North Carolina · Start a business

How to start a business in North Carolina

North Carolina has no single generic business license that covers every requirement.

As of 4 min readVermilion Vitez Team

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STATE FILING FEE$128FILEDSECRETARY OF STATEEINAPROPENNORTH CAROLINA · 10 STEPSFrom structure to open door

Short answer

To start a business in North Carolina, pick a structure and file with the Secretary of State: $128 for an LLC, $125 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes. North Carolina has no general state business license.

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What do you file before you open in North Carolina?

  1. Pick a structure

    Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See North Carolina LLC guide, North Carolina corporation guide, S corp or C corp in North Carolina. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.

  2. Check and register the name

    Search the Secretary of State records before you pick a name: state name search. North Carolina requires an assumed business name certificate filed with the register of deeds in the county where the person is or will be in business, and only one county is needed for multi-county businesses. 1 See North Carolina name search guide.

  3. File with the state

    North Carolina charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $128 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $125 3. See LLC cost.

  4. Name a registered agent

    A North Carolina corporation must continuously maintain a registered office in the state and a registered agent who is a resident individual or an entity at the registered office. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See North Carolina registered agent rules.

Which accounts do you open after you file in North Carolina?

  1. Get an EIN

    An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. 5

  2. Open your state tax accounts

    The North Carolina Department of Revenue lets a new business register online for withholding and sales and use tax accounts, while other tax types need a paper registration form. 6 See Sales tax permit.

  3. Register as an employer

    The North Carolina Division of Employment Security collects unemployment insurance tax from a general business that paid quarterly wages of at least $1,500 or employed at least one worker in 20 different weeks of a calendar year. 7 North Carolina employers report each newly hired or re-hired employee to the North Carolina New Hire Directory within 20 days of the hire date. 8 The North Carolina Industrial Commission says workers' compensation coverage is required of businesses employing three or more employees on a regular basis, and of employers of one or more employees in radiation work. 9

What keeps your North Carolina business in good standing?

  1. Check licenses and permits

    North Carolina has no single generic business license that covers every requirement, and some businesses face several state requirements while others face none. 10

  2. Calendar the yearly filings

    North Carolina annual report: $200, due April 15 every year. 11 See North Carolina annual report.

  3. Use free local help

    Small business advising in North Carolina runs through the Small Business & Technology Development Center. 12 North Carolina's Doing Business in NC site, run on nc.gov, helps new owners plan a business and complete the legal steps to start it. 13

What it costs to start a business in North Carolina

$128to file an LLC 2
$125to file a corporation's articles 3
$200each year, annual report 11
183,271business applications filed in North Carolina in 2025 14

Do you need a business license in North Carolina?

Not from the state. North Carolina has no general state business license. 10 Where to look up licenses: Doing Business in NC.

How to register a business name in North Carolina

QuestionNorth Carolina
Where it is filedWith the county 1
OfficeRegister of Deeds
What it is calledassumed business name

Check that the name is free first: state name search.

Also in North Carolina

  • Workplace labor law poster. The North Carolina Department of Labor requires businesses in the state to post the labor law poster in a conspicuous area that employees frequent, and the law requires posting in English. 15
  • County personal property listing. North Carolina appraises personal property each year as of January 1, and its owner lists it with the correct county during the regular listing period in January. 16

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Common questions

What are the steps to start a business in North Carolina?

Pick a structure, file with the Secretary of State, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the North Carolina Department of Revenue, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.

What does it cost to register a business in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, an LLC filing is $128 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $125. The annual report is $200 each year.

Can I start a business in North Carolina with no money?

North Carolina charges $128 to file an LLC, and the annual report is $200 each year. An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. North Carolina's Small Business & Technology Development Center operates 11 regional service centers in 15 total offices and provides free industry-specific advice and counseling.

Are there small business grants in North Carolina?

North Carolina's One North Carolina Small Business Program matches federal SBIR or STTR awards won by North Carolina businesses and reimburses part of the cost of preparing Phase I proposals.

What is the North Carolina SBDC?

North Carolina's Small Business & Technology Development Center operates 11 regional service centers in 15 total offices and provides free industry-specific advice and counseling.

Sources 17 links, checked Nov 13, 2026
  1. DBA or trade name registration ncleg.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  2. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sosnc.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  3. Corporation filing ncleg.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  4. Registered agent rule ncleg.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  5. IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  6. State tax registration ncdor.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  7. Unemployment insurance registration des.nc.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  8. New hire reporting ncnewhires.ncdhhs.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  9. Workers' compensation coverage ic.nc.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  10. General business license nc.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  11. North Carolina annual report sosnc.gov, checked Sep 1, 2026
  12. Small Business Development Center nc.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  13. State business portal nc.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  14. US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  15. Workplace labor law poster labor.nc.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  16. County personal property listing ncdor.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  17. State small business funding commerce.nc.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026

Last verified Nov 13, 2026.

This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.

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