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Foreign LLC guide · North Carolina

North Carolina Foreign LLC Fees (2026) and the 3 Best Registration Services

2026 ranking, North Carolina, foreign LLC services: NC Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and North Carolina Registered Agent.co ($199). An LLC from another state pays $250 to enter North Carolina, then $200 on every report, ranking the state 39th of 50.
Charted by the State Biz Facts team

The numbers behind North Carolina

39th

on the foreign registration map, of 50

Ordered from smallest bill to largest. All states side by side

  • Charge to register

    $250

    sosnc.gov, as seen October 2026

  • Recurring report

    $200

    Annual report

  • Proof of good standing

    180 days

    It has to be this fresh

  • State total, years 1 to 3

    $650

    Only state charges, years 1 to 3

Providers for North Carolina, ranked

How the order was drawn: charges over three years, coverage, renewal, North Carolina fit, fee labeling (method).

First stop

1. NC Registered Agent.org: best for a modest North Carolina registration

$199 to register; $99 yearly from year two

Start with NC Registered Agent.org, where $199 above the state fee to register, then $99 each year.

Mainstay Filing costs more over three years, and that criterion counts for 36%.

Price covers

  • Registration written up and sent in
  • A year of agent service

Upside

  • $199 and the state's fee
  • $99 yearly from year two
  • Agent covered in year one

Downside

  • Covers North Carolina only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit NC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

All 50 states

2. Mainstay Filing: best for one price whichever state you add

$199 to register; $149 yearly from year two

Placed second, Mainstay Filing offers $199 beyond the state fee, the registered agent free for year one, then $149 per year.

A $100 difference against NC Registered Agent.org over three years keeps it from the top spot.

Year two brings an agent charge of $149 per year, whichever state it is.

Price covers

  • Registration papers drawn up and filed for you
  • First-year registered agent service carries no fee
  • Same fee wherever you file

Upside

  • Registered agent free for year one
  • $199 to register
  • The same price in any state

Downside

  • $50 more per year for the agent
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Local to North Carolina

3. North Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for registering with North Carolina alone

$199 to register; $99 yearly from year two

Spot 3 is North Carolina Registered Agent.co: $199 above the state fee to register, then $99 each year.

Prices match NC Registered Agent.org's exactly, so the two sit next to each other on the chart.

Price covers

  • Registration written up and sent in
  • A year of agent service

Upside

  • $99 yearly from year two
  • Agent covered in year one
  • $199 and the state's fee

Downside

  • Covers North Carolina only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit North Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Prices in a row

OrderProviderYear 1Year 2 and onProvider charges, 3 years
1NC Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit NC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3North Carolina Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit North Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company price pages, seen November 12, 2026. Every row still needs North Carolina's $250 registration fee.

Registration and upkeep, year by year

The registration fee is $250, with the $200 report from year two; each provider's prices go on top.
Total for 3 years using NC Registered Agent.org: $1,047, split into $650 state fees and $397 provider fees.

North Carolina and the states beside it on the chart

SpotStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
37thArkansas$570
38thKentucky$645
39thNorth Carolina$650
40thMaryland$700
41stMississippi$750
To see other states, open Foreign LLC fees by state.

Bringing a foreign LLC into North Carolina

The fee to register is $250, paid when the Application for Certificate of Authority for Limited Liability Company (Form L-09) is filed with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division. The filing must carry certificate of existence (or similar document, such as a certificate of good standing), issued no more than 180 days.

It then keeps filing the annual report ($200), April 15.

Gather before filing

  • Certificate of existence (or similar document, such as a certificate of good standing), issued within 180 days.
  • The LLC's legal name plus the day it was formed.
  • A registered agent with a street address here; each provider ranked above can supply one.
  • Money for the $250 state charge.

Consequences of staying unregistered

An unregistered LLC cannot sue in the state's courts (G.S. 57D-7-02(a)). Its contracts stay valid (G.S. 57D-7-02(c)). A per-day fine of $10 applies. Back fees for the time spent unregistered are added.

Basis for the order

Service cost across three years (36%) is the criterion on which NC Registered Agent.org outscored Mainstay Filing here.

NC Registered Agent.org's three-year provider bill is $397 ($100 under Mainstay Filing).

Common questions

What does North Carolina charge a foreign LLC to register?

$250 paid to the state. Our picks add $199.

Which form does a foreign LLC file with North Carolina?

The form is the Application for Certificate of Authority for Limited Liability Company (Form L-09), and it goes to the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division.

Does the filing need a certificate from the home state?

Yes: certificate of existence (or similar document, such as a certificate of good standing), dated within 180 days of filing.

Does a foreign LLC have a yearly obligation?

A yearly filing applies, namely the annual report, which costs $200.

What happens if the LLC does business there without registering?

An unregistered LLC cannot sue in the state's courts (G.S. 57D-7-02(a)). Its contracts stay valid (G.S. 57D-7-02(c)). A per-day fine of $10 applies. Back fees for the time spent unregistered are added.

Must a foreign LLC name a registered agent for North Carolina?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Which provider should register my foreign LLC?

Start with NC Registered Agent.org (registering costs $199 plus state fees, and the agent is covered in year one); Mainstay Filing and North Carolina Registered Agent.co follow.

Related

Where each number comes from

  1. On August 2026 we compared North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State with sosnc.gov.
  2. On August 2026 we compared North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State with sosnc.gov.
  3. On August 2026 we compared North Carolina report due date with ncleg.gov.
  4. On August 2026 we compared N.C with sosnc.gov.
  5. On October 2026 we compared North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source with sosnc.gov.
  6. On October 2026 we compared North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source with sosnc.gov.
  7. On October 2026 we compared North Carolina registered agent statute with sosnc.gov.
  8. On October 2026 we compared North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration with sosnc.gov.
  9. On October 2026 we compared Form L-09, Application for Certificate of Authority with sosnc.gov.
  10. On October 2026 we compared Secretary of State guide to registering a foreign with sosnc.gov.
  11. On October 2026 we compared G.S with ncleg.gov.
  12. On October 2026 we compared Annual report due dates with sosnc.gov.
  13. On November 2026 we compared N.C with ncleg.gov.
  14. On October 2026 we compared Arkansas Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms and with sos.arkansas.gov.
  15. On October 2026 we compared Form FL-01 with sos.arkansas.gov.
  16. On October 2026 we compared Act 1041 of 2021, Uniform LLC Act with arkleg.state.ar.us.
  17. On October 2026 we compared 2026 LLC franchise tax report and instructions with sos.arkansas.gov.
  18. On October 2026 we compared Form FL-04, application for cancellation with sos.arkansas.gov.
  19. On October 2026 we compared Kentucky Secretary of State, business filings with sos.ky.gov.
  20. On October 2026 we compared Form FBE, Certificate of Authority with web.sos.ky.gov.
  21. On October 2026 we compared KRS 14A.9-020, consequences of transacting business without authority with apps.legislature.ky.gov.
  22. On October 2026 we compared KRS 14A.9-010, authority to transact business required with apps.legislature.ky.gov.
  23. On October 2026 we compared KRS 14A.6-010, annual report with apps.legislature.ky.gov.
  24. On October 2026 we compared Kentucky Secretary of State, fee schedule with sos.ky.gov.
  25. On October 2026 we compared Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official with revenue.ky.gov.
  26. On October 2026 we compared Maryland Business Express with egov.maryland.gov.
  27. On October 2026 we compared Business Express fee schedule with egov.maryland.gov.
  28. On October 2026 we compared Corporations and Associations § 4A-1002, registration with mgaleg.maryland.gov.
  29. On October 2026 we compared Corporations and Associations § 4A-1009, activities that are with mgaleg.maryland.gov.
  30. On October 2026 we compared Corporations and Associations § 4A-1007, effect of not with mgaleg.maryland.gov.
  31. On October 2026 we compared Tax-Property § 11-101, annual report with mgaleg.maryland.gov.
  32. On October 2026 we compared Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services with sos.ms.gov.
  33. On October 2026 we compared Business filing fee schedule with sos.ms.gov.
  34. On October 2026 we compared Business FAQs with sos.ms.gov.
  35. On October 2026 we compared Start Your Business in Mississippi with sos.ms.gov.
  36. On October 2026 we compared Mississippi annual reports with sos.ms.gov.
  37. On October 2026 we compared Registered agents with sos.ms.gov.
  38. Pricing page from NC Registered Agent.org (company page, November 12, 2026)
  39. North Carolina service page from Mainstay Filing (company page, November 12, 2026)
  40. Pricing page from North Carolina Registered Agent.co (company page, November 12, 2026)