North Carolina LLC cost
Forming an LLC in North Carolina costs $125 in state fees in year one, then about $200 a year to stay in good standing.
Forming a North Carolina LLC
You file Articles of Organization with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division. The state fee is $125. See the official fee.
File it yourself with the state →
Every year after
- Annual Report: $200, filed every year. Due: April 15 each year.
- First one: April 15 of the year after the LLC is formed.
- If you're late: No separate late-filing fee listed; past-due reports can lead to administrative dissolution ($100 reinstatement application).
- Official report page
Worth knowing
- LLC annual report is $200 and due April 15 every year, starting the year after formation.
- Corporation annual report is only $25 paper ($21 online including the e-filing fee) but corps pay a $200 minimum franchise tax to NCDOR.
- Nonprofit corporations do not file annual reports with the Secretary of State.
- Assumed business names are filed at the county Register of Deeds, not the Secretary of State.
Registered agent
North Carolina requires a registered agent. Must maintain a registered agent with a registered office street address in North Carolina. You can serve as your own agent if you have a qualifying address; paid services usually charge a yearly fee.
| Other filings | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $10 | 120 days, nonrenewable ($10 for LLCs and nonprofits; $30 for business corporations) |
| DBA / assumed name (county) | $26 | Assumed Business Name Certificate filed with the county Register of Deeds in each county where business is conducted; $26 per certificate (Durham County figure). Entities must also give their SOSID. |
| Expedited processing | $100 | $100 for 24-hour filing; $200 for same-day filing if received by noon |
| Foreign LLC registration | $250 | Application for Certificate of Authority |
Fees last checked 2026-10-20 against North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division. States change fees — confirm on the linked page before you file.
Thinking about forming somewhere else?
If you operate in North Carolina, an out-of-state LLC also has to register here as a foreign entity. See both costs side by side: