Filed with
North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your North Carolina LLC
North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division business filings →The name must include "limited liability company", "L.L.C.", "LLC", "Ltd. Liability Co.", "Limited Liability Co." or "Ltd. Liability Company". It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the North Carolina register.
Search the North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every North Carolina LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in North Carolina, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
North Carolina operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
North Carolina business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether North Carolina requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for North Carolina sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your North Carolina LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →North Carolina LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due April 15 each year.
The first one is due April 15 of the year after the LLC is formed.
Worth knowing in North Carolina
- The annual report is due whether or not the LLC is actually conducting business.
- Delinquent annual reports can lead the Secretary of State to begin administrative dissolution.
- The annual report can be filed online with the Secretary of State at any time of day.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division and pay the state fee, act as your North Carolina registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
Nearby states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in North Carolina?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in North Carolina, and file a Articles of Organization with the North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in North Carolina?
North Carolina charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our North Carolina LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a North Carolina LLC have to file an annual report?
North Carolina LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due April 15 each year. The first one is due April 15 of the year after the LLC is formed.
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in North Carolina, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in North Carolina?
Yes, if you have a physical address in North Carolina and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
