How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in North Dakota?
Last updated: March 2026
North Dakota Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$135
Sales Tax Rate
5.0%
Minimum Wage
$7.25/hr
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$50
Starting a Business in North Dakota
North Dakota businesses register with the Secretary of State. Local cities require business licenses.
North Dakota has a graduated income tax with rates from 1.1% to 2.9% — one of the lowest in the nation. Corporate income tax ranges from 1.41% to 4.31%.
North Dakota's oil economy in the western part of the state creates boom-bust cycles for related businesses. The state has very low income taxes and a stable regulatory environment.
For official formation documents, visit the North Dakota Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in North Dakota
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for North Dakota’s cost of living index of 99.2. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $6,930 | $19,800 | $45,540 |
| Airbnb / Vacation Rental | Real Estate | $10,890 | $29,700 | $89,100 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $79,200 | $198,000 | $495,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $9,900 | $29,700 | $79,200 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $19,800 | $54,450 | $128,700 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $4,950 | $29,700 | $99,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $74,250 | $198,000 | $495,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $19,800 | $94,050 | $297,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $99,000 | $346,500 | $841,500 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $14,850 | $64,350 | $173,250 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $29,700 | $99,000 | $297,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $24,750 | $99,000 | $297,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $99,000 | $396,000 | $990,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $123,255 | $328,680 | $1,232,550 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $123,255 | $538,560 | $1,538,460 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $10,395 | $27,720 | $69,300 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $11,880 | $52,470 | $128,700 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $39,600 | $118,800 | $297,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $1,485 | $10,890 | $36,630 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $29,700 | $99,000 | $297,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $24,750 | $118,800 | $346,500 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $24,750 | $64,350 | $148,500 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $1,980 | $8,910 | $25,740 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $49,500 | $277,200 | $742,500 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $7,920 | $21,780 | $54,450 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $19,800 | $54,450 | $148,500 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $19,800 | $79,200 | $247,500 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $59,400 | $178,200 | $495,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $29,700 | $79,200 | $198,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $247,500 | $495,000 | $990,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $3,960 | $11,880 | $31,680 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $4,950 | $14,850 | $49,500 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $14,850 | $54,450 | $158,400 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $7,920 | $39,600 | $118,800 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $49,500 | $128,700 | $346,500 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $19,800 | $54,450 | $128,700 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $19,800 | $74,250 | $198,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $9,900 | $51,480 | $128,700 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $74,250 | $247,500 | $742,500 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $44,550 | $118,800 | $198,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $15,840 | $35,640 | $79,200 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $49,500 | $198,000 | $594,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $19,800 | $54,450 | $128,700 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $19,800 | $59,400 | $148,500 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $19,800 | $69,300 | $198,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $49,500 | $247,500 | $990,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $14,850 | $74,250 | $247,500 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $1,980 | $9,900 | $32,670 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $39,600 | $128,700 | $297,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $19,800 | $69,300 | $198,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $19,800 | $74,250 | $198,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $14,850 | $39,600 | $89,100 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $14,850 | $39,600 | $99,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $24,750 | $89,100 | $247,500 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $9,900 | $39,600 | $118,800 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $99,000 | $247,500 | $594,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $11,880 | $33,660 | $80,190 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $39,600 | $89,100 | $217,800 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $49,500 | $178,200 | $495,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $4,950 | $17,820 | $49,500 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $19,800 | $69,300 | $198,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $19,800 | $64,350 | $198,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $99,000 | $346,500 | $990,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $148,500 | $396,000 | $990,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $14,850 | $49,500 | $148,500 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $29,700 | $99,000 | $297,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $9,900 | $49,500 | $148,500 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $19,800 | $89,100 | $247,500 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $4,950 | $24,750 | $79,200 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $4,950 | $24,750 | $99,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $9,900 | $39,600 | $118,800 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $29,700 | $99,000 | $297,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $148,500 | $396,000 | $990,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $59,400 | $178,200 | $445,500 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $49,500 | $173,250 | $396,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $14,850 | $49,500 | $148,500 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $1,980 | $5,940 | $17,820 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $49,500 | $148,500 | $396,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $10,395 | $23,760 | $54,450 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $9,900 | $27,720 | $69,300 |
| Real Estate Investing (Rental) | Real Estate | $24,750 | $74,250 | $247,500 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $173,250 | $371,250 | $742,500 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $14,850 | $59,400 | $178,200 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $19,800 | $59,400 | $198,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $9,900 | $69,300 | $247,500 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $19,800 | $54,450 | $148,500 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $198,000 | $594,000 | $1,980,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $19,800 | $58,410 | $198,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $3,465 | $9,900 | $26,730 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $19,800 | $74,250 | $198,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $49,500 | $148,500 | $396,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $49,500 | $148,500 | $396,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $29,700 | $79,200 | $198,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $1,980 | $23,760 | $99,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $49,500 | $198,000 | $594,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $24,750 | $74,250 | $198,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $3,465 | $11,880 | $32,670 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $14,850 | $39,600 | $99,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $148,500 | $754,380 | $2,970,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $14,850 | $79,200 | $198,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in North Dakota
Licenses & Permits in North Dakota
General Business License
North Dakota does not have a statewide general business license. Businesses must register their entity with the North Dakota Secretary of State and register with the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner for sales and use tax purposes. North Dakota has minimal business regulation relative to most states. Some cities, particularly Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks, require local business licenses, but many communities have no local licensing requirements.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Food Establishment License — North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services — Division of Food and LodgingCost: $50-$300 • Renewal: Annual
- General Contractor License — North Dakota Secretary of State (registration only, no state license required for most)Cost: $50-$200 • Renewal: Annual
- Cosmetology Salon License — North Dakota State Board of CosmetologyCost: $50-$150 • Renewal: Annual
- Real Estate Broker License — North Dakota Real Estate CommissionCost: $80-$250 • Renewal: Annual
- Child Care Center License — North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services — Early Childhood ServicesCost: $50-$150 • Renewal: Annual
- Commercial Pesticide Applicator License — North Dakota Department of AgricultureCost: $50-$150 • Renewal: Annual
- Retail Liquor License — North Dakota Office of the Attorney General — Alcoholic Beverage LicensingCost: $200-$1,500 • Renewal: Annual
- Oil and Gas Operator License — North Dakota Industrial Commission — Oil and Gas DivisionCost: $500-$2,000 • Renewal: Annual
Home-Based Business Rules
Home-based businesses in North Dakota face minimal regulation in rural and unincorporated areas, which represent most of the state's land area. Fargo, Bismarck, and other cities regulate home occupations through local zoning ordinances with standard restrictions on signage and customer traffic. North Dakota's small-town culture generally supports home-based businesses. The state's cottage food law supports home-based food production and direct consumer sales up to $50,000 annually.
North Dakota Business Resources
SBA District Office
North Dakota SBA District Office — Fargo
Secretary of State
https://sos.nd.gov/businessZoning Information
North Dakota cities manage zoning. Fargo and Bismarck have active commercial zoning; rural areas have minimal restrictions.
Health Department Notes
Food establishments require a license from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. The state has active food safety inspection programs.
Workers Compensation
Required for all employers. North Dakota operates a state-run workers compensation bureau (WSI) that is the exclusive provider.