North Dakota Franchise Opportunities

North Dakota is booming—it has the lowest unemployment rate, the fastest growing GDP and has the largest percent increase in population in the past five years. A new kind of gold rush has brought this all about, and if you’re willing to cater to the oil field workers, you too can cash in on the opportunities abounding in this northern state.

Living up North

North Dakota is known for its brutal winters, but that also means there’s the chance to enjoy ice fishing, skiing and snowmobiling. Consider these towns you could call home:

• Fargo: The largest city in the state, it’s also the fourth fastest-growing small city in America. Situated on the Red River, it’s home to North Dakota State University and nearly 223,000 people in the metropolitan area.
• Bismarck: The state capital, it’s the seventh fastest-growing small city in the country. The state of North Dakota is the biggest employer here, and there is an extensive park system to enjoy.
• Medora: Located in the Badlands, Medora hosts the entrance to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and hosts the Medora Musical every summer.

Economy on a Roll

North Dakota has the fastest growing GDP, in large part thanks to natural resource extraction and mining. The oil industry is booming, and makes up over 20 percent of the GDP.

The rest of it comes from agriculture, growing crops such as grains, corn, beans, lentils, sugar beets and oilseeds. The state produces vast amounts of these, as more than 90 percent of the land is farmland.

Business and Taxes

• The state charges a corporate income tax that varies depending on the level of income, but it doesn’t have a franchise tax.
• The state personal income tax ranges from 1.51 to 3.99 percent.
• There are 65,200 small businesses in North Dakota, making up 96 percent of the state employers.
• There are nearly 1,900 franchises in the state, which employ 23,600 people.
• The unemployment rate is 2.8 percent, which is the lowest in the nation.