Foreign registration · Form 972

North Dakota LLC Foreign Registration in Louisiana

An LLC formed in North Dakota that wants to do business in Louisiana files Form 972, with $190 in state fees. Louisiana also wants North Dakota's Certificate of Good Standing ($20), dated within 90 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division from your North Dakota records, then serve as your registered agent there for year one.

North Dakota vs Louisiana: the paperwork

	North Dakota formed here	Louisiana registering here
Document	North Dakota Certificate of Good Standing	Form 972, Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company
State fee	$20	$190 at order (filing fee $185 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	North Dakota: online	Filed with Louisiana
Paid expedite		24-hour $35, 2 to 4 hour $60
Office	North Dakota Secretary of State	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Official page	firststop.sos.nd.gov	sos.la.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 90 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $50, every year	Annual Report, $35, every year
Due	November 15	On or before the anniversary date of registration in Louisiana
Agent	Your North Dakota registered agent	Our Louisiana registered agent

How North Dakota companies register with Louisiana

Order the North Dakota certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing ($20) is ordered from North Dakota separately; it is not part of our Louisiana order. Louisiana accepts it within 90 days of North Dakota's issue date, so it is ordered shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form 972
It names us as your Louisiana registered agent, with your North Dakota name and formation date and the certificate attached. Once North Dakota's certificate is in hand, Louisiana's filing goes in. Once Louisiana approves it, the North Dakota company can do business there.

Louisiana costs for North Dakota companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$190
Certificate of Good Standing, paid to North Dakota	$20
Our service, with a year of Louisiana registered agent service	$199
First-year total, North Dakota certificate included	$409

Louisiana's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Your North Dakota name and Louisiana's rules

We check your exact North Dakota name against Louisiana's records before filing.

Your Louisiana agent and the North Dakota one

North Dakota and Louisiana both call it a registered agent. Your current registered agent stays for North Dakota; ours takes Louisiana's papers and notices.

Yearly filings: Louisiana and North Dakota

Each year your LLC files North Dakota's Annual Report ($50) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($35). With our $149 registered agent renewal, North Dakota plus Louisiana comes to $234 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, North Dakota to Louisiana

A corporation formed in North Dakota files Form 326 with Louisiana ($160 in state fees). After that come North Dakota's Annual Report ($25) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($30). See the corporation filing.

The other way: Louisiana into North Dakota

An LLC formed in Louisiana that registers with North Dakota files North Dakota's registration (no form number) with $135 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($25). See that filing.

Questions North Dakota owners ask about Louisiana

Does my North Dakota company need to register in Louisiana?

Yes, once a North Dakota business operates there; Louisiana law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does it cost to register a North Dakota LLC in Louisiana?

$389 at checkout plus $20 to North Dakota for the Certificate of Good Standing, $409 in all (checkout is $190 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need North Dakota's certificate of good standing?

Yes: Louisiana wants it ($20), no more than 90 days old at filing.

What are the yearly costs for North Dakota and Louisiana?

$234 a year: our $149 registered agent renewal, $50 to North Dakota and $35 to Louisiana for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with Louisiana?

A North Dakota company cannot sue in court there until it registers, and Louisiana can add a civil penalty of up to $1,000.

Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

Yes: the North Dakota registered agent stays, and ours covers Louisiana for year one.

Can I form a new Louisiana LLC instead?

Yes, but North Dakota keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Louisiana's Annual Report ($40), and the original keeps North Dakota's Annual Report.

What does a Louisiana company file to register in North Dakota?

It files North Dakota's registration with $135 in state fees, plus Louisiana's good standing certificate.

Official sources

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