Are there words I can't use in a North Dakota business name?

Words that imply a regulated business need consent first. In North Dakota that includes Bank, Trust, Insurance, Cooperative and Engineer. Names that suggest a government agency are refused outright.

How many new businesses start in North Dakota each year?

The Census Bureau counted 9,835 business applications in the twelve months to August 2026, +14.4% on the year before. Not every application becomes a registered entity, but each one is a name someone intends to use.

Does a North Dakota registration protect my name in other states?

No. It protects the name inside North Dakota's registry only. Nationwide protection comes from a federal trademark, which is why the checker runs the USPTO search alongside the North Dakota lookup.

What does a North Dakota LLC name have to end with?

One of the state's accepted designators — LLC, L.L.C. and Limited Liability Company. The checker searches the name with and without the suffix, because the suffix alone never makes a name distinguishable.

Can I reserve a business name in North Dakota before I file?

Yes. The North Dakota Secretary of State charges $10 to reserve a name for 365 days. A reserved name shows as taken to everyone else's search.

How much does it cost to register a business name in North Dakota?

The name itself is free to search. Filing the entity is what costs money: $135 for an LLC and $100 for a corporation, then annual report, $50, due november 15 (llc) / august 1 (corp).

North Dakota Secretary of State business search — LLC name check, trademark & domain lookup

North Dakota's name reservation lasts a full year for $10 — the best reservation deal in the country — so there's little reason to file a name you're not sure of. Its FirstStop registry is shared with Idaho and Montana, and its search applies the strict 'distinguishable' test rather than exact-match.

Is it taken in North Dakota? — Enter the name exactly as you'd file it; the North Dakota registry, USPTO and domain registrars are checked together.

Check this name →

How to check a business name in North Dakota

Check the name as you'd file it. With the designator (LLC) attached — North Dakota compares the whole string.
Verify at the source. The official North Dakota Secretary of State search is the record that counts; registrations change daily.
Don't stop at the state line. A clear North Dakota result says nothing about federal trademarks or the domain; the checker covers both in the same run.

North Dakota naming rules: what the North Dakota Secretary of State will and won't accept

Every North Dakota filing is screened for a single thing before anything else: the name must be distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State. The examiner ignores punctuation, spacing, capitalization and the suffix when comparing, so two names that look different on paper can still collide. Designators are fixed: LLC, L.L.C. and Limited Liability Company for an LLC, Corporation, Corp. and Incorporated for a corporation.

Certain words trigger a review. In North Dakota that list includes Bank, Trust, Insurance, Cooperative and Engineer — using one implies a regulated activity and the filing will be held until the relevant regulator consents.

What it costs: forming an LLC costs $135, a corporation $100 and a name reservation is $10 and holds the name for 365 days. Firststop online filings usually 1-2 business days.

The ongoing obligation: Annual report, $50, due November 15 (LLC) / August 1 (corp). An entity that stops filing loses good standing, and with it the exclusive claim to its name.

Per the North Dakota Secretary of State, (701) 328-4284 — official website (fee schedule). Fees change; confirm before filing.

How busy is North Dakota right now?

Businesses in North Dakota filed 9,835 new business applications in the twelve months to August 2026 — +14.4% on the year before, the 50th-highest total of any state and 12.3 per 1,000 residents (ranked 45th per person). April was the busiest month with 1,182 applications, and North Dakota accounts for 0.2% of all U.S. filings.

That volume is the reason exact-name checks age quickly here: the registry changes by the hundreds every business day.

Where America starts businesses — all 50 states ranked →

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly, not seasonally adjusted). 2019 comparison: 6,877 applications in calendar 2019.

What makes a name available in North Dakota?

It must be distinguishable from names already on the North Dakota registry — usually more than a difference in punctuation, spacing, or an entity suffix.
Only active registrations block a name. A dissolved or revoked entity with the same name typically doesn't stop you — though a recently inactive one can carry a reinstatement risk worth knowing about (our checker flags exactly that case).
Entity suffixes are required, not decorative. An LLC's legal name must carry an LLC designator; a corporation needs Inc., Corp., or an equivalent accepted in North Dakota.
Registry clearance is not trademark clearance. The North Dakota Secretary of State checks its own records only — it will register a name that infringes a federal trademark. Check both.

Note: naming rules, fees, and reservation windows are set by North Dakota statute and change over time — treat the North Dakota Secretary of State's own guidance as final for filing decisions. This page is a practical guide, not legal advice.

About the North Dakota Secretary of State

The North Dakota Secretary of State maintains North Dakota's registry of corporations, LLCs, and other registered entities — it is the system of record for North Dakota business names. Useful official resources:

Official North Dakota business entity search — the state's own lookup.
North Dakota Secretary of State — official website — filings, forms, fees, and contact details.

Before you file in North Dakota: a two-minute double check

Run the name through the checker above — registry, USPTO and domain in one pass.
Repeat the search on the official North Dakota lookup, spelling the name exactly as it will be filed, with the designator.
For every match returned, note the status. Active blocks; dissolved or revoked usually doesn't; a recent lapse deserves a second look.
Compare spellings, not just exact hits — North Dakota treats near-identical names as the same name.
Clear on both? Reserve or file straight away. Names are first-come, first-served.

Frequently asked questions

Are there words I can't use in a North Dakota business name?: Words that imply a regulated business need consent first. In North Dakota that includes Bank, Trust, Insurance, Cooperative and Engineer. Names that suggest a government agency are refused outright.
How many new businesses start in North Dakota each year?: The Census Bureau counted 9,835 business applications in the twelve months to August 2026, +14.4% on the year before. Not every application becomes a registered entity, but each one is a name someone intends to use.
Does a North Dakota registration protect my name in other states?: No. It protects the name inside North Dakota's registry only. Nationwide protection comes from a federal trademark, which is why the checker runs the USPTO search alongside the North Dakota lookup.
What does a North Dakota LLC name have to end with?: One of the state's accepted designators — LLC, L.L.C. and Limited Liability Company. The checker searches the name with and without the suffix, because the suffix alone never makes a name distinguishable.
Can I reserve a business name in North Dakota before I file?: Yes. The North Dakota Secretary of State charges $10 to reserve a name for 365 days. A reserved name shows as taken to everyone else's search.
How much does it cost to register a business name in North Dakota?: The name itself is free to search. Filing the entity is what costs money: $135 for an LLC and $100 for a corporation, then annual report, $50, due november 15 (llc) / august 1 (corp).

Still choosing a name? Try the North Dakota business name generator — every idea checked against the same registry.

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