How Much Does it Cost to Form a Limited Liability Company in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, the cost of forming an LLC (limited liability corporation) online is $125. When the LLC’s Articles of Organization are filed, this fee is paid to the North Carolina Secretary of State.

How Much Does a North Carolina LLC Cost?

The fee for filing an LLC online in North Carolina is $125.

The major expense of forming an LLC is the $125 filing fee with the North Carolina Secretary of State to submit your LLC’s Articles of Organization online.

The annual report fee in North Carolina is $200.

LLCs in North Carolina are required to submit an annual report with the Secretary of State.

This form may be submitted through the North Carolina Secretary of State’s website. It’s due on April 15th.

Fee for Registered Agent

You may be your own registered agent in North Carolina, but employing a registered agent service keeps your firm in compliance, informs you of critical filing dates, and helps you avoid late fines.

How Much Does it Cost to Form a Foreign LLC in North Carolina?

If you currently have an LLC established in another state and want to expand into North Carolina, you must register your LLC as a foreign LLC in North Carolina.

A foreign LLC in North Carolina costs $250 to register. In North Carolina, you may establish a foreign LLC by submitting an Application for Certificate of Authority for Limited Liability Company (Form L-09).

Permits and Licenses for Businesses

Depending on your industry and geographic location, your company may need federal, state, and municipal permits/licenses to operate lawfully in North Carolina. This is true regardless of whether you create an LLC or another sort of company structure.

Other Fees for Filing an LLC

There are several extra costs involved with forming an LLC:

Reservation of an LLC Name:
By completing an Application to Reserve a Business Entity Name (Form BE-03) and paying the $30 filing fee, you may reserve your name for up to 120 days prior to LLC formation.

Registration of a Foreign LLC Name:
By submitting an Application to Register a Business Entity Name by a Foreign Entity (Form BE-13) and paying the $10 filing fee, you may reserve your name until the end of the calendar year.

DBA (Doing Business As) Name:
To establish a name different than your official LLC company name, file an Assumed Business Name Certificate and pay the $26 filing fee.

Copies of Certified Documents:
Certified copies of your North Carolina business records may be obtained by contacting the Secretary of State and paying the $30 filing fee.

Existence Certificate:
This document, also known as a North Carolina certificate of good standing, may be obtained by contacting the Secretary of State and paying the $10+ filing fee. Banks and financial institutions often demand a proof of existence.