Start an LLC in North Carolina
Start a North Carolina LLC by filing the Articles of Organization with the North Carolina Secretary of State for $125.
You can use our free tool to fill out the paperwork right here yourself. Or hire Northwest to do it for you and we’ll provide one year of registered agent service and a free Business Identity—all for $39.
How To Start An LLC In North Carolina
A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a permanent public record. Starting one requires sharing personal information with the government, banks, landlords, vendors, and of course, customers. We provide a Free Business Identity to anyone who needs it—that’s a domain name, website, phone line, email address, and Brand Protection on day one. This helps protect your privacy and keep you in control of your intellectual property.
1. Name Your LLC
Choosing a name for your North Carolina LLC is more than a legal requirement—it’s a marketing decision that will determine how people will recognize your business. A good company name should be easy to read, memorable, and flexible enough to grow with you over time. It’s also smart to check that your preferred name is available as a domain so you can secure a matching website and build a consistent online presence from the start.
Before deciding on your name, make sure it meets North Carolina state guidelines and is available. You can verify availability using the North Carolina Business Entity Search.
Before deciding on your name, make sure it meets North Carolina state guidelines and is available. You can verify availability using the North Carolina Business Entity Search.
Limited liability companies in North Carolina must follow the rules laid out in N.C. Gen Stat § 55D-20. Your LLC name needs to:
- Include a designator like LLC, limited liability company, or another allowable indicator.
- Not include any words prohibited for use in North Carolina business names (for example: “Bank” or “Architect”) unless you have proper approval.
- Not contain any offensive words.
Your name CANNOT be the same as another registered North Carolina business. (A quick North Carolina business name search can tell you if your name is in use already.) You can have the same name as a business in a different state as long as there’s no federal trademark.
Have the perfect name in mind but not ready to file your formation docs? You can file an Application to Reserve a Business Entity Name with the North Carolina Secretary of State. The form costs $30 to file and will reserve your business name for 120 days.
Online filing
- Go to the NC SOS Online Business Services page
- Click on “Submit a Creation Filing”
- Log in or create an account if you don’t have one
- Choose “Name Reservation” from the list of filings
- Complete and submit the form
Paper filing
- Go to the NC SOS paper filings page
- Download the Cover Sheet for Corporate Filings (not required but recommended for faster processing)
- Download the Application to Reserve a Business Entity Name
- Complete both forms according to the instructions
- Include check or money order payable to “North Carolina Secretary of State”
Mail your paper filing to:
Business Registration Division
P.O. Box 29622
Raleigh, NC 27626-0622
2. Register your Domain Name
After choosing your LLC’s name, a good next step is locking down a domain name for your business website. A professional domain should be easy to remember—and ideally, match or complement your business name. When you register your domain name early, you’re more likely to get a name that meets those standards.
You’ll need to claim a business domain name through a registrar. When you hire Northwest to form your LLC, domain registry is one of many in-house services we provide, so you also get an instant domain, plus your own customizable business website secured with SSL protection, and an email business address connected to that domain.
3. Appoint a Registered Agent
All LLCs in North Carolina must appoint a registered agent, an individual or a company designated to receive legal and state mail on behalf of your business. But a registered agent is more than just an address—they’re a key part of your business identity, helping you present yourself professionally to the world. You start building a professional presence as soon as you form a business, and our Registered Agent Service can help strengthen that identity.
Hire Northwest as your registered agent in North Carolina, and get more than just satisfying a legal requirement. You’ll gain access to a range of business services designed to create and maintain your business identity, both online and offline.
4. File Articles of Organization
An LLC in North Carolina isn’t legally formed until the Articles of Organization are accepted by the North Carolina Secretary of State. It costs $125 to file your Articles in North Carolina.
Here’s what you’ll include:
Remember to double check that the name is unique in North Carolina, or your Articles will be denied.
Your business address doesn’t have to be your actual office address or your home address. It just has to be a real, physical North Carolina address. (That means no PO boxes.)
This address WILL be part of the public record. So whatever address you put here, make sure you’re okay with it being available. If you’re worried about your privacy, you can put your registered agent’s address.
A registered agent is a person or business that accepts legal mail, like service of processes/lawsuits, on the behalf of a business. In North Carolina, every LLC must have a registered agent.
Per N.C. Gen Stat § 55D-30, your North Carolina registered agent must:
- Have a street address (no P.O. Boxes or virtual offices) in the state of North Carolina.
- Maintain regular business hours, 9 AM to 5 PM.
- Agree to accept legal mail on behalf of your business and forward it to you fast.
You can be your own registered agent. The downside is that you’ll have to use own name and address on your Articles, which will be made public. The other option is hiring a service, like Northwest, to be your registered agent. This ensures that you can live more privately with your LLC while still having clear protections.
Your executor (or company applicant) is the person who files the Articles of Organization for your business. For example, if you file yourself, that’s your info. If you hire us to form your business, it’s ours. The personal information listed here goes on the public record.
There’s a handful of information that you could add to your Articles, but isn’t legally required. This includes:
- Principal address.
- Professional services.
- Company officials. (LLC’s members and/or managers.)
- Members’ duties and rights.
- Business email. (This is where the Secretary of State will send notifications.)
- Managers. (Your bank may require you do this.)
- Effective date up to 90 days in the future.
LLC members are the LLC’s owners. A manager is someone appointed by the LLC to run the day-to-day operations of the business.
How do you “file” North Carolina Articles of Organization?
You can submit your articles online, by mail, or in person. Just remember there’s a $125 filing fee to go along with your submission.
Mail:
North Carolina Secretary of State
Business Registration Division
P.O. Box 29622
Raleigh, NC 27626
In person:
North Carolina Secretary of State
Business Registration
2 South Salisbury Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-2903
Online:
North Carolina Online Registry
5. Create an Operating Agreement
An operating agreement is not legally required in North Carolina. We include it because it gives your business a user’s manual to look at when complications arise. Your operating agreement can include pretty much anything, but generally has things like voting procedures, how to allocate profits, and how to resolve conflict.
Operating agreements might also be helpful opening a business bank account, depending on the bank you’re using. Otherwise, they are internal documents—meaning you don’t need to share it with anyone outside the business.
Tip: Our attorneys have drafted a simple North Carolina operating agreement you can base yours off of, tweak a little, or use as is. Use it for free.
6. Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is like your business’ social security number. You need an EIN to open a business bank account, apply for loans, and, most crucially, pay and file taxes.
You can get your EIN from the IRS. Got the oh-no-the-IRS hives? We’ve got you. You can hire us to get your EIN for you.
7. File Annual Report
Limited liability companies in North Carolina have to file an annual report. Your annual report is due on April 15th every year. It costs $200 to file ($203 if you file online). Your annual report should include the:
- Name and address of the company.
- Name and address of your registered agent in North Carolina. (Plus original signature if you are changing your registered agent at this time.)
- Names and addresses of members/managers or directors/officers.
*This is informational commentary, not advice. This information is intended strictly for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice or a substitute for legal counsel. This information is not intended to create, nor does your receipt, viewing, or use of it constitute, an attorney-client relationship. More information is available in our Terms of Service.
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