Starting a business in North Carolina
What it costs, what you file and in what order. Every figure below came from the state's own pages, with the date it was checked.
To form an LLC in North Carolina you file Articles of Organization, Form L-01, with the Secretary of State for $125, having first checked the name is free and named a registered agent with a staffed physical address in the state. After that an annual report is due april 15 each year, starting the year after the LLC is created. The paper rate is $200; filing online costs $203 because of a $3 electronic transaction fee.
North Carolina has about 1.1 million small businesses, which is 99.6% of every business in the state. They employ 1.8 million people, or 44.2% of the workforce. Whatever you are starting, you are not doing anything unusual here.
What it costs
| What | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization Form L-01 | $125 | Once, at formation |
| Annual report Paper filing | $200 | April 15 each year, starting the year after the LLC is created. The paper rate is $200; filing online costs $203 because of a $3 electronic transaction fee. |
| Annual report Online filing | $203 | The same date, with a $3 electronic transaction fee |
Every figure on this page was read from the North Carolina Secretary of State and Department of Revenue between 4 and 5 September 2026. Fees change, so check the state page before you file.
The order to do it in
- Check the name is freeSearch the Secretary of State register before anything else. A name that is already taken invalidates the filing and the fee is not returned.
- Decide on the structureSole proprietor, LLC or corporation. The choice changes what you file, what you pay and what you are personally liable for. It is worth understanding before filing, because changing it later means filing again.
- Name a registered agentNorth Carolina requires one. The agent must be an individual resident of North Carolina or a business entity already registered to do business there, and must keep a continuously staffed physical registered office in the state; a P.O. box is acceptable only as an additional mailing address, never as the registered office itself.
- File the Articles of OrganizationForm L-01, filed with the Business Registration Division. The state fee is $125.
- Register for state taxesThe Department of Revenue handles sales and use tax and withholding. Which of them apply turns on what you sell and whether you employ anyone.
- Diarise the annual reportDue April 15 each year, starting the year after the LLC is created. The paper rate is $200; filing online costs $203 because of a $3 electronic transaction fee.
The official pages
- Business Registration Division, Secretary of State
- Search the register for your name
- File Articles of Organization online
- Annual report filing and due dates
- Register a business with the Department of Revenue
These are state and federal pages. SideKix has no relationship with any of them and takes nothing for sending you there.
Before you file
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an LLC in North Carolina?
The state filing fee for Articles of Organization is $125. After that, an annual report is due every year: $200 on paper, or $203 online because of a $3 electronic transaction fee.
What form do I file to start an LLC in North Carolina?
Articles of Organization, Form L-01, filed with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division.
When is the North Carolina annual report due?
April 15 each year, starting the year after the LLC is created. The paper rate is $200; filing online costs $203 because of a $3 electronic transaction fee.
Do I need a registered agent in North Carolina?
Yes. The agent must be an individual resident of North Carolina or a business entity already registered to do business there, and must keep a continuously staffed physical registered office in the state; a P.O. box is acceptable only as an additional mailing address, never as the registered office itself.
How many small businesses are in North Carolina?
About 1.1 million, which is 99.6% of all businesses in the state. They employ 1.8 million people, or 44.2% of the state's workforce, according to the SBA Office of Advocacy 2025 Small Business Profiles.
Can I start a business in North Carolina without an LLC?
Yes. A sole proprietorship needs no formation filing with the Secretary of State, though local privilege licences, an assumed name certificate at the county register of deeds, and state tax registration may still apply. The trade off is that there is no liability separation between you and the business.