How to start a store in North Dakota (2026)
Everything a new store in North Dakota needs in the first months: registration, licenses, taxes, insurance and the yearly deadlines, with official links.
1. Register your business
Most owners form an LLC with the North Dakota Secretary of State. Once it's registered, find it here to claim a free website and see your exact dates.
2. Licenses
Selling online, you may owe sales tax in other states once your sales there pass that state's threshold. Marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy usually collect it for sales made through them.
Your city or county may also require a general business license or tax receipt.
3. Taxes
Get a free EIN from the IRS first. How. Register with North Dakota before your first taxable sale. Register in North Dakota
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax for the year, you pay estimated tax four times a year.
North Dakota's yearly report
An annual report is due November 15 every year, starting the year after you form. The state fee is about $50.
Example: an LLC formed today would have its first one due Nov 15, 2027.
Your first-month checklist
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Register for sales tax if you sell taxable goods or services
Register with North Dakota before your first taxable sale. Register in North Dakota
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Get your EIN
Free from the IRS, online in about 10 minutes. Banks, clients and payroll all ask for it. You never need to pay a service for it. How to get it free
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Open a business bank account
Keeps the company's money separate from yours, which is what protects your LLC. See options
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Choose a POS system
Handles orders, card payments and tips, and feeds your bookkeeping. See options
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Get general liability insurance
Covers injuries or damage blamed on a product you sold. Some marketplaces and landlords require it. See options
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Set up bookkeeping
Track every sale and expense from day one so taxes take hours, not weeks. See options
What insurance costs
| Coverage | Median per month |
|---|---|
| General liability | $42 |
| Business owner's policy (BOP) | $95 |
| Workers' compensation | $86 |
| Cyber insurance | $57 |
Source: Insureon, Feb 2025. Your price depends on your work, location and history.
Other trades in North Dakota
Sources: state agency sites linked above; annual report rules compiled from state sites (checked Oct 2026). Rules change, so confirm with the agency before filing.