How Much Does It Cost to Form a North Carolina LLC?
North Carolina is priced in the middle of the national range for LLC filing fees. But the state filing fee is only part of the picture. This page breaks down every cost you'll encounter — formation, ongoing compliance, and optional services — so there are no surprises.
State Filing Fee
The North Carolina Secretary of State charges $125 to file your Articles of Organization. This is a one-time fee paid when you form the LLC.
Annual / Recurring State Fees
North Carolina charges $200 for the annual report (filed each year). Miss it, and you risk late fees and eventually administrative dissolution.
North Carolina tax note: Annual report $200 by mail or $203 online. Due by April 15 each year. One of the more expensive annual report fees in the country.
Registered Agent Cost
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Get StartedEvery North Carolina LLC is required to maintain a registered agent. Registered agent service is $99/year — a separate service from LLC formation.
Expedited Processing
If you need your LLC formed faster, the North Carolina Secretary of State offers expedited processing for $100. This typically reduces the turnaround from 5-10 business days to 24 hours.
Full Cost Table
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee | $125 | One-time, paid to the North Carolina Secretary of State |
| Annual report | $200 | Filed annually with the North Carolina Secretary of State |
| Registered Agent service | $99/year | $99/year, separate from formation |
| Expedited processing | $100 | Optional — reduces turnaround to 24 hours |
First-Year Cost Summary
Ready to get started?
Get StartedIf you form through us, our $199 service fee covers preparing and filing your formation document with the state. Add the $125 state filing fee, and your total to launch is $324. Registered agent service ($99 for the first year, $119/year on renewal) is available as a separate add-on — bring it along and your first-year total is $423.
Ongoing Annual Costs
After year one, your ongoing costs are: $119/year for registered agent + $200/year for the annual report.
How We Compare
Many LLC formation services charge similar-priced services but then tack on upsells: compliance packages, rush fees, unnecessary add-ons. Our fee is straightforward — $199 covers everything you need to get your North Carolina LLC filed and operational.