Starting an LLC in North Carolina
What it costs, what you file and what you owe afterwards. Every figure below came from the state's own pages.
Forming an LLC in North Carolina costs $125 to file the Articles of Organization (Form L-01) with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division. After that, 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.
What it costs
| What | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (Form L-01) | $125 | Once, when the LLC is formed |
| Annual Report | $203 | 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. |
Registered agent
North 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.
What you owe after year one
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.
Missing it is the most common way a good standing lapses, and restoring one costs more than filing on time.
Where to get help, at no charge
North Carolina funds three counseling networks that will work through this with you and charge nothing: the community college Small Business Centers, the SBTDC in the UNC System, and SCORE. Here is who to call and what each one does.
The official pages
- North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division
- Search the register for your name
- File the Articles of Organization (Form L-01)
- Report filing and due dates
Read from the source, 2, 3, 4 on 2026-09-05. Fees change, so check the state page before filing. SideKix has no relationship with any state agency and takes nothing for sending you there.
Before you file
- Sole proprietor, LLC or S corp, what actually differs, with no recommendation
- What it will cost to start, because the filing fee is the small part
- Whether the name is still free, checked against the registries themselves
- What to do first if the idea is still an idea
Another state
SideKix, “How much does an LLC cost in North Carolina?”, checked 2026-09-05. https://sidekixhq.com/start-an-llc-in-north-carolina.html
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an LLC in North Carolina?
The state filing fee for the Articles of Organization (Form L-01) is $125.
What form do I file to start an LLC in North Carolina?
The Articles of Organization (Form L-01), filed with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division.
Does North Carolina require an annual report for an LLC?
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.