What an LLC costs in North Carolina
North Carolina costs $125 to form but has a relatively high $200 annual report. Its franchise tax applies to corporations, not LLCs.
Every LLC has two kinds of cost: a one-time state filing fee to form it, and recurring costs to keep it in good standing — the annual or biennial report, any franchise/privilege tax, and a registered agent. The calculator above adds these up for your first year and over five years so you can compare North Carolina honestly against other states.
How this is calculated
- Filing fee — the standard online Articles of Organization fee, charged once.
- Report fee — North Carolina's annual or biennial report; biennial fees are shown as a per-year average.
- Franchise / privilege tax — any flat state tax an LLC owes each year regardless of income.
- Publication — a one-time newspaper-publication cost, which only New York, Arizona, and Nebraska require.
- Registered agent — $0 if you act as your own, or a yearly fee for a commercial service.
What it doesn't include: income-based taxes (e.g. gross-receipts or margin taxes that only apply above high revenue thresholds), business licenses specific to your industry, or professional fees. It's a clean baseline of the mandatory state costs.
Data as of July 2026. North Carolina filing and report fees are from the state Secretary of State, cross-checked against LLC-cost datasets. Fees change — confirm on the state's own site before filing.
LLC cost in other states
North Carolina LLC cost FAQ
How much does it cost to start an LLC in North Carolina?
It costs $125 to form a North Carolina LLC (the standard online filing). With first-year upkeep and acting as your own registered agent, budget roughly $325 for year one.
What are the annual LLC fees in North Carolina?
North Carolina requires a $200 annual report. Being your own registered agent keeps the agent cost at $0; a commercial agent adds about $125/yr.
Can I be my own registered agent in North Carolina?
Yes, if you have a physical street address in North Carolina (not a PO box) and are available during business hours to receive legal mail. That makes the registered-agent cost $0. Otherwise a commercial service runs about $100-$300 per year.
This calculator is an educational estimate, not legal or tax advice. State fees change frequently — verify with the North Carolina Secretary of State before filing. Income-based and industry-specific costs are not included. Data as of July 2026.