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If you’re looking for an excellent North Carolina LLC service then choose ZenBusiness. We’ve already formed 700,000+ businesses since 2017!
If you want a socially conscious North Carolina LLC service with a service discount, choose ZenBusiness.
Northwest Registered Agent charges $225 (plus state fee) for LLC filing services. That said, Northwest’s personalized customer support is a feature that could make their prices worth paying for some entrepreneurs.
Overall, Northwest does have some points in its favor. However, keep in mind that it charges $225 (plus your state’s required fee) for its LLC filing services.
Want to learn more? See this Northwest LLC review.
LegalZoom is one of the biggest names in the industry, with millions of customers served and frequent advertising efforts. LegalZoom provides an LLC filing package for free (plus the state’s fee).
LegalZoom is a huge company, so while it offers extended support hours, the quality of its customer support may vary a bit from representative to representative.
Want to learn more? See this LegalZoom LLC review.
Incfile/Bizee offers LLC formations for free, as long as you pay your state’s fee. Incfile and ZenBusiness have some similar characteristics, but there are also some significant differences that set the two apart.
If you’re looking for a cheap LLC formation service in North Carolina and ZenBusiness doesn’t feel right for some reason, Incfile/Bizee could be worth a closer look.
Want to learn more? See this Incfile/Bizee LLC review.
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*Processing times are based on receiving complete information. ZenBusiness processing times do not include Secretary of State processing times, which can vary.**SPECIAL OFFER – Get Starter for $0 plus state fees. Includes one optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance that renews at $199/yr.† ZenBusiness is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC.
Technically speaking, you don’t have to use an LLC formation service like ZenBusiness or LegalZoom. These services are incredibly helpful, but you can save money by completing the process yourself.
You can read our complete guide to DIY an LLC setup in North Carolina, but here’s a quick look at the process:
Every LLC in North Carolina needs a name that’s memorable and gives potential clients a good idea of what goods or services are available. The name also needs to be unique — both for legal reasons and so your business stands out from the competition.
As we’ve mentioned in this guide, every LLC needs an agent who can accept service of process on your behalf. In all states, you can act as your own registered agent as long as you have a physical address in the state. That said, we generally recommend that you appoint someone else (like an online service) to act as your agent.
This document, once filled out and filed, officially forms your business in the state of North Carolina. You’ll need to provide some important information, including your contact information, your business address, signatures for your LLC’s members, and more. North Carolina has a $125 filing fee.
Setting up the LLC is as easy as 1-2-3; it’s the maintenance requirements that are a bit more complicated:
If you have employees, you’ll need to get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS. Then there are state-specific taxes, too. In North Carolina, individuals pay income taxes at a rate of 5.25%; the corporate rate currently sits at 2.5%. That said, most businesses will be subject to the franchise tax, which has a minimum fee of $200. You’ll also need to account for the state sales tax (4.75%). You can learn more about these and other miscellaneous business taxes at the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
There’s no general state business license in North Carolina, but since there are over 700 different occupational licenses in the state, there’s a good chance you’ll need to obtain at least one industry license. Check out the North Carolina Department of Commerce to learn more about industry licenses.
Even single-member LLCs should create a “master document” that sets out how the business will operate, both now and in the future.
Each year, your LLC will need to file an annual report to update the state about the standing of your business. For most businesses, it’s due by April 15th. There is a $200 filing fee for this document.
Every business with employees needs to maintain workers’ compensation insurance and a commercial vehicle policy for company-owned vehicles. You may also want to get a general business liability policy, too.
You should sign up for a business bank account so you can write checks and make purchases in the name of the business instead of pulling from your personal accounts (a legal no-no).
This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. For more detailed guidance, we recommend contacting an attorney or checking out the full North Carolina LLC Formation Guide.
LLCs are formal legal entities that are typically taxed similarly to sole proprietorships and general partnerships, in that the owners include any company profits or losses into their personal returns — the LLC itself does not owe income taxes. For more a more in-depth description see: What is an LLC?
In addition to the costs of a business formation service or hiring an attorney (which are optional, as we’ve discussed), there are quite a few other required and optional expenses when forming and maintaining a North Carolina business.
To form a North Carolina LLC, you’ll need to file the Articles of Organization with a filing fee of $125.
Every LLC will need to file an Annual Report each year as well. This simple filing keeps the state up-to-date about some basic but vital business information, such as your address and registered agent. LLCs pay $203 for this filing. Read more about North Carolina costs – North Carolina LLC costs.
FAQ's
Where Can I Get More Information About Forming LLCs in North Carolina?
We invite you to take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a limited liability company in North Carolina. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in this state step by step, ensuring that you don’t miss any crucial elements.
How Can I Search North Carolina’s Business Name Database?
One of the most important steps in forming a North Carolina LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the Secretary of State’s business search to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in North Carolina, check out our full article on the topic.
Where Can I Find the North Carolina Articles of Organization?
You can fill out the North Carolina Articles of Organization on the Secretary of State’s website.
What Are North Carolina’s Ongoing LLC Maintenance Requirements?
In North Carolina, all LLCs need to file annual reports as part of their ongoing maintenance with the state. Your report is due by April 15 of each year, and the fee is a bit pricey at $200.
Where Can I Learn More About the North Carolina LLC Licensing and Permitting Requirements?
Chances are, you’ll require at least one license or permit to operate your LLC in compliance with North Carolina state law. For more information about business licenses and more in this state, check out the state’s brief, yet effective, Licenses and Permits webpage.
How Quickly Does North Carolina Process LLC Formations?
The Secretary of State should be able to process your LLC’s formation within 3-5 business days if you file online, or 5-7 business days if you use a paper form. If you’re in a hurry, you can pay a $100 expediting fee to shorten your turnaround time to roughly 24 hours or a $200 fee for same-day service.
Which Company Provides the Best North Carolina Registered Agent Service?
If you want more details about what these companies can offer in this state, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our complete guide to North Carolina registered agents.
How Can I Dissolve My North Carolina LLC?
Unfortunately, not all businesses last forever. If the time comes when you need to close your LLC’s doors, you’ll need to do so in a manner consistent with the state’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to North Carolina LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.
What if I Need to Expand a Business From Another State to North Carolina?
If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in North Carolina. Instead, you’ll need to foreign qualify the business in this state. This process is somewhat similar to LLC formation, but there are some crucial differences as well. Take a look at our guide to foreign qualifications in North Carolina for more information.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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