Single-Member LLC
North Dakota (ND)
Operating Agreement

North Dakota Single-Member LLC Operating Agreement for Bank Accounts

Generate a North Dakota-compliant Operating Agreement formatted the way banks actually request it — with your LLC legal name, EIN, registered agent, and ownership details laid out for easy verification.

North Dakota Century Code Title 10, Chapter 32
Bank-ready formatting
Print-ready PDF
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Company Details

Must match the exact name filed with the North Dakota Secretary of State.

Registered Agent

Must have a physical North Dakota street address (no P.O. boxes).

Sole Member / Owner

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North Dakota (ND)
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Operating Agreement

Single-Member Limited Liability Company — State of North Dakota

This Operating Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of October 5, 2026 by and between [Your LLC Name] (the “Company”), a single-member limited liability company organized under North Dakota Century Code Title 10, Chapter 32 (North Dakota LLC Act), and [Your Name] (the “Sole Member”).

Company

[Your LLC Name]

Sole Member

[Your Name]

EIN

—

Formation Date

—

1. Formation

The Company was formed by filing Articles of Organization with the North Dakota Secretary of State on [date] under North Dakota Century Code Title 10, Chapter 32 (North Dakota LLC Act).

2. Registered Agent

[Registered Agent Name], located at [Registered Agent Address], serves as the Company’s registered agent in North Dakota.

3. Management & Authority

The Sole Member manages the Company with full authority, including opening and maintaining bank accounts, entering contracts, and acting for the Company without further authorization.

4. Charging Order Protection

Under N.D.C.C. Section 10-32-40, a charging order is the exclusive remedy for judgment creditors of a member, protecting single-member LLC owners in North Dakota.

5. North Dakota Compliance

North Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report with the Secretary of State by November 15th each year, with a $50 fee. A North Dakota registered agent is required. State filing fee: $100.

6. Tax Treatment

The Company is a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes (Treasury Reg. § 301.7701-3); the Sole Member reports income on Schedule C of Form 1040.

7. Governing Law

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of North Dakota, including North Dakota Century Code Title 10, Chapter 32 (North Dakota LLC Act).

[Your Name] — Sole Member Signature

Date

Print Name: [Your Name]

Company Title: Sole Member / Manager

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Why North Dakota Banks Require an Operating Agreement

When you open a business checking account for a single-member LLC in North Dakota, banks like Gate City Bank, First International Bank & Trust, Alerus Financial, and Bank of North Dakota ask for your Operating Agreement for three key reasons: (1) to verify that your LLC’s legal name matches the name on your EIN letter from the IRS; (2) to confirm that you, as the sole member, have the authority to open accounts and sign for the company; and (3) to satisfy their Know Your Customer (KYC) and beneficial ownership documentation requirements under federal banking rules. Without an Operating Agreement, many branches will ask you to come back with one — or worse, open the account with missing documentation that delays transactions later.

Verifies

EIN & LLC legal name match

Confirms

Sole-member signing authority

Satisfies

KYC & beneficial ownership rules

How North Dakota Century Code Title 10, Chapter 32 Protects You

North Dakota single-member LLCs are governed by North Dakota Century Code Title 10, Chapter 32 (North Dakota LLC Act). This statute gives your LLC a legal existence separate from you personally, which is the foundation of liability protection: business debts and lawsuits generally attach to the company, not to your personal assets.

An executed Operating Agreement strengthens that protection in two ways. First, it documents that you treat the LLC as a separate entity (separate finances, documented decisions, formal management structure) — which is exactly what courts look for when creditors try to “pierce the veil” and reach your personal assets. Second, it locks in the internal rules that govern the company under the statute, so there is never ambiguity about who owns or controls the business.

North Dakota Compliance Alert

North Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report with the Secretary of State by November 15th each year, with a $50 fee. A North Dakota registered agent is required.

These obligations are administered by the North Dakota Secretary of State. The LLC formation filing fee is $100. Failing to stay in good standing can jeopardize the liability protection your Operating Agreement helps document.

North Dakota Single-Member LLC Operating Agreement FAQs

Does North Dakota require a single-member LLC to have an Operating Agreement?

No state, including North Dakota, legally mandates a written Operating Agreement for internal validity — but banks, lenders, and courts treat your LLC as far more credible when you have one. Under North Dakota Century Code Title 10, Chapter 32 (North Dakota LLC Act), an Operating Agreement governs the internal affairs of the LLC, and financial institutions like Gate City Bank, First International Bank & Trust, Alerus Financial, and Bank of North Dakota routinely ask for it when you open a business checking account so they can verify your EIN, ownership, and signing authority.

Do I need an Operating Agreement to open a business bank account in North Dakota?

Most banks in North Dakota, including Gate City Bank, First International Bank & Trust, Alerus Financial, and Bank of North Dakota, will ask for your Operating Agreement (or a Certification of Formation) as part of their business account onboarding process. They use it to confirm that the person opening the account is authorized to act for the LLC and to match the LLC's legal name to its EIN. While technically a single-member LLC without an Operating Agreement can still open accounts, having one avoids delays, confusion, and re-visits to the branch.

Does North Dakota protect my LLC assets from my personal creditors?

Yes, in most cases. Under N.D.C.C. Section 10-32-40, a charging order is the exclusive remedy for judgment creditors of a member, protecting single-member LLC owners in North Dakota. This means your personal judgment creditors generally cannot seize LLC assets directly or force a distribution — they are limited to distributions the LLC chooses to make. Note that this protection is strongest when the LLC is treated as a separate entity (separate bank account, documented records, and an executed Operating Agreement).

What are the annual requirements and fees for an LLC in North Dakota?

North Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report with the Secretary of State by November 15th each year, with a $50 fee. A North Dakota registered agent is required. The state LLC filing fee is $100, paid to the North Dakota Secretary of State. Keeping your LLC in good standing — filings current and registered agent up to date — is essential to preserving the liability protection the North Dakota Century Code Title 10, Chapter 32 (North Dakota LLC Act) provides.

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