and domestic professional corporations
  • November 15 — LLCs and professional LLCs

A late annual report incurs a late filing fee and puts the business into Not Good Standing status. If the past-due report still isn't filed within roughly 6 to 12 months, the entity is involuntarily dissolved (or, for a foreign entity, its authority to transact business is revoked); reinstatement is possible within one year of falling out of good standing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information shows up when I click on a business in North Dakota's search results?

The detail panel shows the entity's SOS Control ID, status, principal and mailing addresses, term of duration, and filing history.

Are trade names searchable in North Dakota's business database?

Yes. Trade names and fictitious partnership names registered statewide are included alongside LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and cooperatives in the FirstStop search.

What happens if a North Dakota business misses its annual report deadline?

It incurs a late filing fee and is placed into Not Good Standing status. If the report still isn't filed within roughly 6 to 12 months, the entity is involuntarily dissolved (or its authority revoked, for foreign entities); reinstatement is possible within one year.

Compare Other States

Entity search rules, fees, and offices are set state by state. These are the states closest to North Dakota — useful if you're comparing how a neighboring state runs the same process.

Minnesota Secretary of State Montana Secretary of State South Dakota Secretary of State Idaho Secretary of State Iowa Secretary of State Nebraska Corporate Division

Helpful Guides

What Is a Registered Agent, and Who Can Be One?

Every LLC and corporation is required to name one — here's what the job actually involves and who's eligible.

Certificate of Good Standing: What It Is and How to Get One

A one-page proof that your LLC or corporation is current with the state — what it's for, what it costs, and how to request one.

How to Dissolve an LLC: The State Filing Process, Step by Step

Closing an LLC the right way means more than just walking away — here's the filing sequence every state expects.

LLC vs. Corporation: Which Structure Fits Your Business?

Both are formed with the same state office — the real differences show up in taxes, ownership, and how much paperwork you're signing up for.

Articles of Incorporation vs. Articles of Organization: What's the Difference?

Both documents create a legal business entity with the state — the difference comes down to which type of entity you're forming.

How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC? Formation Fees by State

State filing fees for forming an LLC range from under $50 to $500 — see the base cost in your state and how it compares to forming a corporation.

LLC Annual Report Fees and Deadlines by State

Every state has its own rules for keeping an LLC in good standing — see your state's report frequency, fee, and due date at a glance.

Business License Search: What It Covers and How to Check

Registering an entity with the state isn't the same as holding a license to operate it — here's where licenses actually come from.

UCC Filing Search: How to Check for Liens on a Business

Uniform Commercial Code filings show which lenders have a claim on a company's assets — here's how to search them and what the results mean.