Are you looking to form a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in North Carolina? If so, you may be wondering what information and documents are required for the process.
We’ll go over everything you need to know about filing an Articles of Organization with the state of North Carolina. Not only will we discuss the forms and steps necessary for filing, but also provide other important resources that can help make forming your company as easy as possible.
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Steps To Fill Out the North Carolina LLC Articles of Organization
The North Carolina Articles of Organization is the official document filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division, to establish a North Carolina Limited Liability Company. After the state approves the filing, the LLC can officially begin operating and register for the necessary business licenses and permits.
To file the North Carolina Articles of Organization, you will need to submit the completed L-01 LLC Articles of Organization form to the North Carolina Secretary of State. The form can be downloaded and sent by mail or filed online.
Let’s go over how to fill out the LLC Articles of Organization in North Carolina. To get started, visit the North Carolina Secretary of State’s website and create an account.
Once your account has been set up, you will have a couple of options to select before starting to form your LLC.
First, you are asked if the entity has been created in another state or country. In this example, we are assuming you are starting a new LLC and would choose “No.” If the LLC was initially formed in another state and you want to physically do business in North Carolina, you would select “Yes” to register as a foreign entity.
Next, you will choose what type of entity you want to register. Here we will select “Limited Liability Company” and then click “Next.”
You may notice another LLC called a Professional Limited Liability Company. Businesses that require occupational licensing in North Carolina, such as accountants, architects, veterinarians, etc., can file for a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) instead of an LLC. Filing for a PLLC is very similar to filing for an LLC.
Step 1: Pick a Name for the LLC
The first step in filling out the North Carolina Operating Agreement is to pick a business name.
There are a couple of requirements when choosing a North Carolina LLC name.
1. The name of your LLC must not be too similar to the name of another business entity already registered with the state of North Carolina. You can verify name availability by doing a North Carolina LLC name search with the North Carolina Secretary of State to be sure the LLC name is available.
2. The name of the LLC must include one of the following entity identifiers at the end of the business name:
– Limited Liability Company
– Ltd. Liability Co.
– Limited Liability Co.
– Ltd. Liability Company
– L.L.C.
– LLC
Enter the LLC name, including the identifier, to continue. If you choose a name that is taken, the Secretary of State will warn that the name you want to use may not be available.
Step 2: Appoint a Registered Agent
One requirement for having an LLC in North Carolina is to appoint a registered agent. The registered agent is a party located in North Carolina that will receive important notices and service of process (which means accepting papers that start a lawsuit) on behalf of the LLC.
Provided the LLC member lives in the state of North Carolina, they may act as the registered agent, or the agent can be an adult resident of the state (Select “I will be my own Registered Agent or an entity or person not on the list below has given consent to be the registered agent.”) or registered agent service (Select “An entity on this list has given consent to be the registered agent.”
Related: Should you be the registered agent?
Step 3: Provide Information on the Principal Office
In Step 3, you are asked whether the LLC has a principal office. This may be, but is not required to be, the actual place of the business to the physical street address or the main location where the business records are kept.
Select “Yes” if there is a principal office. If “No” is chosen, the address of the principal office must be submitted when the first annual report is filed.
Step 4: List the LLC Organizer(s)
Next, enter the name and mailing address of the LLC organizer(s) forming the entity. This can be an individual, such as an LLC member or attorney, or a business, such as an LLC formation service.
Step 5: Provide a List of Company Officials
This section is optional but is used to list the company officials. It is most often used for LLCs where a member may hold a job with connections or hold professional licensing through the state of North Carolina.
Step 6: Choose the Effective Date
Step 6 allows you to choose an effective start day up to 90 days in the future. Some will delay the effective date (starting date) of the LLC if they aren’t ready to start the business but want the filing out of the way or if they are close to the end of a calendar year.
If you want the LLC to start as soon as the Secretary of State finalizes the paperwork, choose “Effective upon filing.” Otherwise, select “Effective on a future date.”
You can optionally enter your email address to receive notification of the LLC’s filing.
Step 7: Include Any Additional Provisions
This is an optional section not used by most LLCs. Here, you would include the business purpose or additional rules for the LLC’s operation.
Step 8: Sign the Articles of Organization
All of the members or organizers listed earlier will have to date and sign the document.
Step 9: Indicate Hiring Plans
In this next optional step, you are asked whether you plan to hire at least one employee besides yourself. You can choose not to respond by keeping the field blank, “Yes,” “No,” or “I don’t know.”
Step 10: Review and File the Articles of Organization
In Step 10, review that the information submitted in the Articles of Organization is correct and submit it to the North Carolina Secretary of State.
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North Carolina LLC FAQs
How much does a North Carolina LLC cost?
The state filing fee to start an LLC in North Carolina is $125.
How long does it take to form a North Carolina LLC?
It normally takes 4-6 business days to start an LLC in North Carolina when filing online or 2-3 weeks when filing by mail for the state to process the LLC paperwork.
Does North Carolina require an LLC to have an operating agreement?
North Carolina Statute § 57D-2-30 states that an LLC operating agreement is optional. Although it isn’t required, it is recommended that most LLCs have one, as it can help prevent disputes among members and better protect the LLC’s legal status.
