North Carolina LLC Cost
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What an North Carolina LLC really costs: the $125 filing, recurring report fees, optional services, and a five-year total.
The minimum state cost to start an LLC in North Carolina is $125. Keeping it in good standing then costs $200 a year in report fees, plus any entity-level tax. Here is the full breakdown.
One-time formation costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Formation document (Articles of Organization) | $125 |
| Name reservation (optional) | Typically $10 to $50 |
| Certified copy of the filing (optional) | Typically $5 to $30 |
| Expedited processing (optional) | Varies widely by state and speed |
| EIN | $0 directly from the IRS |
Recurring costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Annual or biennial report | $200 per year |
| Franchise or entity tax | None |
| Registered agent (optional) | $0 if you serve, or about $50 to $300 per year |
Total over five years
Assuming you file every required report on time, act as your own registered agent, and exclude entity-level taxes and optional extras, five years of state fees in North Carolina add up to about $1,125: $125 to form plus $1,000 in report fees. First-year state fees alone are about $325.
Optional professional services
- Formation services: many charge $0 to $299 on top of the state fee, and some upsell items you can do free
- Operating agreement: free to write yourself, or a few hundred dollars for an attorney-drafted version
- Registered agent: about $50 to $300 per year if you do not serve yourself
- Accounting and tax preparation: depends on complexity and is often the largest ongoing cost
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina's LLC filing fee is $125, $25 above the national median of $100. 30 of the 51 jurisdictions (50 states and DC) charge less to file. Filing fees are only part of the picture, so the table below sets North Carolina beside five states founders often consider.
| State | LLC filing fee | Annual report | Franchise or entity tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $125 | $200 yearly | None |
| Delaware | $110 | $300 yearly | Franchise tax $300 LLC / variable corp |
| Wyoming | $100 | $60 yearly | None |
| Nevada | $425 | $350 yearly | Commerce Tax (revenue > $4M) |
| Texas | $300 | No fee yearly | Franchise tax (no-tax-due < $1.23M) |
| Florida | $125 | $138.75 yearly | None |
Forming outside the state where you live and work rarely saves money. A business operating in North Carolina that forms elsewhere generally still has to register as a foreign LLC in North Carolina and pay both states' fees. Our best states for an LLC guide explains when an out-of-state filing makes sense.
North Carolina specific notes
The North Carolina annual report fee for LLCs is $200, due April 15. Corporations file with the Department of Revenue separately.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to start an LLC in North Carolina?
What does it cost to keep a North Carolina LLC active?
Is it cheaper to form in another state?
Are there hidden costs to forming an LLC?
Sources & further reading
Disclaimer: Legal information, not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney or CPA in your state. See our full disclaimer.