North Carolina LLC

Starting an LLC in NC requires filing Articles of Organization with the North Carolina Secretary of State and paying the associated $125 filing fee. You’ll also need to set your business up with a registered agent, EIN and bank account, and pay ongoing fees. See our DIY Guide below for more details.

Want to get everything done quick and easy? We’ve gone through painstaking efforts to make sure we include everything you need to start doing business immediately. We even include the foundation for your entire North Carolina business presence: a free website domain for a year, along with free use of your own pre-built website, linked business email, SSL for security, and a North Carolina business phone number for 90 days.

The bottom line? We charge a one-time fee of $277, including registered agent service and state fees, to offer you the most affordable and comprehensive LLC formation package in the state. No additional upfront cost, and you can cancel anytime.

What are the benefits of an LLC in NC?

The North Carolina LLC is designed to provide a flexible tax structure, and—more importantly—implement a distinct separation between your personal assets and business assets. While a North Carolina Corporation can also give you liability protection, corporations are generally more expensive and rigidly structured.

Forming an LLC in NC allows you to claim business taxes on your personal tax return, and thus avoid corporate taxes. Or—if it makes sense for your business—you can choose to file as a corporation or an S-corp. Bottom line: an LLC gives you options.

Use our free tool below to begin filling out your Articles of Organization. We’ll save your progress, so feel free to take your time. When you’re ready to create your LLC, you can hire us and we’ll file for you or you can submit the forms yourself.

How to Get an LLC in NC

You can establish your LLC in North Carolina by following these six steps:

1. Get a North Carolina Registered Agent
2. File NC LLC Formation Documents
3. Get an EIN
4. Open a Bank Account
5. File a BOI Report
6. Keep Up With Ongoing Filings

 

1. Get a North Carolina Registered Agent

Every North Carolina limited liability company must have a North Carolina Registered Agent. This person or entity must be based in North Carolina and available during normal business hours to accept service of process (like legal notices) on behalf of your company (N.C. Gen Stat § 55D-30).

You can be your own registered agent in North Carolina. However, you’ll have to be ok listing your name and address on your state formation documents, which become part of the public record. Don’t want your name and address available for everyone to see? When you hire us, we put our name and address on your formation documents instead of yours.

2. File LLC Articles of Formation

You must file Articles of Formation with the Secretary of State before you can officially do business in the state of North Carolina. Your articles must provide information about important aspects of your business, including:

• LLC name
• Name and address of the person or entity filing articles on behalf of your company
• Name and street address of registered agent (not a P.O. Box)
• Mailing address for registered agent (if different from above)
• LLC principal office address (if you have one)
• LLC mailing address (optional)
• LLC email address (optional—will NOT be made public)
• Additional provisions (optional)
• Name, title and business address of company officials (optional)
• Date of authorization (if a date later than your filing date)
• Authorized signature

How do I submit my articles of organization in North Carolina?

You can submit articles of organization to the NC Secretary of State online, by mail or in person.

Online: NC Online Services

By Mail:
North Carolina Department of Secretary of State
Business Registration Division
P.O. Box 29622
Raleigh, NC 27626-0622

In Person:
North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State
Business Registration Division
2 South Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27601

What other NC LLC forms will I need?

In addition to the documents you must file with the state, you’ll have to create an internal document known as an LLC Operating Agreement. Your operating agreement is a legally binding document, which means it can be used to defend your business in a court of law—it also means you should take the time to make sure your operating agreement is strong, and covers all your bases.

How do I write an operating agreement for my NC LLC?

You can draft your operating agreement yourself, or get a lawyer to draft one for you. The operating agreement is the internal document that outlines the rules and functions of your LLC, so you’ll want to make sure you know what’s in it.

When you work with us, we provide an operating agreement template, customized to match your management structure and list all your LLC members. Our operating agreement can be used as is, or it can be amended however the LLC members see fit. Alternatively, you could give it to your attorney to use as a template, saving you time and money.

3. Get an EIN

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is like a social security number for your company. You’ll use it when you file taxes on behalf of your business. EINs are free and you can get one by applying online through the IRS.

If you hire us to form your LLC for you, you can choose to add on EIN service for just $50.

4. Open a Bank Account

To maintain the limited liability status afforded to you by an LLC, you must keep your personal and business assets (including money) separate. A good first step is to open a business bank account for your LLC. To do this, you’ll likely need a resolution (or similar document), which proves you own your LLC.

When you form your LLC with us, this is included in your North Carolina LLC formation package.

5. File a BOI Report

As of January 1, 2024, most LLCs in the U.S. are required to file what’s known as a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report. This report must include basic information about your business, as well as the following information about your beneficial owner and company applicant:

• Full legal name
• Residential address
• Date of birth
• Copy of a valid form of photo ID

This report must be filed online with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) within 30 days of formation. NOTE: Businesses formed in 2024 have 90 days after formation to file a BOI report. This applies solely to 2024; the window to file returns to 30 days in 2025. Any company formed before January 1, 2024 has until the start of 2025 to file their BOI report, and won’t be required to provide information for a company applicant.

What’s the difference between a beneficial owner and a company applicant?

A beneficial owner is any person who has a significant control over your company. This could be a member, manager, or anyone with at least 25% ownership. A company applicant is: a.) the person who filed formation documents on behalf of your company, and b.) the person who ordered that filing. If these two people are different, you must list them both on your BOI report. If they’re the same person, you only need to list one company applicant.

This is a new federal requirement with a lot of moving pieces still. Our local experts are on top of any and all changes, so if you don’t want to deal with this, we can securely file your BOI report with FinCEN for only $25.

6. Keep Up with Ongoing Filings

After forming your LLC, you’ll need to maintain good standing with the state. This requires filing an annual report, which will cost $200 each year. If you forget, or neglect to file your annual report, the state could dissolve your business. For the health and well being of your company, it’s important to keep up with all communications from the state.

As your registered agent, we send state notifications to your right away so you never miss an important update or task.

Start a North Carolina LLC for $277 Total

North Carolina LLC Formation Package:
$277 Total

We take pride in offering the most affordable LLC formation service in North Carolina. But we don’t believe that paying less means you should get less. When we form your LLC in North Carolina, in our most basic package we provide everything you’ll need to start doing business.

For $277 total (including the $128 state filing fee), you get:

• A North Carolina LLC formed by professionals
• 1 year of North Carolina registered agent service
• Instant online business presence with a website, domain, SSL, email, and phone number with local area code
• Instant access to your online account: track and manage registered agent services and all corporate filings, documents and notifications
• A North Carolina LLC operating agreement you can understand
• North Carolina LLC membership certificates and resolutions
• North Carolina LLC annual report reminders
• Free use of our address in Raleigh to enhance business security
• Lifetime client support

FAQ: North Carolina LLC

How much does it cost to get an LLC in North Carolina?

You’ll pay a base amount of $125 to submit LLC Articles of Formation to the Secretary of State (plus $3 if you’re filing online). From there, you’ll face an annual fee of $200 to keep your LLC in good standing.

How long does it take to get an LLC in NC?

The Secretary of State’s office can take a few days to process new documents, so if you want to save time it’s best to file online instead of by mail. However, North Carolina does provide two options to expedite your filing time if you need your LLC ASAP:

• 24 hours (for documents submitted between 8am and 5pm): $100
• Same day (documents must be submitted before noon): $200

How do I file an NC LLC Annual Report?

Your North Carolina LLC Annual Report can be filed online, by mail or in person.

Online: Annual Report Wizard

By Mail:
North Carolina Office of the Secretary of State
Business Registration Division
P.O. Box 29525
Raleigh, NC 27626-0525

In Person:
North Carolina Office of the Secretary of State
Business Registration Division
2 South Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27601

Do I have to pay taxes on my LLC in NC?

What you’ll pay in taxes for your LLC in North Carolina depends on the tax designation you’ve chosen, as well as where your company is located. LLCs are taxed as pass-through entities by default, which means revenue gets reported on LLC members’ personal tax reports. You’ll have to pay the federal self-employment tax of 15.3%, state sales tax of 4.75%, as well as any local taxes imposed by the city or county in which your company operates.

You could choose to tax your LLC as a C-corp or S-corp, which could cost you more in taxes or save you money in the long run—it really depends on how you’ve set up your company. If you’re considering filing as a corporation for tax reasons, it’s probably a good idea to speak with a lawyer or CPA to make sure you’re making the right choice.

How do I dissolve an LLC in NC?

To dissolve your LLC in North Carolina, you need to submit Articles of Dissolution to the Secretary of State, and pay the associated $30 fee.

Can I register an out-of-state LLC in NC?

Yes! You can register a foreign LLC in North Carolina by filing an Application for Certificate of Authority for Limited Liability Company with the Secretary of State. This filing is for LLCs that already exist, and were formed in another state or jurisdiction. The form costs $250 to file. Our Out-of-State Registration Service includes filing your application, a year of our registered agent service, and all the tools you need to get your business on its feet in North Carolina.