Register your North Carolina LLC Online
Complete the form below in 2–3 minutes. Your LLC and EIN come at no extra cost — you only pay North Carolina’s own $128 state fee.
- Enter your desired LLC name
- Choose your state
- Receive your LLC and free EIN by email
Trusted by Thousands Nationwide
What is an LLC in North Carolina?
Before you file anything, North Carolina asks what kind of company you're forming. Most people choose an LLC because it keeps the business separate from your personal name and lets you add or remove owners later without starting over.
That separation goes further than the name. If the business owes money or gets sued, your house, car, and personal bank accounts are generally off-limits — as long as you run the LLC properly. It doesn't protect you from something you personally did wrong.
A sole proprietorship skips all of that — you're doing business under your own name or a DBA. That's fine if it'll only ever be you. The moment you want to bring on a partner, sell the business, or have it read as a real company instead of a side gig, that's the moment an LLC earns its keep.
A corporation does the same separation an LLC does, but it's built for a different job: issuing stock and bringing in outside investors. If that's not you right now, an LLC is simpler to run — though in North Carolina specifically, keeping it running costs more every year than a corporation does (see below).
Benefits of an LLC in North Carolina
- Add partners or co-owners whenever you're ready
- Transfer ownership if you sell the business
- “North Carolina Company, LLC” shows you’re a real business
- Shows you’re registered (North Carolina Secretary of State)
- Get a matching domain like NorthCarolinaCompanyLLC.com
- Simpler upkeep than forming a corporation
What's different about a North Carolina LLC
North Carolina currently moves standard filings in about 5–10 business days. Need it faster? $100 buys 24-hour service, $200 buys same-day (submit before noon, done by 5pm).
North Carolina has no separate franchise tax on a standard LLC — by law, "corporation" doesn't include an LLC unless it elects to be taxed as one. That's real money saved every year compared to a corporation, which owes both its own annual report and a franchise tax on top. North Carolina also doesn't require a newspaper notice to form the LLC.
Cost to start an LLC in North Carolina
$128 to the North Carolina Secretary of State — that's it to file. We don't charge a fee on top of it. A North Carolina corporation runs $128 through the same process — the same amount to start, though the two cost very differently to keep running (see the FAQ).
| What you get |  | Others |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (Tax ID) | Free | up to $99 |
| Registered agent | Freefirst year | up to $249per year |
| Name check | Free | usually free |
| North Carolina state filing feespaid to the state — same for everyone | $128 | $128 |
Free EIN with your North Carolina LLC
Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is what opens a business bank account and identifies your company to the IRS — it's like a Social Security Number for your LLC. It's included at no extra cost, right alongside your LLC.
LLC vs Corporation in North Carolina
An LLC is simpler to run day to day. A corporation (sometimes taxed as an S corp or a C corp) is built for a company that plans to issue stock or bring in investors — more paperwork, more formality, and a board structure most new businesses don't need yet. If that's not your situation, an LLC does the job. You can always change how it's taxed later without changing the company itself.
What is a Sole Proprietor in North Carolina?
A sole proprietorship is the default if you do nothing — there's no filing, no fee, and everything is tied to your own name. It works fine for testing an idea. The trade-off: you can't add a partner or a co-owner to it, and if you ever want to sell the business or bring someone else on, you'll need to become an LLC anyway. Most people who are serious about the business start with the LLC and skip the switch later.
File a DBA Under Your LLC
A DBA (Doing Business As) lets one LLC operate under more than one business name.
A DBA isn't required if you're fine using your LLC's own name.
Example: North Carolina Company, LLC dba North Carolina Auto Brokers.
DBA vs LLC in North Carolina
A DBA only gives you another name to use. The LLC is the actual business entity that owns the DBA name and holds all legal rights.
Common Questions
Why start an LLC in North Carolina?
It separates the business from your own name, lets you add or remove owners as the business grows, and reads as a real, established company — to customers, banks, and anyone you do business with.
Why does a North Carolina LLC's annual report cost so much more than a corporation's?
It's how North Carolina set its fee schedule: an LLC's annual report is $200 (or $203 online), while a corporation's identical filing is $25 (or $21 online). Both file with the same office, on the same kind of form — the LLC's fee is higher. On the other side, a standard LLC owes no franchise tax at all, while a corporation pays one on top of its report. Most people still find the LLC simpler overall, but it's worth knowing both numbers going in.
How long does it take to get a North Carolina LLC?
Filing takes a few minutes on this page. North Carolina is currently moving standard filings in about 5–10 business days; paid rush options exist starting at $100 for 24-hour service.
Do I need an EIN for my North Carolina LLC?
Yes, for a business bank account and for the IRS to recognize your company. It's included free when you file here.
What's a registered agent, and do I need one?
A registered agent is the North Carolina address the state sends legal mail to. Every LLC needs one, and it's included free for your first year when you file here.
Do I need an operating agreement?
North Carolina doesn't require one to file, but a bank often asks for one to open your business account. You can add it when you file, or write your own later.
Still deciding on a name?
Try the free name generator — type a word you like, get real available options back, then come straight here to file.
Page updates (1)
- October 1, 2026 — A new North Carolina law adjusts annual-report deadline timing for deployed servicemembers' businesses (it doesn't change the $200 fee itself). NC General Assembly, SB 445 →
Sources (5)
Every fact on this page was checked directly against North Carolina's own filing agency, tax agency, and statutes — verified September 20, 2026.
- NC Secretary of State — LLC fee schedule — the $125 filing fee, $200 annual report
- NC Secretary of State — Annual Report Due Dates — the April 15 deadline
- N.C. Gen. Stat. §57D-6-06 — the 60/60-day dissolution timeline for a missed report
- N.C. Gen. Stat. §105-114(b)(2) — confirms no franchise tax on a standard LLC
- NC Secretary of State — Expedited Filing — the $100/$200 rush tiers