The North Carolina market shows plenty of promise and thanks to a rapidly growing economy, many ambitious entrepreneurs are eager to launch their businesses in the Tar Heel State. There are many paths to success, but those who hope to join this expanding small business community may benefit most from choosing to form their business in this state.
While it does not have to be difficult, starting an LLC in North Carolina — as in most states — could involve a few complications. As such, many people prefer to work with LLC formation services, which offer much-needed guidance. Keep reading to learn why forming an LLC is so beneficial — and to discover which of the top LLC formation services can streamline the process.
Disclaimer: the rates and offerings below are subjected to changes made by the service providers.
Best North Carolina LLC service of 2024
An LLC (limited liability company) is a common business structure in North Carolina. This can serve as a middle ground between well-known approaches (such as S corps or C corps) and strategies that offer minimal protection (such as sole proprietorships or general partnerships).
With an LLC, the main goal involves limiting the likelihood of being held personally liable — especially if the business in question is sued or acquires debt. LLCs can also deliver considerable tax advantages and a perception of credibility that could prove valuable when seeking funding or appealing to discerning clients.
The process of forming an LLC looks slightly different from one location to the next but generally involves the filing of articles of organization, along with the designation of a PA registered agent. Additionally, there are costs and fees in North Carolina that you will be required to pay like initial filing and annual report fees.
Many professional services promise to guide aspiring entrepreneurs through these processes while also offering features or solutions that can streamline other aspects of launching an LLC in North Carolina.
Known for its unique and guiding platform, Tailor Brands offers a range of solutions to take the headache of building a new business, focusing on LLC formation to start with. We also an option for cost-conscious entrepreneurs, who can save many costs by only paying North Carolina’s mandated filing fee. Strong customer reviews indicate that users are pleased with the company’s services.
As one of the LLC services in North Carolina, Tailor Brands promises powerful guidance for many types of entrepreneurs. The primary offering? Straightforward LLC formation, which brings an easy-to-navigate approach to submitting essential information and getting an LLC up and running in North Carolina.
The basic plan also encompasses name checks, which verify that desired LLC names are available — and that they abide by all local requirements. Paid plans add legal compliance services and faster processing times. Many users also opt for services that while not strictly required, can bring valuable structure and branding opportunities to the forefront. Favorites include:
Our diverse solutions are available at a wide array of price points, with the most basic LLC formation plans (and name searches) offered completely free of charge (with the addition of North Carolina filing fees). The operating agreement costs $29, although this is also included with the Essential plan (which costs $199).
The Essential plan also includes annual compliance services, while for $249, the Elite adds branding and outreach tools that help to improve brand image and credibility.
Tailor Brands helps ambitious individuals with simplified LLC formation, legal compliance and additional licenses and agreements they may need. Add the design-related tools and services to the mix, and it’s easy to see how using our platform can give fledgling businesses a strong start in the promising North Carolina economy.
Offering expedited processing and excellent customer service, ZenBusiness is a trusted name in the LLC formation space and a viable option for North Carolina entrepreneurs who need practical solutions. Known for its intuitive offerings, this service provides a straightforward approach to setting up an LLC.
As with many services mentioned in this guide, ZenBusiness provides the appealing opportunity to start an LLC without requiring any investments beyond North Carolina’s mandated $128 filing fee. Many users, however, ultimately utilize extra services or sign up for robust plans that may include:
With ZenBusiness, basic LLC formation services are generally free of charge — although this is not true for ongoing compliance, such as filing North Carolina’s annual report. Many users prefer to go with the Pro plan, which reduces filing times and incorporates an operating agreement for $199 per year.
Templates, website builders, and other services can be accessed for $349 per year with the Premium plan, but with an additional $199 for registered agent services, this approach can quickly feel out-of-reach from a financial perspective.
When expedited filing is a priority, ZenBusiness can be a compelling option for starting an LLC in North Carolina. Higher costs may keep some potential users away, but there is no denying that this well-known service has a strong reputation.
Claiming to have served over one million customers since 2004, Bizee began — as founders Nick Siha and Dustin Ray explain — as the ultimate side hustle. Its original purpose? To make it easier to form LLCs, as Siha realized just how difficult it could be to make the most of this valuable business structure. These days, Bizee (formerly known as Incfile) is favored for its user-friendly nature, popular among novice entrepreneurs.
Featuring three main packages that resemble their counterparts from competing services, Bizee encourages new business owners to make the most of the Basic plan. This goes above and beyond most free plans to include not only the filing of articles of organization but also a registered agent service. Other services are available in enhanced plans or as add-ons. These include:
Bizee’s free plan is desirable because of its registered agent provision, but other pricing concerns must also be considered. The Standard package resembles other mid-tier offerings, with $199 plans covering operating agreements and EIN services. The $299 plan is pricier than some competing high-level packages, and includes domain names, business emails, and contract templates.
Easy to navigate and often affordable to use, Bizee provides one of the best solutions for new business owners who prefer to keep their spending to a minimum. Customer service may not be as strong as the competition, but many users are satisfied with Bizee’s LLC formation services.
There are few LLC formation services quite like LegalZoom. This company has a distinct offering: legal assistance for those willing to pay extra. While not all business owners will want or need this, LegalZoom’s unique opportunities are certainly worth examining.
LegalZoom differentiates itself from competitors by offering targeted legal guidance from business attorneys. This is not available with all packages, but for those willing to invest in it, legal insights can be highly appealing.
Other features look a lot like offerings from ZenBusiness or Bizee: operating agreements, EIN services, and name checks, for example. LegalZoom also encourages users to make the most of insurance consultations and a vast legal form library.
LegalZoom’s free option is surprisingly robust — including not only name checks and basic assistance with filling and filing articles of organization, but also the ability to create a customizable website via Wix.
The Pro plan exceeds most competing mid-tier packages in price (at $249) but does not offer the legal consultations for which LegalZoom is best known. As such, it is common for users to bypass this option and stick with the pricier (but also, far more impressive) Premium plan, which costs $299.
Those who need significant legal guidance may benefit from LegalZoom’s unique features and services, which may be more difficult to come by with other LLC formation services. These advantages may be accompanied by significant pricing concerns, and many business owners may prefer streamlined, lower-cost options.
If its name is any indication, expedited service is a clear priority for Swyft Filings. Offering an easy-to-navigate approach to forming an LLC, this service also reveals that it is possible to create an LLC in a matter of days.
Centered around basic LLC formation — including name searches and document filing — Swyft Filings encourages users to opt for as simplified or as robust an approach as desired. All users enjoy lifetime customer support, and many can take advantage of electronic delivery. Depending on personal preferences and the tier selected, other offerings might include:
Swyft Filings offers competitive prices for its main LLC formation plans, but with a significant caveat: when additional features are desired, costs can add up quickly. The base prices are pretty low: free access to Basic plans (includes name checks and articles of organization) and $199 for the Standard package (adding unique features like corporate bylaws and banking resolutions).
Some may prefer to pay $299 for the Premium plan. This is desirable due to same-day filing options, enhanced compliance offerings, and Squarespace domain services.
When time is of the essence, Swyft Filings can be a reasonable option. Many business owners gravitate towards Swyft’s top plans when in a hurry to get their LLCs up and running. Customer service is also a highlight, but costs can rapidly escalate when users aren’t careful, so be sure to remember that if going for that option.
Technically speaking, it is definitely possible to form a North Carolina LLC without any professional guidance. All that’s required is a registered agent to designate, some paperwork, a viable name, and a filing fee. This DIY approach is not necessarily advisable though, as many people find this process confusing or downright frustrating to navigate.
LLC formation services also provide access to a range of additonal solutions that can benefit business owners long after their LLCs have been established. This ultimately comes down to personal preference — but given the reasonable cost of working with most services, outside assistance is worth considering.
A North Carolina LLC can enhance business prospects while also providing valuable peace of mind. Consider working with an LLC formation service to expedite this process and set your business up for success. Hopefully, this information helps you understand and decide what you should do in your case and how to move forwarded with starting your business.
This portion of our website is for informational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and none of the information on this website constitutes or is intended to convey legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness.
Terry is a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience building businesses across multiple industries – construction, real estate, e-commerce, hotelier, and now digital media. When not working, Terry likes to kick back and relax with family, explore Taoism’s mysteries, or savor the taste of fine Italian red wine.
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