Updated on: April 15th, 2024

North Carolina LLC Costs: All Fees Revealed!

Hire Professionals to Create North Carolina LLC (from $0 + state fees)

Forming a limited liability company (LLC) in North Carolina can be an attractive option for business owners. Opening an LLC allows you to protect your personal assets from being held liable in the event of a legal matter and can also provide tangible benefits such as attracting investors who feel more secure investing in LLCs versus sole proprietorships or general partnerships. 

Wondering how you can start an LLC on your own in any state? Take a look at our LLC formation guide here. It has all the steps laid out.

The fees associated with setting up an LLC, however, can be confusing and vary depending on county and municipality regulations. To help those who are considering starting an LLC, this article will detail related to forming an LLC in North Carolina.

If you want to skip the hassle of starting a North Carolina LLC yourself, consider using professional help for the best price in the market:

Quick Costs for North Carolina LLC Breakdown & Your Best Options

Who forms the LLC?Total fees

You form the LLC in North Carolina Yourself
$255 = ($125 filing fee + $200 annual fee + $30 name fee)
by using ZenBusiness$0 + state fees
by using Northwest Registered Agent$39 + state fees
see our other top-rated LLC service providersvaries

How Much Does an LLC Cost in North Carolina?

Setting up an LLC in North Carolina is a straightforward process. All you have to do is submit your Articles of Organization form along with a fee of $125 to the State Secretary and wait for the approval. Once accepted, your brand-new LLC will be officially established!

North Carolina LLC Online Filing Fee ($125)

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To begin your LLC in North Carolina, the most crucial cost is submitting your Articles of Organization online with the North Carolina Secretary of State for a mere $125.

North Carolina Annual Report Fee ($200)

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The North Carolina Secretary of State website makes it easy to complete your LLC’s Annual Report filing, which is due on April 15. Submit all necessary information quickly and securely through the NC SOS website!


Registered Agent Fee ($29 or $125)

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By appointing yourself as the registered agent in North Carolina, you can take control of your company. With that said, entrusting a competent registered agent service helps keep your operations compliant while they remind you of critical filing deadlines and help prevent costly late fees.

A Registered Agent needs a street address in the state and should generally be available during normal business hours. There is no additional cost if you will be your own Registered Agent, or have someone you know to be your LLC’s Registered Agent.

Here are several options you might want to consider:

  • Northwest Registered Agent services are the perfect choice for those seeking to establish a new business and gain access to a registered agent, with full LLC creation package starting at only $39 + state fees!

OR

Hiring a Registered Agent service is a good idea if:

  • You don’t have a residential address in the state. (According to North Carolina law, the Registered Agent must be a North Carolina resident i.e. have an actual location within the state).
  • You want your address to remain confidential and out of public view. (By selecting the right company, you can protect your privacy by using their address instead of yours.)

North Carolina Foreign LLC Filing fees ($250)

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Expanding your business into North Carolina can be an exciting prospect, but if you already have a LLC registered in another state, you must register as a foreign LLC with the NC Secretary of State’s office. This process may seem daunting at first, but it will open new opportunities for potential growth and success!

For just $250, a business entity can register and set up shop in North Carolina as an out-of-state limited liability company (LLC). The process is quick and simple; all you need to do is submit the Application for Certificate of Authority for Limited Liability Company form (Form L-09) with the necessary accompanying fees.


Business Permits and Licenses

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If you are looking to legally run a business in North Carolina, whatever the industry or area of operation may be, it is important that you obtain all necessary federal, state, and local permits/licenses. This applies when creating an LLC as well as for other forms of company structure.

Depending on your business’s physical location and specific industry, the fees for any additional licenses or permits may differ; however, these filing costs are rarely steep. Certain permits must be obtained from a state department while others can only be secured by local entities (the town, city, or county).


Other LLC Filing Costs

When forming an LLC, there are certain optional fees you should be aware of.

LLC Name Reservation ($30)

Lock in the perfect name for your LLC with an Application to Reserve a Business Entity Name (Form BE-03) and pay only $30 prior to formation. You will have up to 120 days of guaranteed reservation.

Foreign LLC Name Registration ($10)

Secure your business name for the rest of this year when you submit the Application to Register a Business Entity Name by a Foreign Entity (Form BE-13) and include payment of only $10. Make sure not to miss out on reserving your ideal company moniker!

“Doing Business As” (DBA) Name ($26)

To create a name for your LLC that is different from your legal business name, you must file an Assumed Business Name Certificate and pay the $26 filing fee.

Certified Document Copies ($30)

Access certified copies of your North Carolina business documents quickly and conveniently by ordering through the Secretary of State for a mere $30 filing fee.

Certificate of Existence ($10)

With a nominal fee of $10, you can obtain an up-to-date Certificate of Good Standing in the state of North Carolina from the Secretary of State. This document is often times requested by banks or other lending institutions and proves that your company is legally registered with the local government.

LLC Operating Agreement Fee ($0)

A North Carolina LLC Operating Agreement is an essential document that clearly outlines the terms of a limited liability company. This written contract delineates how the business will be owned, managed, and profits distributed among Members – regardless of whether it’s a Single-Member or Multi-Member LLC. As such, each Member should receive their own copy to ensure everyone is kept informed about pertinent information regarding the entity. Additionally, all parties should make sure to keep these agreements on file as part of their business records!

LLC Taxes (varies)

Depending on the type of North Carolina LLC taxes, annual fees can vary greatly. Therefore, it is important to understand which ones you will have to pay and how much they cost.

Some of the taxes LLC owners pay include:

  • Federal taxes
  • State income tax
  • Local income tax
  • Local Business licenses taxes
  • Self-employment taxes
  • Sales and use tax
  • Payroll tax (if you have employees)
  • Property tax (if the LLC owns property)

The taxes that your North Carolina LLC will pay are contingent upon the sector and level of activity, preventing us from offering an accurate estimation. Each business is unique; hence certain taxes may be applicable to some businesses but not others. Your ultimate tax burden depends on how much you earn in revenue as a company.


Hiring an Accountant for Your LLC

Computing the taxes your small business will owe can be a complicated process, so working with a knowledgeable accountant in North Carolina is likely the best option for a business owner. The fees associated with an accounting service are often contingent on complexity; for example, a straightforward tax return may cost $300 yearly while more detailed filings could reach up to $900. Whatever your needs may entail, there’s sure to be someone who can help you out at an affordable rate!

Cost of Filing Formation Certificates

Creating a North Carolina Certificate of Formation is an essential step for both domestic and foreign LLCs. Depending on the type of LLC, costs may vary; however, you can submit your application through the North Carolina Secretary of State no matter what kind of entity you are forming.

North CarolinaDomestic LLCForeign LLC
Online Filing$125$250
Annual Report Fee $200$200
Name Reservation fee$30$20
By MailFill out the application form, and send it to NC Secretary of State Business Registration, P.O. Box 29622, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0622. Costs $125.Fill out the application form, and send it to NC Secretary of State Business Registration, P.O. Box 29622, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0622. Costs $250.

Costs Change Often. Where Can I Find the Most Up-to-date Cost & Tax Info?

Not sure what is the latest North Carolina LLC cost? Reach out to the esteemed North Carolina Secretary of State or the North Carolina Department of Business Registration for answers.

Key Steps for Maintaining a North Carolina LLC

When you complete each item in the previous sections you should concentrate on keeping your LLC up to date. This process begins with opening business bank accounts. It helps keep business and personal expenses separate and it also helps greatly in the administration of your taxes. You should also maintain an accurate history of all transactions relating to the LLC. The resulting documents will contain all your invoice sales as well as information relating to your employees.

Keep In Mind: Plan Your Expenses

Your budget spreadsheet will probably seem quite crowded, but don’t worry! This usually represents just one fee and is not worth paying again. Plus, there are no surprises in the registration process for LLCs in North Carolina. Once this fee is gone, it gives you a chance to expand your business and make profits. You should pay a recurring fee to your business to avoid financial failure in the future.


Five Basic Steps to Form an LLC in North Carolina

To know everything on how you can start an LLC yourself — check out our North Carolina LLC formation guide here.

  • Step 1: Name Your North Carolina LLC
  • Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
  • Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
  • Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement
  • Step 5: Get an EIN

Hire Professional Help in Forming an LLC in North Carolina

It can be difficult and time-consuming to form a North Carolina LLC all by yourself.
That’s why we decided to give you a few of the best options for professional services that can help you start an LLC in no time & with 0 effort!

#1 – Create an LLC in North Carolina Using Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest has vast experience in creating LLCs and Corporations. They by far have the best support and client satisfaction rate. We’ve used and tested them ourselves and can guarantee that they’ll do an exceptional job for you.
You can read our full & extensive Northwest review here.

$39+State Fees

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Rating: 4.9/5
Review count: 4850+

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Form an LLC today with Nortwest. They have 98% customer satisfaction rating and over 4150+ verified reviews. They will include 1 year of free registered agent service!


#2 – ZenBusiness can help you form an LLC in North Carolina

ZenBusiness is one of our top-rated LLC services as well. They have a super value-to-price ratio. And it’s perfect for those who are looking for the cheapest option to form their LLCs. When we tested their service — they’ve done a great job, so we can honestly recommend them.
To know more about them — read our full ZenBusiness review here.

$0 + State Fees

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Rating: 4.8/5
Review count: 4830+

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Form an LLC today with ZenBusiness for only $0 + State fees. They Have 98% customer satisfaction rating and over 4830+ verified reviews.


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