LLC Services Compared › North Carolina
The three-year cost of a North Carolina LLC (2026)
North Carolina charges $125 to file an LLC. Over three years, with a registered agent and the state’s report fees, Mainstay Filing (best overall) totals $1,122; the other four services total $814 to $1,272.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
- Prices verified October 2026
Year by year
| Service | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Service total | With state costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199 | $199 | $597 | $1,122 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 | $125 | $125 | $289 | $814 |
| ZenBusiness | $99 | $199 | $199 | $497 | $1,022 |
| Bizee | $0 | $149 | $149 | $298 | $823 |
| LegalZoom | $249 | $249 | $249 | $747 | $1,272 |
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, $1,122 over three years with North Carolina costs
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
North Carolina state costs
- Filing fee
- $125 for the Articles of Organization (L-01), to the North Carolina Secretary of State
- Yearly state report
- Annual Report, every year: $200
- Registered agent
- Required. A North Carolina resident, or a corporation, nonprofit or LLC on the North Carolina business registry other than the company itself.
North Carolina questions
What does an LLC cost in North Carolina over three years?
State costs are $525 ($125 to file, plus 2 reports at $200). Adding a service and registered agent gives $814 (Northwest Registered Agent) to $1,272 (LegalZoom). Mainstay Filing is $1,122.
Does North Carolina require an annual report?
Annual Report, every year: $200.
Why do the services differ most after year one?
Agent pricing: Northwest Registered Agent $39 then $125 a year, Bizee free then $149, ZenBusiness $99 then $199, LegalZoom $249, Mainstay Filing $199 flat.
Sources
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 57D-2-20 (North Carolina Limited Liability Company Act, Chapter 57D — formation by filing articles of organization); fee set at $125 (recited on the official form; fee schedule in N.C.G.S. § 57D-1-22) (multira state research spine): www.sosnc.gov/webfiles/documents/forms/Business_Registration/limited_liability_companies/articles_of_organization.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: www.sosnc.gov/fees/by_title/_Business_Registration_limited_liability_companies, checked October 1, 2026
- North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: sosnc.gov/fees/by_title/_Business_Registration/, checked October 1, 2026
- North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division (multira state research spine): www.sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/annual_report, checked August 12, 2026
- North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division (multira state research spine): www.sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/filing_a_paper_annual_report, checked August 12, 2026
- North Carolina report due date (multira state research spine, due dates verified 714/714): www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_57D/GS_57D-2-24.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- North Carolina registered agent statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 55D-30): sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/registered_agent_links, checked October 20, 2026
Provider prices: each company’s own pages, checked October 2026.