The North Carolina basics
39th
of 50 on what a foreign LLC owes the state
Fee the state takes at registration
$250
Report you must file again
$200
Annual report
Paper from the home state
180 days
How old it can be
What the state collects in 3 years
$650
Registration in year 1, reports in years 2 and 3
North Carolina ranking
In order of weight: three-year fees, coverage, renewal terms, fit with North Carolina, a clear state fee (
method).
Our top choice
1. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in several states
You pay $199 in year 1 and $149 in every later year
Mainstay Filing ranks first for you since its fee is $199 in any state, and the first year of agent service costs you nothing.
Plan on spending $100 more than at North Carolina Registered Agent.co over three years, in exchange for fewer filings left for you to do.
In year 2 you start paying $149 a year for the agent in any state.
What your money gets you
- Prepares your registration and files it
- Your registered agent for the first year is free
- The same price in any state
What works
- $199 on top of North Carolina's fee
- The first agent year is paid for
- Your next state is covered too
What to weigh
- A renewal $50 above North Carolina Registered Agent.co's
Home-state option
2. North Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for a low-cost North Carolina filing
You pay $199 in year 1 and $99 in every later year
Next comes North Carolina Registered Agent.co, because their fee is $199, and the agent renews at $99.
What your money gets you
- Takes care of the registration paperwork
- A year of agent service
What works
- $199 plus the state fee
- Agent covered in year 1
- A $99 renewal
Home-state option
3. NC Registered Agent.org: best for registering only in North Carolina
You pay $199 in year 1 and $99 in every later year
Last on the list is NC Registered Agent.org, because their fee is $199, and the agent renews at $99.
On price it is exactly level with North Carolina Registered Agent.co.
What your money gets you
- Takes care of the registration paperwork
- A year of agent service
What works
- A $99 renewal
- $199 plus the state fee
- Agent covered in year 1
3 services, one table
Every price here was taken from the company's website on November 13, 2026. You will also owe North Carolina's $250 registration fee on every row.
North Carolina foreign LLC calculator
The registration fee is $250, with a $200 report from year 2, and provider fees are added on top.
How North Carolina compares with the states near it in the ranking
How to register an LLC from another state in North Carolina
You register by sending the Application for Certificate of Authority for Limited Liability Company (Form L-09) and $250 to the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division. The state asks you to supply certificate of existence (or similar document, such as a certificate of good standing), no older than 180 days.
After you register, you must file the annual report ($200), April 15.
Before you file
- Certificate of existence (or similar document, such as a certificate of good standing), no more than 180 days.
- The registered name and formation date in your home state.
- Your own registered agent with a street address in the state, named on the form.
- Payment for the $250 official fee.
If your LLC never registers
The state's courts will not hear a suit from an LLC that has not registered (G.S. 57D-7-02(a)). Agreements you have already signed remain in force (G.S. 57D-7-02(c)). Per-day penalty: $10. The state bills the fees for the unregistered years as well.
Why the first pick is first
What settled North Carolina was upkeep the price covers, at 26%.
One provider for your home state and North Carolina got the highest score.
Your North Carolina questions answered
How much will it cost to register my out-of-state LLC with North Carolina?
$250 for the filing itself. Our picks add $199.
Which form do I use to register an out-of-state LLC with North Carolina?
Use the Application for Certificate of Authority for Limited Liability Company (Form L-09) and send it to the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division.
Does the state want a certificate from my home state?
Yes, you need certificate of existence (or similar document, such as a certificate of good standing), dated within 180 days of your filing.
Will my foreign LLC have to file anything every year?
Yes, you file the annual report and pay $200.
What happens if my LLC does business there without registering?
The state's courts will not hear a suit from an LLC that has not registered (G.S. 57D-7-02(a)). Agreements you have already signed remain in force (G.S. 57D-7-02(c)). Per-day penalty: $10. The state bills the fees for the unregistered years as well.
Must I appoint a registered agent when registering in North Carolina?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which service should I choose to register a foreign LLC?
Start with Mainstay Filing: $199 plus North Carolina's state fee, then $149 a year for the agent from year 2. Then look at North Carolina Registered Agent.co and NC Registered Agent.org.
Where this briefing comes from
- Want to double-check North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State? Go to sosnc.gov, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
- Want to double-check North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State? Go to sosnc.gov, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
- Want to double-check North Carolina report due date? Go to ncleg.gov, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
- Want to double-check N.C? Go to sosnc.gov, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
- Want to double-check North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source? Go to sosnc.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source? Go to sosnc.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check North Carolina registered agent statute? Go to sosnc.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration? Go to sosnc.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Form L-09, Application for Certificate of Authority? Go to sosnc.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Secretary of State guide to registering a foreign? Go to sosnc.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check G.S? Go to ncleg.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Annual report due dates? Go to sosnc.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check N.C? Go to ncleg.gov, where we confirmed the details in November 2026.
- Want to double-check Arkansas Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms and? Go to sos.arkansas.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Form FL-01? Go to sos.arkansas.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Act 1041 of 2021, Uniform LLC Act? Go to arkleg.state.ar.us, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check 2026 LLC franchise tax report and instructions? Go to sos.arkansas.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Form FL-04, application for cancellation? Go to sos.arkansas.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Kentucky Secretary of State, business filings? Go to sos.ky.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Form FBE, Certificate of Authority? Go to web.sos.ky.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check KRS 14A.9-020, consequences of transacting business without authority? Go to apps.legislature.ky.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check KRS 14A.9-010, authority to transact business required? Go to apps.legislature.ky.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check KRS 14A.6-010, annual report? Go to apps.legislature.ky.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Kentucky Secretary of State, fee schedule? Go to sos.ky.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official? Go to revenue.ky.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Maryland Business Express? Go to egov.maryland.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Business Express fee schedule? Go to egov.maryland.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Corporations and Associations § 4A-1002, registration? Go to mgaleg.maryland.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Corporations and Associations § 4A-1009, activities that are? Go to mgaleg.maryland.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Corporations and Associations § 4A-1007, effect of not? Go to mgaleg.maryland.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Tax-Property § 11-101, annual report? Go to mgaleg.maryland.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services? Go to sos.ms.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Business filing fee schedule? Go to sos.ms.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Business FAQs? Go to sos.ms.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Start Your Business in Mississippi? Go to sos.ms.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Mississippi annual reports? Go to sos.ms.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Registered agents? Go to sos.ms.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- You can see North Carolina service page for Mainstay Filing on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026
- You can see pricing page for North Carolina Registered Agent.co on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026
- You can see pricing page for NC Registered Agent.org on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026