North Carolina business formation and filing fees
Compare the costs of creating an LLC or corporation in North Carolina, or registering a company formed elsewhere. The filing office is North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division.
Starting a company in North Carolina
Domestic LLC filing fee
North Carolina domestic LLC Articles of Organization cost $125.00. The filing requires a distinguishable LLC name, North Carolina registered agent and office, organizers, and principal company officials/management information. Online filing and paper filing use the Secretary's fee schedule; card/electronic convenience charges may be separate.
Domestic corporation filing fee
North Carolina domestic and foreign business-corporation Articles of Incorporation cost $125.00. Authorized shares, incorporator, North Carolina registered agent and office, and required purpose/designator information are stated in the articles. The fee does not vary by authorized shares in the standard table.
Registering a company formed elsewhere
For state registration, “foreign” can mean a company formed in another U.S. state. These fees are separate from creating a new North Carolina entity.
Foreign LLC qualification
North Carolina foreign LLC Application for Certificate of Authority uses the current Business Registration fee schedule; the accessible extract did not display the full amount. The LLC must provide home-state existence evidence, North Carolina registered agent and office, and the required principal-company information.
Foreign corporation qualification
North Carolina foreign corporations use a Certificate of Authority filing and a $125.00 business-corporation filing fee unless a special foreign-name or entity charge applies. A home-state certificate, North Carolina agent and office, authorized shares, and compliant/registered name are required.
North Carolina processing times
North Carolina's online system can process eligible filings in real time after proper-form review and payment; paper filings are slower. The Secretary guarantees expedited filing only when the document is in proper form and the required fee is paid.
Expedited filing options
North Carolina offers expedited filing through the Business Registration Division for eligible documents, with the current fee and guaranteed timing shown by document type. The reviewed fee extract did not display every 2026 tier in the search result; verify the live schedule. Expediting does not cure a defective document.
Choose your next North Carolina guide
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