In North Carolina, an LLC comes into existence when the Department of the Secretary of State files your Articles of Organization (Form L-01). The fee is $125 as of October 2026, and the Secretary of State recommends filing online through its Register Your New Business tool, which is faster than paper. Standard processing for a new entity is 5 to 10 business days.
Plan for the annual report as well. North Carolina LLCs pay $200 a year for it, due April 15 starting the year after formation, which is one of the higher annual fees in the Southeast. The full process is below.
Updated October 2026.
Go to:
Best LLC Formation Services in North Carolina (2026)
Our ranked picks for forming an LLC 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 LLC costs and rules (October 2026)
| Item | North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Filing office | NC Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division |
| Formation document | Articles of Organization (Form L-01) |
| Filing fee | $125 (Business Registration fees) |
| Standard processing | 5 to 10 business days (online is faster) |
| Expedited filing | $100 within 24 hours; $200 same day if received by noon |
| Annual report | $200 on paper, $203 online by card ($202 by ACH) |
| Annual report due | April 15 each year after the year of formation |
| Name reservation | Holds a name for 120 days |
| Change of registered agent | $5 (Form BE-06) |
Step 1: Choose an available LLC name
A North Carolina LLC name must signal that it is a limited liability company; ending it with “LLC,” “L.L.C.” or “Limited Liability Company” does that. The name also has to be distinguishable from other entities on the North Carolina Business Registry, which you can check with the Business Registration search.
If you want to hold a name before filing, the Secretary of State offers a name reservation (Form BE-03) that lasts 120 days. Our North Carolina business name search guide explains how to use the search and what counts as too similar.
Clear the name online too. Namechk checks domain and social handle availability, the business name generator can suggest alternatives, and a USPTO search helps you avoid stepping on a federal trademark.
Step 2: Name a North Carolina registered agent
Every North Carolina LLC needs a registered agent with a physical registered office in the state. According to the Secretary of State’s registered agent page, the agent can be:
- An individual who lives in North Carolina and agrees to serve, including you, or
- A company registered on the NC Business Registry and authorized to do business in North Carolina, whose business office is the same as the registered office
A P.O. box can be used as the registered mailing address, but not as the physical registered office. If your agent or office changes, you must update the record within 60 days using Form BE-06, which costs $5 ($10 with Form BE-17 if the principal office also changes).
Mainstay Filing includes a North Carolina registered agent for the first year with its formation package. For an agent only, NC Registered Agent.org charges a flat $99 per year.
Step 3: File Articles of Organization (Form L-01)
Use the Secretary of State’s online business creation filing, or download Form L-01 and mail it with a $125 check. The articles typically ask for:
- The LLC name
- The name and address of each person executing the articles, and their capacity (member, organizer or both)
- The registered agent’s name and the registered office street and mailing addresses, with county
- The principal office address, if the LLC has one
- A business email address for official notices, if you choose to provide one
- Whether members are managers by default, and any optional provisions
New entity filings take 5 to 10 business days under standard processing, according to the Business Registration Division. If you need it sooner, expedited filing costs $100 for 24-hour handling or $200 for same-day filing of documents received by noon Eastern. For a breakdown of all costs, see the North Carolina LLC cost guide from Mainstay Filing.
Step 4: Draft an operating agreement
North Carolina does not require an LLC to file its operating agreement with the state. Writing one is still a good idea. It records each member’s share, how decisions are made, how profits are divided, and how members can leave or sell their interests.
Single-member LLCs should have one too, since it helps keep personal and business affairs separate, and banks often ask for it when you open an account.
Step 5: Get an EIN and register with the NC Department of Revenue
Apply for a free EIN with the IRS. Then register with the North Carolina Department of Revenue if you will collect sales tax or withhold income tax from employees. LLCs are pass-through entities by default for federal tax purposes unless they elect to be taxed as a corporation.
Step 6: File the $200 annual report by April 15
According to the Secretary of State’s annual report due dates page, an LLC’s report is due April 15 of each year after the year it was created. The fee is $200 on paper, or $203 online by credit card ($202 by ACH), which includes the electronic filing fee.
To file online, search for your company on the annual report page, click the monitor icon in the results, and choose “File Most Recent Annual Report.” LLCs that fall behind receive a Notice of Grounds for Administrative Dissolution, so it pays to file on time. If you later decide to close the business, follow the Secretary of State’s closing guidance so the reports stop accruing.
Step 7: Assumed names and licenses
If your LLC will operate under a name other than its legal name, file an assumed business name certificate. North Carolina still files assumed business names with the county register of deeds, while the Secretary of State keeps a statewide searchable database of filings made since December 1, 2017. One filing can list multiple counties.
North Carolina has no general statewide business license, but many occupations are licensed by state boards and cities or counties may require their own permits. Our guide to starting a business in North Carolina covers those steps.
North Carolina LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in North Carolina?
The North Carolina Secretary of State charges $125 to file Articles of Organization as of October 2026. The annual report then costs $200 a year ($203 online by card). Optional costs include expedited filing ($100 for 24-hour or $200 for same-day), a name reservation, and a commercial registered agent.
When is the North Carolina LLC annual report due?
North Carolina LLC annual reports are due April 15 of each year after the year the LLC was created. The fee is $200 on paper or $203 online by credit card. LLCs that do not file can receive a Notice of Grounds for Administrative Dissolution from the Secretary of State.
How long does it take to form an LLC in North Carolina?
Standard processing for a new entity is 5 to 10 business days, and online filing is faster than paper, according to the Secretary of State. For quicker results, pay $100 for filing within 24 hours or $200 for same-day filing of documents received by noon Eastern.
Can I be my own registered agent in North Carolina?
Yes, if you live in North Carolina and maintain a physical registered office in the state where legal papers can be delivered. A P.O. box can serve only as the mailing address. Companies registered and authorized in North Carolina can also act as registered agents.
Where do I file a DBA for a North Carolina LLC?
North Carolina assumed business name certificates are filed with the register of deeds in each county where the LLC uses the name, and one filing can list multiple counties. The Secretary of State runs a statewide searchable database of assumed name filings made since December 1, 2017.
How do I change my North Carolina LLC’s registered agent?
File a Statement of Change of Registered Office and/or Registered Agent (Form BE-06) with the Secretary of State for $5, or Form BE-17 for $10 if the principal office is changing too. Both can be filed online. North Carolina expects the change to be recorded within 60 days.
Does North Carolina require an operating agreement?
North Carolina does not require LLCs to file an operating agreement with the Secretary of State. Writing one is still recommended because it sets ownership, management and profit-sharing terms, supports the LLC’s separate identity, and is often requested by banks.
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.
