Unlock new opportunities for your North Dakota business with a Certificate of Good Standing. Uncover the vital information and benefits in our detailed guide below, positioning your company for sustained growth and credibility.
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Starts at $0 + state fees and only takes 5-10 minutes
A North Dakota Certificate of Good Standing is issued by the state and confirms your corporation or LLC is legally registered and allowed to conduct business in the state. Though it isn’t a mandatory document, getting one shows your business is in compliance with the state and can help in several situations that we’ll discuss later.
This guide will explain what a CGS is and the different scenarios where you might need one. We’ll also explain the process to get a CGS in North Dakota.
A North Dakota Certificate of Good Standing is a legal document issued by the North Dakota Secretary of State (SOS). The certificate works as evidence that your organization exists in North Dakota and is registered to transact business in the state.
The certificate signed by the North Dakota Secretary of State confirms that your business has complied with state requirements specified for a corporate entity or a limited liability company (LLC).
The North Dakota SOS issues Certificates of Good Standing.
To ensure your request for a North Dakota CGS goes through without any issues, your business should be in good standing with the state. With the worry free compliance service by ZenBusiness, you can be assured that we’ll help you take care of your business compliance requirements.
A CGS confirms your LLC or corporation has filed its North Dakota annual report with the North Dakota SOS before the due date. It also confirms that you have duly paid the annual report fees and taxes owed to the state.
A North Dakota CGS contains the following information:
Obtaining a CGS isn’t a requirement for legally operating your company, but it can be helpful in the following scenarios:
If you want to expand your business beyond the borders of the state where it was formed, a CGS can pave the path for registration in the new state. As your corporation is considered a foreign (out-of-state) entity in new states, the SOS’s office there might ask for a CGS to verify you’re following the required laws in your state of origin.
It’s common for businesses to raise capital from investors and other financial institutions when they want to grow and scale. A CGS lets investors know the organization they’re getting into business with is a valid, legal entity in North Dakota.
Banks might ask for a CGS to assess your corporation or LLC’s legitimacy before they let you open a business account with them.
Insurance protects your business, employees, and assets. An insurance provider might ask for a CGS to verify that the entity they’re offering coverage to is legally authorized to conduct business in the state.
A Certificate of Good Standing can help prove your company complies with applicable state laws. Similarly, you could also ask for a CGS from another business at the time of contract formation.
When you want to sell or transfer a part or all of your business, potential buyers could ask for a CGS to know more about the company they’re purchasing. A buyer could move ahead with the purchase once they know it’s a state-compliant, authorized entity they’re dealing with.
A Certificate of Good Standing confirms that your business is legally allowed to operate in North Dakota. With this confirmation, renewing permits and licenses can become an easier process.
In North Dakota, North Daktoa LLCs and corporations are allowed to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing. A sole proprietorship doesn’t register with the SOS, so it can’t request a CGS.
You can request a North Dakota CGS from the office of the North Dakota Secretary of State. Currently, these certificates can’t be ordered online. Instead, you can order them via phone, fax, email, or mail. The steps for getting the CGS are described below:
Before you put in a CGS request, you need to make sure your business is in good standing with the state. This means your corporation should have filed its annual report with the SOS online or by using the print and mail option.
Ensure that the taxes owed to the state are paid and permits and licenses are up to date.
You can request a CGS from the Secretary of State. The fee for processing this request is $15 plus a $5 fee to search records. You can make the payment through credit card, check, money order, or pre-authorized credit.
You can visit the Secretary of State’s website for details such as phone numbers, fax number, email address, and office address.
The validity of a Certificate of Good Standing is determined by the party requesting the document. For example, an investor might ask for a CGS no older than 30 days.
Once you’ve received the CGS, you can send it to the requesting party.
Compliance may not be simple to keep up with, especially when considering all the other aspects that make a business go round. At ZenBusiness, we understand that your business needs don’t stop after the business has been registered. ZenBusiness can help keep you in good standing with our worry free compliance service. With this service, we not only help keep your business in compliance, but we can also secure a North Dakota CGS for you if you need one; you just pay the state fees. And, if you don’t have the worry-free compliance but still need a CGS, our Certificate of Good Standing service can help.
As of May 2021, the cost for the records search is $5, and the cost for processing the request is $15.
It could take about one to two business days to process a request for a Certificate of Good Standing from the date of receipt. It might take an additional day or two or longer for the certificate to be mailed over.
The office of the North Dakota Secretary of State doesn’t offer expedited service.
A CGS isn’t a mandatory document to stay compliant in North Dakota. However, to get a CGS, your business must be compliant.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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