If you’re considering starting or expanding your business in North Carolina, you’ll need a registered agent to comply with the legal requirements of the state. Our guide on the best North Carolina registered agent services will introduce you to various choices so you can find one that’s compatible with your needs and your business.
Don’t want to read through the entire list of recommendations? Then check out our summary table below.
Best North Carolina Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | North Carolina Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Raleigh |
| North Carolina Registered Agent Service | $49 a year | Raleigh |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 | Raleigh |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Raleigh |
| Registered Agent LLC | $75 a year | Not stated |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Raleigh |
| Registered Agent Net | $89 a year | Not stated |
| MyCompanyWorks | $99 a year | Not stated |
On top of providing individual recommendations, our article also contains a section where we go over all the steps required to register your business in this state, as well as an FAQ section.
First things first, let’s establish the role of a registered agent.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent is an individual or a company designated to receive legal documents and official correspondence on behalf of your company and forward it to you.
Does North Carolina Require a Registered Agent Service?
Yes, in the state of North Carolina, any business is required by law to appoint a registered agent.
Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent Service
A registered agent service can help you:
- Have more privacy
- Have more flexibility in terms of your working hours
- Travel with peace of mind
- Avoid embarrassing situations in front of clients
- Remain compliant with the state
- Avoid fees
Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s start with our first recommendation.
1. IncFile
IncFile offers a great deal for entrepreneurs looking to hire both a formation service and a registered agent service – if you use their formation service, you’ll get your first year of registered agent services for free. Join over 800,000 customers and get amazing perks, like:
- Access to your correspondence on a personal dashboard
- Automatic mail forwarding
- Customized email and text notifications
Thanks to their compliance reminders, you’ll be able to stay on track with all your deadlines throughout the year.
Their registered agent services will cost you $119 every following year and there are no hidden fees or contracts.
Apart from offering registered agent services, you can also hire IncFile for:
- Trademarking
- Virtual address
- Tax consultations
- Foreign qualification
- Certificate of good standing
- Amendment
- Business licenses and permits
- EIN Number
2. ZenBusiness
Rated as the #1 service on Forbes, Investopedia, and MarketWatch, ZenBusiness is one of the most popular options for a registered agent service in the United States. Help your North Carolina business stay compliant by receiving the following benefits:
- Handle all your documents
- Mail forwarding
- Fast turnaround
- Document scanning
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Email notifications
ZenBusiness’ yearly fee is $199. If you want additional perks, you have the option of upgrading their service to include getting two free filing changers a year, as well as annual report alerts.
Moreover, they’re known for their dedication to giving back to the community – a portion of their income supports their $5K Grant initiative, which helps entrepreneurs start and run their businesses.
Their customer support is excellent, which is always a useful benefit when it comes to registered agent services.
In addition to offering registered agent services, they also provide:
- Incorporation
- LLC formation
- Operating agreement
- Domain name and website
- Business license reports
- Banking and finances
- Taxes and accounting
- EIN Number
- Annual reports
- Worry-free compliance
3. Northwest
Northwest is a renowned registered agent service that’s known for its incredible customer support. Costing only $125 a year, they provide:
- Document storage
- Annual report reminders
- Pre-filled state forms
- Mail forwarding
- Compliance alerts
- Scanned documents
Also known as Corporate Guides, their expert customer support team is always ready to support you through any compliance-related problem that might arise.
Additionally, their Privacy by Default practice ensures that your data remains protected at all times. You can rest assured knowing no third parties are accessing your personal information.
And on top of all that, if you hire Northwest as your registered agent for more than four states – your yearly fee will be reduced to $100.
Their North Carolina office is located in Raleigh.
On top of registered agent services, Northwest also offer:
- Annual report filings
- Virtual office
- Mail forwarding
- Trademarking
- Phone service
- Foreign qualification
- Payment processing
4. North Carolina Registered Agent
If you’re looking for an affordable North Carolina registered agent service, we highly recommend North Carolina Registered Agent. Their fees are extremely competitive and it’ll only set you back $49 a year. In return, you’ll get access to amazing tools, like:
- Annual report reminders
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Online document storage
- Email notifications
Their pricing is affordable, but it’s also transparent – you won’t need to worry about any hidden fees or contracts.
Their North Carolina office is located in Raleigh.
North Carolina Registered Agent also offer:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Filing services
5. Harbor Compliance
Another excellent option for an affordable registered agent service is Harbor Compliance. They’ve helped over 35,000 customers remain compliant with North Carolina laws and regulations, and offer the following benefits:
- Pre-filled state forms
- Customizable notifications
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
- Annual report reminders
Harbor Compliance is known for their rapid processing speed, allowing you the peace of mind of knowing you’ll never miss a deadline or face a fine.
Their regular fee is $99, but you can access an additional 10% discount if you use their registered agent services for multiple years.
Their North Carolina address is located in Raleigh.
On top of registered agent services, they also offer:
- Amendments
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Registration
- Business licenses
6. InCorp
We recommend InCorp to business owners who are interested in getting a multi-year registered agent service. InCorp’s regular fee is $129, but you’ll only have to pay $89 if you take advantage of their multi-year discount. With this offer, you’ll have:
- Access to their Entity Management System
- Annual report filings
- Legal notifications
- Mail forwarding
Additionally, InCorp are dedicated to protecting your business from identity theft and ensuring that your private data doesn’t get leaked.
Their North Carolina office is located in Raleigh.
Other services you can get at InCorp include:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- DBA Filing
- UCC search
- Foreign qualification
- Trademarking
- Articles of amendment
- Copyright
- EIN Number
- Apostille service
7. Registered Agent LLC
Another great option for a North Carolina registered agent service under $100 is Registered Agent LLC – an A+ rated service that provides all the basics you’ll ever need to keep your business compliant, including:
- Immediate notifications
- Annual reports
- Immediate notifications
- Pre-filled state forms
- Access to an online account
- Compliance reminders
Their pricing is affordable but also transparent – there are no secret costs or auto-renewals.
Since their offices are spread nationwide, you can expand your business in other states without worrying about hiring another registered agent.
8. LegalZoom
Our next recommendation is ideal for larger businesses that would benefit from having access to a plethora of legal services. LegalZoom is a renowned company that’s dedicated to providing premium legal services and a comprehensive registered agent service that includes:
- Mail alerts
- Annual report reminders
- Unlimited cloud storage
- $1M in identity theft protection
LegalZoom have an incredible offer for anyone who currently has a registered agent but isn’t satisfied with their service – they’ll help you change your current agent, complete any paperwork, and cover any fees in the process!
Additionally, their expertise is IP protection and they offer up to $1M for identity theft insurance, which are another reasons why they’re a good match with larger businesses.
The yearly fee their registered agent services is $299. If you purchase their business formation package, the first year will cost you only $249.
Their other legal services include:
- Annual reports
- Power of attorney
- Taxation
- Foreign qualification
- Residential lease
- Business registration
- Copyright
- EIN Number
- Trademarking
- Business formation
- Incorporation
9. CSC Global
CSC Global is an excellent option for larger businesses that have the budget to spend a little extra money on a registered agent service. Their yearly fee is slightly more expensive than our other recommendations ($381), but their service includes a myriad of perks, such as:
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
- Access to SOC-2 facilities
- Annual compliance reminders
- Same-day document scans
- Electronic delivery of documents
CSC Global ensure that their clients’ data remains protected at all times. With the help of their SOC-2 technology, you will access a high level of data security that will protect all your vulnerable information.
Their North Carolina office is located in Raleigh.
You can also hire CSC Global for:
- Digital brand services
- UCC
- Real estate and erecording
- Entity management
- Corporate filings
- Legal management
10. Registered Agent Net
Registered Agent Net offer amazing compliance tools that will help you keep track of all your deadlines and ensure that you never miss a due date. Their registered agent package includes:
- Access to their Compliance Calendar and Compliance Entity Manager
- Same-day document delivery
- Two-year price guarantee
Their yearly fee will set you back only $89, making them a great option for entrepreneurs who don’t have a large starting budget.
Ahead of any important due date, you’ll receive an email that will remind you of your renewals and deadlines.
On top of being affordable, their pricing includes a two-year price guarantee.
11. MyCompanyWorks
Last but not least, MyCompanyWorks is an outstanding choice for a registered agent service, whether you’re starting or expanding your business in North Carolina. For only $99 a year, you’ll receive:
- Same-day processing
- Access to an online dashboard
- Access to The Startup Wizard
- Free E-delivery
- Compliance monitoring
- Online order tracking
MyCompanyWorks is known for providing a customizable service, which is a big plus for some customers.
In addition, if at any point you’re not satisfied with their service, they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Their other services include:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Virtual office
- File a DBA
- Annual reports
- Company dissolution
- Business licenses
How do I Register a Business in North Carolina?
It’s time to go over all the essential steps to registering a business in North Carolina.
Choose a Name for Your Business
One of the first steps to registering a business is deciding what to name it.
You need to choose a name that represents the kind of services/goods you’re selling, as well as your values, all the while completing the requirements from the North Carolina state.
One of those requirements is that you choose a name that’s unique. No other business in the state can have the same name as your future business. To help you with this, you can do an online business entity search on the North Carolina Secretary of State website.
Once you have ensured that your name isn’t taken, you can apply for a business name reservation. The reservation will be valid for 120 days, giving you ample time to sort through all the documents and register your business.
Choose Your Business Entity
In addition to choosing a name for your business, you’ll also need to choose its entity. There are four main business entities in North Carolina:
Each of these entities comes with its set of perks and drawbacks. For instance, corporations and LLCs provide limited liability to their owners and protect their assets, but they’re also harder and more expensive to form.
File Articles of Organization
If you decide that an LLC would be a good fit for your business, you’ll need to file articles of organization with the North Carolina state.
This document contains crucial information about your business, including information about its owners and registered agent. By this step, you’ll need to have chosen a registered agent to represent your business.
The fee for filing the articles of organization is $125.
File Articles of Incorporation
Corporations require you to file articles of incorporation with the North Carolina state. This document has a similar purpose to articles of organization, but it includes added information about the stocks of the corporation and its shareholders.
The fee for filing the articles of incorporation is $125.
Apply for the Required Licenses and Permits
North Carolina doesn’t require businesses to have a general business license.
However, you might need to get a professional or regulatory license depending on which industry your business is in.
To get more information about the professional and regulatory licenses offered in North Carolina, visit the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
In addition, if your business includes collecting sales tax, you need to register with the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
Get an Employee Identification Number
One of the last steps you’ll need to complete if you are opening a business in North Carolina is getting an EIN (Employee Identification Number).
Not every business is required to get an EIN. Businesses that have hired employees and are taxed separately from their owners are required by state law to obtain an EIN, however, getting one has many benefits even if you’re not obliged to do so. For instance, you can prevent identity theft and open a business bank account much more easily. In addition, you’ll have an easier time filing taxes and avoiding any tax-related penalties. Plus, your business will be seen as more credible in general.
You can apply for an EIN on the IRS website. The application doesn’t have a fee and it’ll only take you minutes to complete.
FAQs
Where Can I Do a North Carolina Business Entity Search?
You can do a North Carolina business entity search on the North Carolina Secretary of State website.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in North Carolina?
The cost of registering a business in North Carolina is $125 for corporations and LLCs.
Final Thoughts
We hope our guide on the best North Carolina registered agent services recommendations has been useful in providing you with ideas on what agents might suit your business best.
If you don’t have any specific preferences and you just want a comprehensive and well-tested service that includes a myriad of tools that will help you stay compliant, don’t hesitate to consider Northwest, IncFile, or ZenBusiness – our top three recommendations.
If you’re on a tight budget and need an affordable registered agent service under $100, consider North Carolina Registered Agent Service, Registered Agent Net, or Registered Agent LLC.
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