State filing fee
$125
sosnc.gov, read October 2026
LLC cost guide · North Carolina
North Carolina LLC Fees and Costs (2026): the Official Numbers and the 3 Best LLC Services
In 2026, for setting up an LLC in North Carolina, our order is North Carolina Registered Agent.co ($199), NC Registered Agent.org ($199) and Mainstay Filing ($199). North Carolina charges $125 to file and $200 every year for the annual report. Over three years that puts it at number 42nd of 50 states on state cost.
Facts for North Carolina
42nd
of 50 states on state fees over three years
A low number means a low bill. Open the complete list
Annual report
$200 / yr
Due date, in the state's own words: April 15. sosnc.gov, read October 2026
State charges over 3 years
$525
Year 1 filing, years 2 and 3 reports
Ranked services for North Carolina
Weights are listed on the method page. Three-year fees and coverage count for the most.
1. North Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for a thrifty first year
Year 1 costs $199; every later year $99
We put North Carolina Registered Agent.co at number one since starting costs $199 with the agent covered the first year; each year after is $99.
Cost settles this one: three years here come to less than three years with Mainstay Filing.
Set aside time for the annual report every year.
What the price takes in
- Prepares and submits the articles
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- $99 per year after that
- The first agent year is included
- $199 to form
Against it
- The annual report is left to the owner
- The EIN is not in the price ($99)
2. NC Registered Agent.org: best for LLCs that only operate in North Carolina
Year 1 costs $199; every later year $99
NC Registered Agent.org comes second because starting costs $199 with the agent covered the first year; each year after is $99.
Set aside time for the annual report every year.
It ties with North Carolina Registered Agent.co on price.
What the price takes in
- Prepares and submits the articles
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- $99 per year after that
- $199 to form
- The first agent year is included
Against it
- The annual report is left to the owner
- The EIN is not in the price ($99)
3. Mainstay Filing: best for fewer chores each year
Year 1 $199; later years $199; state fee separate
In third place sits Mainstay Filing: a single yearly price of $199 pays for formation, a registered agent and the annual report.
North Carolina Registered Agent.co is $200 lower across three years, which is why it ranks above this one.
Mainstay Filing sends in the annual report; North Carolina's $200 is passed through at cost.
What the price takes in
- Files the formation papers for you
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Prepares and files the annual report
- Takes care of the EIN application
- The state fee comes at its listed amount
In its favor
- A $199 yearly bundle
- It files the EIN application for you
- Renews at $199
Against it
- North Carolina Registered Agent.co renews for $100 less
North Carolina ranking in one table
| No. | Provider | First year | Later years | Provider fees over 3 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit North Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | NC Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit NC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Prices come from the companies' own pages, read November 13, 2026. Every row also needs the $125 state fee.
Work out your total
Choose a number of years and a provider. The state part follows the official fee schedule: $125 to form, then the annual report from year 2.
North Carolina and the states around it in the ranking
| Place | State | Three-year state fees |
|---|---|---|
| 40th | Alaska | $350 |
| 41st | Florida | $402.50 |
| 42nd | North Carolina | $525 |
| 43rd | Kentucky | $595 |
| 44th | Maryland | $700 |
LLC costs by state puts every state in order, lowest cost first.
North Carolina formation fee and the form to use
You pay $125 and file the Articles of Organization (Form L-01) with the North Carolina Secretary of State under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 57D-2-20. It is the same amount whoever files for you. Normal processing time: Entity creation 5 to 10 business days.
The recurring North Carolina report
The annual report comes around once a year and costs $200, April 15.
Why North Carolina Registered Agent.co is first
Service bill, years one to three decided first place in North Carolina. It is worth 34% of the score, and the other criteria are paperwork inside the price, second-year price, match to the state, state fee shown apart.
It leads on cost at $397 over three years, $200 lower than Mainstay Filing.
Questions about North Carolina
How much does North Carolina charge to form an LLC?
$125 goes to the state. Our picks charge $199 in the first year.
What will filing the annual report cost in North Carolina?
It costs $200 and is due every year, April 15.
Where does North Carolina stand on LLC costs?
North Carolina is number 42nd of 50 on three-year state fees, at $525. The lowest total takes number 1.
How long does the state take to process a new LLC?
Allow Entity creation 5 to 10 business days.
Does North Carolina require a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which LLC service would you choose?
North Carolina Registered Agent.co leads and NC Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing follow. The deciding factor is service bill, years one to three.
Where these facts come from
- Check our statements on North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State against sosnc.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State against sosnc.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on North Carolina report due date against ncleg.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on N.C against sosnc.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source against sosnc.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source against sosnc.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on North Carolina registered agent statute against sosnc.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Alaska Stat. §§ 10.50.070, 10.50.075 against akleg.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development against commerce.alaska.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development against commerce.alaska.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Fla against flsenate.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Florida formation fee: Filing fee, official source against dos.fl.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Florida formation fee: Filing fee, official source against flsenate.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations against dos.fl.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations against dos.fl.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Florida yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source against flsenate.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on KRS 275.025 against apps.legislature.ky.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee, official source against sos.ky.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Kentucky Secretary of State against sos.ky.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Kentucky Secretary of State against sos.ky.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official against revenue.ky.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Md against mgaleg.maryland.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source against mgaleg.maryland.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source against egov.maryland.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation against dat.maryland.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation against dat.maryland.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Processing, official source against sosnc.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- North Carolina Registered Agent.co posted pricing page; we read the page November 13, 2026
- NC Registered Agent.org posted pricing page; we read the page November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing posted North Carolina service page; we read the page November 13, 2026