Foreign LLC by State › North Carolina
North Carolina foreign LLC requirements
North Carolina asks a foreign LLC for Form L-09, Application for Certificate of Authority for Limited Liability Company and a $250 fee; it also requires a good-standing certificate from the home state.
Requirements at a glance
| Requirement | North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Application | Form L-09, Application for Certificate of Authority for Limited Liability Company |
| Filed with | North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division |
| Fee | $250 |
| Good-standing certificate | Required |
| Certificate age limit | 180 days |
| Registered agent | A registered agent with a North Carolina street address |
| Yearly filing | Annual report (filed with the Secretary of State), $200 (due: april 15) |
Good standing
Certificate of existence (or similar document, such as a certificate of good standing), no older than 180 days. Order it from the state where the LLC was formed, then file it with the North Carolina application. 36 states require one.
Best 3 Foreign Registration Services in North Carolina (2026)
| # | Service | Service fee | North Carolina fee | Agent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $250 | Year one included, then $149/yr |
| 2 | NC Registered Agent.org | $199 | $250 | Year one included, then $99/yr |
| 3 | North Carolina Registered Agent.co | $199 | $250 | Year one included, then $99/yr |
Mainstay Filing: Its North Carolina checkout showed $452 in total on October 28, 2026, including $3 in state processing charges.
Service prices read from each provider’s North Carolina page on October 28, 2026. The state fee is the official figure below and is paid to the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division.
Every year after
Annual report (filed with the Secretary of State), $200 (due: april 15). Keep the registered agent current as well; each service above includes the first year.
North Carolina questions
Does North Carolina require a good-standing certificate?
Yes. Certificate of existence (or similar document, such as a certificate of good standing), no older than 180 days.
What does a foreign LLC file every year in North Carolina?
Annual report (filed with the Secretary of State), $200 (due: april 15).
What is the fee to register a foreign LLC in North Carolina?
$250. A $199 filing service adds to that.
Sources
- North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration: www.sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration, checked October 8, 2026
- Form L-09, Application for Certificate of Authority: www.sosnc.gov/webfiles/documents/forms/Business_Registration/limited_liability_companies/application_for_certificate_of_authority.pdf, checked October 8, 2026
- Secretary of State guide to registering a foreign business: www.sosnc.gov/manual/Register_A_Foreign_Business, checked October 8, 2026
- G.S. Chapter 57D, Article 7 (foreign LLCs): www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_57D/Article_7.html, checked October 8, 2026
- Annual report due dates: www.sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/annual_report_due_dates, checked October 8, 2026