LLC Formation Compared › North Carolina
LLC formation services compared in North Carolina (2026)
The North Carolina filing fee is $125. With a registered agent, Mainstay Filing (our best overall pick) comes to $324 in year 1; the other four services range from $125 to $374.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
- Prices verified October 2026
Year-1 cost of each service in North Carolina
| Service | First-year price (with agent) | Year-1 total |
|---|---|---|
| Bizee | $0 Basic package, agent free the first year | $125 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 package, agent included the first year | $164 |
| ZenBusiness | $0 Starter package plus $99 agent | $224 |
| Mainstay Filing | Included | $324 |
| LegalZoom | $0 Basic package plus $249 agent | $374 |
North Carolina filing details
- State filing fee
- $125
- Formation document
- Articles of Organization (L-01)
- Filed with
- North Carolina Secretary of State
- Yearly state report
- Annual Report, every year: $200
- Registered agent
- Required. A North Carolina resident, or a corporation, nonprofit or LLC on the North Carolina business registry other than the company itself.
Mainstay Filing
$199 + $125 state fee = $324 in year 1
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Compare directly
North Carolina questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in North Carolina with a service?
In year 1, from $125 (Bizee) to $374 (LegalZoom), with a registered agent and North Carolina’s $125 filing fee included. Mainstay Filing is $324.
What does North Carolina charge to file an LLC?
$125, paid to the North Carolina Secretary of State for the Articles of Organization (L-01). Every service on this page adds that fee on top of its own price.
Do I need a registered agent for a North Carolina LLC?
Yes. A North Carolina resident, or a corporation, nonprofit or LLC on the North Carolina business registry other than the company itself.
Is the cheapest first year the cheapest LLC?
Not always. Bizee is lowest in year 1, but the agent price changes after the first year for Bizee, Northwest Registered Agent and ZenBusiness, while Mainstay Filing stays at $199.
Sources
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 57D-2-20 (North Carolina Limited Liability Company Act, Chapter 57D — formation by filing articles of organization); fee set at $125 (recited on the official form; fee schedule in N.C.G.S. § 57D-1-22) (multira state research spine): www.sosnc.gov/webfiles/documents/forms/Business_Registration/limited_liability_companies/articles_of_organization.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: www.sosnc.gov/fees/by_title/_Business_Registration_limited_liability_companies, checked October 1, 2026
- North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: sosnc.gov/fees/by_title/_Business_Registration/, checked October 1, 2026
- North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division (multira state research spine): www.sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/annual_report, checked August 12, 2026
- North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division (multira state research spine): www.sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/filing_a_paper_annual_report, checked August 12, 2026
- North Carolina report due date (multira state research spine, due dates verified 714/714): www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_57D/GS_57D-2-24.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- North Carolina registered agent statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 55D-30): sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/registered_agent_links, checked October 20, 2026
Provider prices: each company’s own pages, checked October 2026 (see sources and method).