Form an LLC by State › North Carolina
Cheapest and fastest way to file an LLC in North Carolina (2026)
Filing an LLC in North Carolina costs $125 in state fees. The fastest route listed is same day (before noon), +$200 on top of the filing fee ($325 all in). Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, files it for you and keeps the registered agent.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
Cheapest vs fastest in North Carolina
| Route | What you get | State cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | Entity creation 5 to 10 business days | $125 |
| Fast, no extra fee | None listed | — |
| Paid lane | 24 hour | $225 |
| Paid lane | Same day (before noon) | $325 |
Paid lanes are the filing fee plus the expedite fee. The yearly report is $200 afterwards.
What the North Carolina Secretary of State says
Business Registration home: "Turn-Around Times (Online is always faster) · Entity Creation – 5-10 business days".
Processing, read October 1, 2026
"Same Day Filing $200 Submit before 12 Noon · 24 Hour Filing $100"; available online if requested when you submit; online filings after 5 p.m. count as received the next business day at 8 a.m.; expedite fees aren't refundable.
Expedite, read October 1, 2026
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, same at renewal
- 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.
Questions
What is the cheapest way to file an LLC in North Carolina?
The cheapest route is the plain filing at $125, with the state’s stated turnaround of entity creation 5 to 10 business days.
What is the fastest way to file an LLC in North Carolina?
The fastest route listed is same day (before noon), +$200 on top of the filing fee ($325 all in).
How much does it cost to expedite a North Carolina LLC?
The state lists 2 options: 24 hour (+$100); same day (before noon) (+$200).
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
- North Carolina processing (North Carolina Secretary of State, official page read): www.sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration, checked October 1, 2026
- North Carolina expedite (North Carolina Secretary of State, official page read): www.sosnc.gov/frequently_asked_questions/by_title/_BRD_FAQ_Payment, checked October 1, 2026
- North Carolina Secretary of State: www.sosnc.gov/, checked October 20, 2026