North Carolina consistently ranks in the top 5 states to start a business by publicans that put out best states for business lists each year. The highly educated workforce, thriving business climate, and well-planned infrastructure are just a few reasons why North Carolina is a great state to start a business. If you are looking to start an LLC in North Carolina, this guide will walk you through the step-by-step process to help get your business up and running in no time.
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What are the benefits of an LLC?
- LLCs provide liability protection for business owners, meaning that the owners’ assets will not be at risk.
- Easy to set up and manage
- One person may form an LLC
When do you need to form an LLC?
If you are exploring starting a business or perhaps you are already in business as a sole proprietor it is a good idea to form an LLC. If you are operating a business without an LLC you could be placing yourself and your personal assets at risk.
While it is not required to form an LLC before starting a business the benefits include accounting and tax standardization, limited liability risk right away, and it will be easier to stay organized since all of your business-related expenses will be tied to one business bank account.
Step 1: Choose your company name
The first step in starting an LLC is to select a business name. It is essential to choose a business name that is unique from existing entities.
Perform a North Carolina business name search
The North Carolina Secretary of State maintains a database of business entities registered in North Carolina that is free for the public to search.
Naming considerations
Your North Carolina LLC must contain “Limited Liability Company” or include the abbreviation LLC or LLC. Prefixes, suffixes, and plural versions of an existing entity name do not make it unique.
For instance, if you wanted to start a breakfast restaurant called Tarheel Cafe LLC you would want to make sure there wasn’t a similar sounding name like Tarheel Breakfast Cafe or something similar.. The intent with naming rules is to create a clearly distinguishable name that avoids confusion for the public so if you find a name that is somewhat similar to the one you are considering it is probably best to move on to another name idea.
If you are struggling to develop a North Carolina LLC name, one option is to use a business name generator, which can help come up with hundreds of name suggestions in seconds.
Perform a trademark search
If you intend on using your business for a commercial purpose you will want to perform a trademark search before selecting your North Carolina business name. A trademark will help protect against infringement of unauthorized use of your business name and logo without your permission and can eventually become a valuable asset if your business grows.
Avoid using a trademarked or similar name to an existing business to protect yourself.
Find out if your proposed business name is available by conducting a trademark search online at the US Patent & Trademark Office.
Determine if you want to use a DBA name
A DBA is a registered “Doing Business As” name and can be used instead of the legal LLC business entity name.
A DBA allows you to have a name for your business that reflects what it does or who its customers are. Business owners use their company’s DBA names on checks, orders, contracts, and correspondence when doing business.
Some of the main benefits of a DBA:
- Flexibility: If you have your LLC established, you can use DBA names instead of creating separate entities for each new venture.
- Branding: A DBA name is easier to brand and identify for customers.
- Expansion: It is easy to file DBAs in different geographical locations to target other customers and appear hyper-focused in your marketing.
You do not need to operate under a DBA if you use your North Carolina business name for all business purposes. However, using a DBA name will not affect your North Carolina LLC name registration.
Register the domain name
Once you decide on a business name, check to ensure that the domain name is available. can show you which domain extensions are available for your business name.
Although .com domain names are ideal, extensions like .net, .co, and .biz are becoming more commonplace
Register social media profiles
It is vital to have a solid social media presence in today’s business environment. So be sure to register for your business name on the different social media platforms ahead of time so that no one can sign up for them.
Step 2: Register North Carolina LLC
After choosing a name, start the registration process online at the North Carolina Secretary of State website.
Registering your LLC in North Carolina is a relatively straightforward and quick process.
Select a registered agent
A registered agent is required for a North Carolina LLC and is an individual point of contact for North Carolina designated to receive official correspondence from the North Carolina Secretary of State. If you work from home a registered agent can help prevent your home address from being solicited by business mail since the registered agent’s address will serve as the official address for the business.
If you are not going to be your North Carolina LLC’s registered agent, find a substitute North Carolina resident or company to serve in this role. Be sure that the registered agent’s address is included in all your business documents and correspondence if you intend to use a different registered office.
What are North Carolina registered agent requirements?
A North Carolina registered agent:
- must be over the age of 18
- have a physical street address in North Carolina
- be available during regular business hours
How to register
Once you choose a registered agent and perform a North Carolina business search, the next step is to fill out the North Carolina Articles of Organization.
The form can be filled out online and requires the following information:
- Name of corporation
- Registered agent
- Address
- Members
The North Carolina Secretary of State has done a great job revamping its website to make online filing as easy as possible. If you want to mail your business forms you send them to the following address:
North Carolina Secretary of State
Business Registration Divison
2 South Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
Our picks of the best registered agent services
Step 3: Next steps after filing North Carolina LLC
Apply for an EIN
The IRS requires each LLC to have its own unique employer identification number. The Internal Revenue Service website can generate a federal tax identification number. An EIN makes it easy to file your business taxes and stay in compliance with the IRS and is similar to a Social Security number for your business.
EIN’s also add credibility to your business and are required for compliance purposes from time to time by companies that have to pay you for goods and services. An EIN is also required to open a business bank account and will help you establish business credit in the event you need to take out a business loan.
Start a business bank account
A business bank account is required for LLCs to start conducting business. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you start a low-risk bank account to start receiving income and paying any start-up expenses.
After the LLC has been established, your business bank account will be used for payroll, payment of bills, a deposit of earnings from your business, and any other financial transactions your business may have.
Back office tasks such as bookkeeping can also be performed on your start-up bank account to keep start-up costs low.
Apply for a business license and permits
If you are planning on selling goods or services in North Carolina, you will want to look into whether or not the city or industry requires a particular business license.
The best way to get more information on the different license requirements throughout the state is to visit North Carolina.gov.
Prepare an LLC operating agreement
An operating agreement is a contract between the LLC owners that lays out the financial and functional decisions of managing a North Carolina LLC. An operating agreement is needed if there are multiple business owners of a North Carolina LLC.
An operating agreement can be as simple or in-depth as desired, but it is important to have one in writing before starting any significant operations within the business.
File annual report
North Carolina corporations must file an annual report through the Secretary of State to stay in good standing with the Department of State. A North Carolina annual report is not a financial statement and the main intention behind Annual Reports is to help keep track of active businesses in North Carolina and ensure that the state has the most up-to-date contact information for businesses on file with the Secretary of State.
How much does it cost to file a North Carolina LLC?
The North Carolina filing fee for a Domestic LLC in North Carolina is $125. You can get a complete list of fees for all business forms by visiting the fees page on North Carolina.gov.
Recommended LLC formation services
- Northwest Registered Agent: Started as a registered agent service but expanded into business formations and offered additional professional services like mail forwarding and virtual business address services.
- ZenBusiness: Another recommended online business formation platform that can help set up an LLC in Arizona. They offer a full suite of services for new business owners, including operating agreements, business websites, domain names, and more.
- Bizee: A top online incorporation service provider in the market that offers various business filing services like LLC formation, Registered Agent, State Filings, and Compliance Filings.
North Carolina LLC FAQs
How do I start an LLC in North Carolina?
This guide above walks you through the step-by-step process to get your North Carolina LLC up and running. With internet filings, you can get your business filed in less than 15 minutes and the state typically will process your business forms within 3-10 business days depending on their current workload.
Is North Carolina a good state to form an LLC?
Yes, North Carolina is a great state to state an LLC and ranks near the top each year in rankings of the best states to start a business. There is a great business environment in North Carolina with a reasonable cost of living and access to capital.
Do I need a license for an LLC in North Carolina?
There is no generic business license outside of your LLC registration, but specific licensing requirements exist in certain cities and industries. NC.gov is a great resource for information on which industries require them.
Does North Carolina have an annual LLC fee?
Yes, there are annual reports that active LLCs must file with the Department of State to stay in good standing. The cost to file an annual report is $25 for LLCs.
How do you look up who owns a North Carolina LLC?
The best way to look up who owns a North Carolina LLC is to perform a North Carolina business search through the North Carolina Department of State. Searching is free for the public, and the database maintains a list of corporations that have registered their business with the state.
What is a North Carolina Certificate of Good standing?
A North Carolina certificate of good standing indicates that a business is in good standing with the state and has paid all applicable business fees to perform business within the state. Companies can get their certificate of good standing by visiting the North Carolina Secretary of State website.
How do you terminate a North Carolina LLC?
You can dissolve a North Carolina LLC by filling out an Articles of Dissolution form and filing it with the North Carolina Secretary of State. If you don’t plan on being in business, terminating your business is a good idea, so you won’t be responsible for biennial business filing fees.
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