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State Biz Facts

Charts of what each state charges an LLC.

LLC cost guide · North Carolina

North Carolina LLC Fees (2026): The State Bill and the 3 Best LLC Services

North Carolina for an LLC filing, 2026: NC Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and North Carolina Registered Agent.co ($199), in that order. The state's bill begins at $125 and adds $200 every year for the annual report; that gives North Carolina the 42nd spot out of 50 on a three-year view.
Charted by the State Biz Facts team

North Carolina, mapped in figures

42nd

on the three-year state fee map, of 50

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

  • Charge to form

    $125

    October 2026 reading of sosnc.gov

  • Annual report

    $200 / yr

    Timing as the state words it: April 15. October 2026 reading of sosnc.gov

  • State total, years 1 to 3

    $525

    Only state charges, years 1 to 3

Our North Carolina chart of providers

The method page lists all five criteria. The two heaviest are three-year charges and what the price covers.

Our pick

1. NC Registered Agent.org: best for North Carolina LLCs on a budget

$199 plus the state fee, then the agent at $99 per year

NC Registered Agent.org leads the chart because a $199 charge to form and a $99 agent renewal.

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

The annual report remains your job every year.

Price covers

  • The paperwork that creates the LLC, filed for you
  • First year of agent service

Upside

  • No agent charge during year one
  • $199 and the state's fee
  • $99 per year after that

Downside

  • No annual report service
  • Charges $99 for the EIN application
Visit NC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Anywhere you file

2. Mainstay Filing: best for paperwork that takes care of itself

$199 per year, state fee separate

Just behind comes Mainstay Filing, where the North Carolina formation, a registered agent and the annual report all come under one price of $199 each year.

Provider charges over three years are $200 higher than NC Registered Agent.org's, and cost carries 36% of the score.

Handling the annual report is part of the service, with the $200 state fee added at cost.

Price covers

  • Formation papers drawn up and filed for you
  • Twelve months of registered agent duty
  • Your annual report drawn up and submitted on time
  • Application for your EIN handled as well
  • You pay the state charge at face value

Upside

  • The EIN is handled as well
  • A $199 annual bundle
  • Still $199 at renewal

Downside

  • Renewal is $100 higher than NC Registered Agent.org's
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Rooted in North Carolina

3. North Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for a smaller agent renewal

$199 plus the state fee, then the agent at $99 per year

Placed third, North Carolina Registered Agent.co offers a $199 charge to form and a $99 agent renewal.

The annual report remains your job every year.

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

Price covers

  • The paperwork that creates the LLC, filed for you
  • First year of agent service

Upside

  • $199 and the state's fee
  • $99 per year after that
  • No agent charge during year one

Downside

  • No annual report service
  • Charges $99 for the EIN application
Visit North Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The 3 providers compared

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$199/yr$597Visit 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.
Prices as shown on November 12, 2026. Add North Carolina's $125 filing fee to every row.

North Carolina: what an LLC costs year by year

Choose a span of years and a provider. State charges follow the official schedule: $125 to form, the annual report from year two.
$525 to the state plus $397 to NC Registered Agent.org makes $922 over 3 years.

North Carolina and the states beside it on the chart

SpotStateThree-year state fees
40thAlaska$350
41stFlorida$402.50
42ndNorth Carolina$525
43rdKentucky$595
44thMaryland$700
LLC costs by state charts all fifty, least expensive on top.

What it costs to file in North Carolina, 2026

Send the Articles of Organization (Form L-01) to the North Carolina Secretary of State along with $125 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 57D-2-20). It does not change with the provider you pick. Published turnaround: Entity creation 5 to 10 business days.

North Carolina annual report: fee, due date and late charge

Budget $200 for the annual report every year, which arrives April 15.

Reasoning for the ranking

NC Registered Agent.org wins on service cost across three years, worth 36% of the total; Mainstay Filing follows.

Three years with NC Registered Agent.org cost $397 in provider charges, $200 less than Mainstay Filing.

North Carolina LLC service questions

What is the state charge for forming an LLC in North Carolina?

The state charges $125. Our picks bill $199 above the state fee.

What does the North Carolina annual report cost the LLC?

$200, every year; it is filed April 15.

How does North Carolina rank among states on LLC fees?

North Carolina is 42nd of 50 on three-year state fees, at $525; spot 1 has the smallest bill.

How quickly does the state process a new LLC?

Count on Entity creation 5 to 10 business days.

Is a registered agent compulsory for North Carolina LLCs?

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

Who should file my LLC?

NC Registered Agent.org, because $199 to start the LLC, first-year agent included, then $99 each year. Next on the chart: Mainstay Filing and North Carolina Registered Agent.co.

Nearby pages

Where each number comes from

  1. Seen August 2026 regarding North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State: sosnc.gov
  2. Seen August 2026 regarding North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State: sosnc.gov
  3. Seen August 2026 regarding North Carolina report due date: ncleg.gov
  4. Seen August 2026 regarding N.C: sosnc.gov
  5. Seen October 2026 regarding North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sosnc.gov
  6. Seen October 2026 regarding North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sosnc.gov
  7. Seen October 2026 regarding North Carolina registered agent statute: sosnc.gov
  8. Seen August 2026 regarding Alaska Stat. §§ 10.50.070, 10.50.075: akleg.gov
  9. Seen August 2026 regarding Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development: commerce.alaska.gov
  10. Seen August 2026 regarding Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development: commerce.alaska.gov
  11. Seen August 2026 regarding Fla: flsenate.gov
  12. Seen October 2026 regarding Florida formation fee: Filing fee, official source: dos.fl.gov
  13. Seen October 2026 regarding Florida formation fee: Filing fee, official source: flsenate.gov
  14. Seen August 2026 regarding Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations: dos.fl.gov
  15. Seen August 2026 regarding Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations: dos.fl.gov
  16. Seen October 2026 regarding Florida yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source: flsenate.gov
  17. Seen August 2026 regarding KRS 275.025: apps.legislature.ky.gov
  18. Seen October 2026 regarding Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sos.ky.gov
  19. Seen August 2026 regarding Kentucky Secretary of State: sos.ky.gov
  20. Seen August 2026 regarding Kentucky Secretary of State: sos.ky.gov
  21. Seen October 2026 regarding Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official: revenue.ky.gov
  22. Seen August 2026 regarding Md: mgaleg.maryland.gov
  23. Seen October 2026 regarding Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source: mgaleg.maryland.gov
  24. Seen October 2026 regarding Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source: egov.maryland.gov
  25. Seen August 2026 regarding Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation: dat.maryland.gov
  26. Seen August 2026 regarding Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation: dat.maryland.gov
  27. Seen October 2026 regarding Processing, official source: sosnc.gov
  28. On November 12, 2026 NC Registered Agent.org showed this pricing page
  29. On November 12, 2026 Mainstay Filing showed this North Carolina service page
  30. On November 12, 2026 North Carolina Registered Agent.co showed this pricing page