Key Takeaways

  • The base North Carolina LLC cost is $125 to file the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State.
  • Expedited filing is available for $100 (24-hour) or $200 (same-day) processing.
  • Ongoing costs include a $200 annual report fee, due by April 15 each year.
  • Optional costs may include name reservation ($30), registered agent service fees, and business license costs depending on your location and industry.
  • Other potential expenses include operating agreement preparation, certified document copies, and foreign LLC registration fees if expanding into NC.

There are specific NC LLC filing requirements that you must follow when forming your North Carolina limited liability company. Specifically, North Carolina LLCs are easy to form, as is the case with most state requirements for LLCs.

Articles of Organization

In order to form your North Carolina LLC, you must file the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State’s office. This document will include the following information:

  • Business name
  • Principal address
  • Duration of the LLC
  • Registered agent name and address
  • How the LLC will be managed (member or manager-managed)
  • Business e-mail address
  • Date when the LLC will begin conducting business
  • Name, address, and title of owners (members)

The name must be the full name, along with the LLC business indicator. The principal address must not be a P.O. box, but an actual physical address. If your principal place of business is different from your mailing address, then you will need to include both addresses. If the LLC is going to last indefinitely, then you will leave that information blank in the document. However, if you plan on ending your business on a certain date, then you will provide the date when your business will dissolve.

Your company must include the name and address of a registered agent, who will receive legal papers on behalf of your business. It is not required that you provide an e-mail address; by providing this contact information, you will receive updates from the Secretary of State’s office regarding updates and reminders for other filings that are required for the upkeep of your LLC.

If you don’t intend on starting your business right away, you can provide a date up to 90 days in the future, but no later than that.

In addition to the aforementioned items, you can include other items regarding your LLC in the articles of organization, such as the purpose of your LLC, how membership interest can be sold or transferred, voting rights, and other important decisions pertaining to the business.

Once you have finished filling out the articles of organization, you will need to submit it with the applicable filing fee of $125. If you choose expedited services, the fee is $200 for same-day processing and $100 for 24-hour processing. If you choose normal processing times, it will usually take 3-5 business days.

North Carolina LLC Filing Costs

When forming an LLC in North Carolina, the required Articles of Organization filing carries a $125 state fee. Business owners who need faster processing can request expedited services: $100 for 24-hour turnaround or $200 for same-day filing. These fees are paid to the North Carolina Secretary of State at the time of submission.

Beyond this initial cost, LLC owners must also plan for ongoing obligations. Each year, North Carolina requires LLCs to file an annual report with a $200 fee, due by April 15. Failing to submit the report on time can result in late penalties and even administrative dissolution of the company.

NC LLC Business Name

There are some requirements when it comes to choosing your NC LLC business name. You will need to ensure that you choose a name that is not already being used by another NC LLC. In order to find out if the name you want to use is already in use, you can visit the North Carolina Secretary of State website and run a business entity search. If the name is free and available for use, then you can use that name. If you aren’t ready to move forward with that name choice, you can reserve it for up to 120 days for a nominal fee of $30. The request must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of State. Keep in mind that a name reservation is non-refundable and non-renewable. Therefore, after the 120-day period is up, you will need to either move forward with registering that business name or risk potentially losing it to another business if you aren’t ready to formally register your business in the state.

If another company has already reserved the name, then you might still be able to use that name if the other company agrees to give you use. If, however, another NC LLC is using the company name, then you must choose a different name.

Furthermore, you will need to include the LLC business designator at the end of your name, i.e. LLC, L.L.C., Limited Liability Co., et al. You cannot use terms like Corp, Partnership, or any other term that would indicate you are operating a business other than an LLC.

There are certain words that are prohibited from being used; such terms are commonly prohibited in most states. Some of these prohibited terms include:

  • Bank
  • Trust
  • University
  • School
  • FBI, CIA, and any other government agency
  • Lawyer, Doctor, Engineer, etc. unless you are actually licensed in this area
  • Insurance
  • Wholesale

Other Costs of Forming a North Carolina LLC

In addition to the filing fee and annual report, several optional or situational costs may apply when forming a North Carolina LLC:

  • Name Reservation: If you wish to hold your desired business name before filing, you can reserve it for 120 days at a cost of $30.
  • Registered Agent Services: While you may serve as your own registered agent, many LLC owners hire a professional service, typically costing $100–$300 annually.
  • Operating Agreement: Though not required by law, creating an LLC operating agreement is highly recommended. If prepared by an attorney, this may cost several hundred dollars.
  • Certified Copies & Certificates of Existence: Obtaining official state-certified documents for legal or banking purposes costs an additional $10–$30 per copy.
  • Business Licenses & Permits: Depending on your industry and location, you may need municipal or state licenses, with fees that vary widely.
  • Foreign LLC Registration: If your company is formed outside of North Carolina but wishes to operate in the state, the registration fee is $250.

These expenses should be considered alongside the basic filing fee to budget realistically for starting and maintaining your LLC.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How much does it cost to start an LLC in North Carolina?
    It costs $125 to file the Articles of Organization. Optional expedited services cost $100 (24-hour) or $200 (same-day).
  2. What is the annual cost to maintain a North Carolina LLC?
    LLCs must file an annual report with the Secretary of State for $200, due by April 15 each year.
  3. Do I need to reserve my LLC name in North Carolina?
    Name reservation is optional. If you aren’t ready to file, you can reserve your name for $30, which holds it for 120 days.
  4. Are there hidden costs when forming an LLC in North Carolina?
    Yes. Additional costs may include registered agent services, operating agreement drafting, business licenses, and certified copies.
  5. Can I reduce the cost of forming a North Carolina LLC?
    Yes. You can act as your own registered agent, prepare your own operating agreement, and only request optional services as needed to minimize expenses.

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