A North Carolina Secretary of State business search is built into the SOS Business Registration page. Search by company name, SOS ID, company official or registered agent, and choose how words match (Starting With, All, Any or Exact Match). If no existing company has a name that is the same as yours apart from its ending, the name is likely available.
North Carolina handles DBAs differently from most states: assumed business names are filed with the county Register of Deeds, then appear in a statewide assumed name search. Reserving an LLC name costs $10 for 120 days.
Updated October 2026.
Go to:
Best LLC Formation Services in North Carolina (2026)
Our ranked picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in North Carolina are below, starting with Mainstay Filing. Each entry lists the yearly price and what the service covers.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | NC Registered Agent.org | North Carolina registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | North Carolina Registered Agent.co | North Carolina registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in North Carolina. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. NC Registered Agent.org
NC Registered Agent.org is a North Carolina registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. North Carolina Registered Agent.co
North Carolina Registered Agent.co is a North Carolina registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
North Carolina business name search at a glance
| Item | North Carolina details (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division |
| Search tools | Business Registration search and assumed name (DBA) search |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $125 (Form L-01) |
| Name reservation | $10 for an LLC, $30 for a corporation; 120 days; not renewable |
| Assumed business name (DBA) | Filed with the county Register of Deeds (SOS overview) |
| LLC annual report | $200, due April 15 |
| Amendment (name change) | $50 |
Fees are from the Secretary of State’s business registration fee schedule. Mainstay Filing’s North Carolina LLC cost guide shows total formation and annual costs.
How to check business name availability in North Carolina
1. Go to the Secretary of State website in North Carolina
Open the Business Registration page, where the search form is embedded, or go straight to the business registration search. The Secretary of State asks that searches be done by hand; automated or scripted searches aren’t permitted.
2. Search for a business name
Choose Company By Name and enter the core words without LLC or Inc. Use All to require every word, Any to cast a wider net, and Exact Match to confirm a specific name.
3. Choose a name
North Carolina won’t register a name that isn’t distinguishable from one already on file. An exact match, or a name that differs only by its ending or punctuation, will be rejected.
4. Choose the name with no matches
If the search shows nothing close, the name is probably free to use. You can also search by SOS ID, company officials or registered agents to research a competitor.
5. Check assumed names, too
Run the name through the assumed name search. It holds county filings made on or after December 1, 2017. An assumed name doesn’t give its owner exclusive rights, but it tells you who is already trading under a name.
Stuck for ideas? Namechk’s business name generator can help.
North Carolina business name rules
- LLC designator: “Limited Liability Company,” “Ltd. Liability Co.,” “Limited Liability Co.” or “Ltd. Liability Company,” or an abbreviation such as L.L.C. (Form L-01).
- Corporate designator: corporation, company, limited or incorporated, or Corp., Co., Ltd. or Inc.
- Distinguishable: the name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State’s records from existing entities and reserved names.
- Regulated words: terms tied to licensed professions or financial services can require approval from the relevant licensing board or agency before filing.
How to reserve a business name in North Carolina
- Form: BE-03, Application to Reserve a Business Entity Name, filed with the Secretary of State.
- Fee: $10 for an LLC name and $30 for a corporate name, per the fee schedule. Transferring a reservation costs $10.
- Term: 120 days, and the reservation can’t be renewed.
- Special case: someone who acquires another company’s goodwill can reserve that company’s name for 10 years (Form BE-14).
Because the reservation can’t be renewed, file it only when you expect to form the company within about four months.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
The business registration search doesn’t show trademarks. Search the USPTO trademark database for federal marks; North Carolina also registers state trademarks ($75 per application, trademark fees).
Then check domain and handle availability. Namechk does both in one search, and the domain name generator suggests alternatives.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Filing an assumed business name (DBA) in North Carolina
Since December 1, 2017, North Carolina’s assumed business name law (G.S. Chapter 66, Article 14A) has required an Assumed Business Name Certificate filed with the Register of Deeds in a county where you do business (SOS overview; FAQs).
- Multiple counties: one filing can list several or all 100 counties for the same fee.
- Statewide database: county filings are uploaded to the Secretary of State’s searchable database.
- No notary: the certificate doesn’t need to be notarized.
- Updates: file an amendment within 60 days of a change; withdrawal forms are also available.
- Not exclusive: an assumed name doesn’t give you exclusive rights to it.
- Older filings: certificates filed before December 1, 2017 expired on December 1, 2022.
Contact your county’s Register of Deeds for the filing fee and accepted payment methods.
Steps to register your North Carolina business
Once you’ve chosen an available name, our North Carolina LLC guide covers each step.
- File Articles of Organization (Form L-01) online or by PDF upload. The fee is $125.
- Name a registered agent: a North Carolina resident or a business authorized in the state, whose office address matches the registered office. The LLC can’t name itself, but a member who lives in North Carolina can serve (SOS registered agent information). Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package (North Carolina costs); our North Carolina registered agent guide explains more.
- Get an EIN from the IRS (free).
- File the $200 annual report by April 15 each year (annual report information). The North Carolina start-a-business guide covers taxes, licenses and hiring.
FAQs
How do I search for a business name in North Carolina?
Use the business registration search on the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Business Registration page at sosnc.gov. You can search by company name, SOS ID, company officials or registered agents, with Starting With, All, Any or Exact Match word options. Assumed business names have a separate statewide search on the same site.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in North Carolina?
The Secretary of State’s fee schedule lists $10 to reserve an LLC name and $30 to reserve a corporate name, using Form BE-03. The reservation lasts 120 days and can’t be renewed. Transferring a reserved name costs $10. You can also skip the reservation and file Articles of Organization directly.
Where do I file a DBA in North Carolina?
With the Register of Deeds in a county where you do business, not with the Secretary of State. The Assumed Business Name Certificate can cover several or all 100 counties for one fee, doesn’t need to be notarized, and is uploaded to the Secretary of State’s statewide assumed name database.
Does an assumed business name protect my name in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina’s assumed business name filing is a disclosure, not a grant of exclusive rights, so other businesses may file the same assumed name. To protect a brand, consider forming an entity under the name, which blocks indistinguishable entity names, and look into state or federal trademark registration.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in North Carolina?
North Carolina charges $125 to file LLC Articles of Organization. Each year after that, the LLC files a $200 annual report by April 15, one of the higher annual report fees in the country. A name reservation ($10) is optional, and county DBA fees are separate.
How do I change my LLC’s name in North Carolina?
File an Amendment of Articles of Organization with the North Carolina Secretary of State; the fee schedule lists $50. Search the new name in the business registration search first and keep an LLC designator in it. If you also use an assumed business name tied to the old name, amend that certificate with the county Register of Deeds within 60 days.
Does a North Carolina business search include trademarks?
No. The business registration search covers entities registered with the Secretary of State. Federal trademarks are in the USPTO database, and North Carolina registers state trademarks separately for $75 per application. Check domains and social media handles as well before you settle on a name.
CHK_ YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW
Use our engine to quickly check your content right now!
Disclosure: We may earn a commission from services recommended on this page.
