LLC Formation Costs › North Carolina
How Much Does an LLC Cost in North Carolina? Year One and Every Year After
Starting a North Carolina LLC costs $125 to file. After that, Annual Report, every year, $200. The state side over three years is $525.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
Every cost, itemised
| Cost | When | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| State filing fee | Once | $125 | Articles of Organization (L-01), North Carolina Secretary of State |
| Annual Report | Yearly | $200 | Annual Report, every year, $200 |
| Registered agent | Yearly | from $149 | Required. A North Carolina resident, or a corporation, nonprofit or LLC on the North Carolina business registry other than the company itself. |
| Expedite | Optional | +$100 to +$200 | 24 hour +$100; Same day (before noon) +$200 |
| EIN | Once | $0 | Issued free by the IRS |
Over time
| Horizon | State side | With Mainstay Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $125 | $324 |
| 3 years | $525 | $1,122 |
| 5 years | $925 | $1,920 |
With Mainstay Filing: $199 a year plus the North Carolina fee at cost, covering the formation, registered agent, EIN application and annual report. It renews at the same $199.
Mainstay Filing
Our rating: 4.9 out of 5
$199 / year + $125 state fee
Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in North Carolina?
$125 to file. Over three years the state side is $525; with Mainstay Filing it is $1,122.
What is the yearly cost of a North Carolina LLC after the first year?
Annual Report, every year, $200.
Sources
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 57D-2-20 (North Carolina Limited Liability Company Act, Chapter 57D — formation by filing articles of organization); fee set at $125 (recited on the official form; fee schedule in N.C.G.S. § 57D-1-22) (multira state research spine): www.sosnc.gov/webfiles/documents/forms/Business_Registration/limited_liability_companies/articles_of_organization.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: www.sosnc.gov/fees/by_title/_Business_Registration_limited_liability_companies, checked October 1, 2026
- North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: sosnc.gov/fees/by_title/_Business_Registration/, checked October 1, 2026
- North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division (multira state research spine): www.sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/annual_report, checked August 12, 2026
- North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division (multira state research spine): www.sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/filing_a_paper_annual_report, checked August 12, 2026
- North Carolina report due date (multira state research spine, due dates verified 714/714): www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_57D/GS_57D-2-24.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- North Carolina registered agent statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 55D-30): sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/registered_agent_links, checked October 20, 2026
- North Carolina expedite and processing (North Carolina Secretary of State, official page read): www.sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration, checked October 1, 2026