North Dakota business entity information, including entity name, type, number, and formation date, is available through the North Dakota Secretary of State business search portal. This online database provides access to the key details you need for onboarding, compliance, or business transactions.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to search the North Dakota database, where to find each piece of information, and what format each data point takes in North Dakota's system.

Summary table: Finding your North Dakota entity information

How to search for North Dakota business entities

Navigate to the North Dakota FirstStop portal and enter your business name in the search field. While North Dakota's system supports partial matches (searching "Prairie" will return "Prairie Solutions LLC"), using your complete legal name as registered ensures you get precise results.

The system offers both basic and advanced search options. The advanced search provides "Contains" and "Starts with" filters, plus an option to show only active entities.

Click your entity name in the results to open a detailed side panel displaying complete information, including your system ID, formation date, registered agent details, and filing history.

What you'll see in search results

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)

• Entity type (LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP, PLLC, PC, Not-for-profit Corporation, etc.)

• SOS Control ID (North Dakota's unique identifier)

• Status (active, inactive, dissolved)

• Standing (good standing, not in good standing)

• Initial filing date

How to find your entity number in North Dakota

Your North Dakota entity number, officially called your "SOS Control ID" or "System ID," follows a numeric format and was assigned by the North Dakota Secretary of State when your entity was formed.

Where to locate your North Dakota entity number

1. North Dakota business search (fastest method)

• Located: Prominently displayed in the search results table

• Labeled as: "SOS Control ID"

• Format: Numeric sequence like 1234567

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document

• May be labeled as "System ID," or "Control ID"

• Stamped or printed by the Secretary of State

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official North Dakota Secretary of State documents

• Used as your account identifier for ongoing filings

North Dakota entity number format

• Format: Numeric sequence

• Example: 1234567

• Pattern note: Simple numeric identifier without prefixes or special formatting

How to find your entity type in North Dakota

North Dakota recognizes multiple business entity types, listed exactly as shown in your business search results and formation documents.

Where to find your North Dakota entity type

1. North Dakota business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: In the "Entity Type" column of search results

• Listed as: "LLC," "Corporation," "PLLC," "Limited Partnership," etc.

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document

• May state "Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company" or similar

• Uses the full legal designation

3. Annual reports

• Listed in the entity information section

• Cannot be changed without formal amendment

How to find your formation date in North Dakota

Your formation date (when the North Dakota Secretary of State officially filed and approved your business entity) appears in North Dakota business search results and on your Certificate of Formation/Organization.

Where your North Dakota formation date appears

1. North Dakota business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Initial Filing Date"

• Location: In the search results table and detailed entity view

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Top of the document

• May say "Filed on [date]" or "File Date: [date]"

• Stamped with the North Dakota Secretary of State seal and date

3. Annual report confirmations

• References original filing date

• Used to calculate annual report due dates

Formation date vs. effective date

North Dakota law allows business entities, such as LLCs, to specify a delayed effective date (up to 90 days after filing), so the formation and effective dates are not always identical. 

The "Initial Filing Date" is when your entity was filed, but its legal existence may begin later if a future effective date was selected.

Onboarding your entity to Discern

You've got what you need from North Dakota's system: business name, entity type, SOS Control ID, and formation date. Now get those details into Discern and let our platform handle annual reports, deadline tracking, registered agent coordination, and compliance management across all your jurisdictions.

Book a demo to see how we simplify multi-state compliance.