Fargo and West Fargo: North Dakota
Step 1: determine your business structure
Sole proprietorship, LLC and others. A sole proprietorship that operates under a name other than its owner's may need to register a trade name.
Step 2: choose and check a name
The Secretary of State's FirstStop portal has a Business Search; the office makes the final decision on whether a name is available, and says not to commit to a name until the filing is registered.
Step 3: select a registered agent
LLCs, corporations and most partnerships need a registered agent with a physical North Dakota address.
Step 4: file in FirstStop
Start a Business in the FirstStop portal. See the state's page on registering a business.
North Dakota fees we found
| Filing | Fee listed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LLC registration | $135 | Domestic and foreign LLCs |
| LLC annual report | $50 | Due November 15 |
| Trade name registration | $25 | Renew every 5 years; amendments and renewals also $25 |
| Sole proprietorship annual report | None | The state says sole proprietorships are not required to file annual reports |
Read from the North Dakota Secretary of State's pages on November 8, 2026. Fees and rules change; confirm on the state's site. This is not legal or tax advice.
Moorhead: Minnesota
Moorhead is across the river in Minnesota, so a Moorhead business registers with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Its Business & Liens page describes Business Filings Online for registering a business, filing renewals and searching filings, says an online account is required for filings, and says payment must be by credit card. We could not read Minnesota's step-by-step and fee pages, so we list no Minnesota fees here. Start at the Minnesota Secretary of State's business page.
A business that operates on both sides of the river should check the rules in each state. A lawyer or accountant can tell you which registrations apply to you.
A first-week checklist once you are registered
- Claim and verify your Google Business Profile using the business name customers know from your real-world signage and website, with accurate hours and phone details. Check Google's eligibility and naming rules before you submit.
- Make a profile page with your phone, booking link and Google review link; a free one is enough to start.
- Get a card people can tap or scan; see business cards in Fargo-Moorhead.
- Join one networking group; see networking in Fargo-Moorhead.
- Plan how you will ask every customer for a review; see Google reviews in Fargo-Moorhead.
Cards for a new business
A NearvoQ card starts at $19.99 and our team delivers free in Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead. You design it in a browser or choose the Basic card, and because the link on the card is editable, an early phone number or booking-link change does not mean new cards. Read are NFC business cards worth it? before you order a big batch.
