Opening a North Carolina corporation does not have to be complicated.
In order to get started, you will need to file the Articles of Incorporation with the North Carolina Secretary of State, draft your corporate bylaws, and appoint your initial director(s).
Keep in mind that you will need a registered agent, as well as a legally-compliant business name before filing your formation document.
We’ll show you how to start a corporation in North Carolina yourself.
Or, simply use a professional service:
For a look at corporation formation in every state, check out our other How to Start a Corporation guides.
Not sure if a corporation is right for you? Check out our LLC vs. Corporation guide to help you make your decision.
Choosing a business name is the first step in starting a corporation.
Read the North Carolina state statute regarding corporation naming guidelines for more information.
Your North Carolina corporation name must be unique and distinguishable from other business names in North Carolina. Use the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Business Search Portal to determine if your desired business name is available.
Before registering your North Carolina corporation, you’ll need to check if a good URL is available for your business name. It’s important to secure your URL right away.
You must appoint a North Carolina registered agent when registering your corporation with the Secretary of State.
A registered agent is an individual or entity appointed to receive service of process, government correspondence, and compliance documents on behalf of a business.
Your registered agent can be an individual, business entity, or professional registered agent service. Any member of the corporation or individual can serve as your North Carolina registered agent as long as the person:
Recommended: Northwest offers one year of free registered agent services with their corporation formation package ($29 + State Fees).
Before you officially file the Articles of Incorporation in Step 4, you will need to hold an organizational meeting to complete the following tasks:
Bylaws are the rules that determine how your organization will be governed and run. For detailed instructions on creating your bylaws, read our corporate bylaws guide.
You must appoint at least one director who will oversee your North Carolina corporation until the first shareholders meeting.
A corporate director is in charge of the adoption, amendment, and repeal of operational bylaws as well as the election, supervision, and removal of officers.
After forming the corporation, the incorporator(s) — or initial director(s), if named on the formation documents — should call an organizational meeting. During this initial meeting, either the incorporator(s) will elect the board of directors or the initial director(s) will appoint the officers.
A share of stock is the unit of ownership of a corporation. Each share of stock represents a percentage of ownership of the company. For example, if a corporation issues one share of stock the shareholder (stock owner) would then own 100% of the corporation.
Shares can be structured into classes. Each class, termed a share class, holds different rights and privileges. You can have multiple classes and each class can hold any number of shares.
Authorized Shares: the number of shares the corporation is allowed to issue.
Issued Shares: the total number of shares actually issued to shareholders.
Share Class: a group of shares that has a unique set of rights and privileges.
In North Carolina, the Articles of Incorporation form allows you to indicate if the corporation will issue more than one authorized share class or series. If your corporation plans on issuing more than common shares, you must add an additional schedule to your Articles of Incorporation.
The incorporator(s) should sign an Incorporator’s Statement with complete names and addresses of each initial director and store it in the corporate records book.
This document names the initial director(s) that will serve until the board of directors is elected during the first shareholders meeting. It should be stored with the rest of your corporate records.
You will need to file the North Carolina Articles of Incorporation to set up a corporation in North Carolina.
This document will cover the basics of your corporation, including:
In North Carolina, the Articles of Incorporation form allows you to indicate if the corporation will issue more than one authorized share class or series. If your corporation plans on issuing more than common shares, you must add an additional schedule to your Articles of Incorporation.
You can upload a PDF of the Articles of Incorporation online with the Secretary of State or you can submit the articles by mail or in person. Hard-copy submissions must include a Cover Sheet for Corporate Filings. The filing cost is $125.
Option 1: Upload PDF Online With the North Carolina Secretary of State
Option 2: File the Articles of Incorporation by Mail or In Person
Filing Cost: $125
Mailing Address:
State of North Carolina
Department of the Secretary of State
Business Registration Division
P.O. Box 29622
Raleigh, NC 27626-0622
Office Address:
State of North Carolina
Department of the Secretary of State
Business Registration Division
2 South Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-2903
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is used by the federal government to identify a business entity. It is essentially a Social Security number for the company. An EIN is needed:
Option 1: Request an EIN from the IRS
Option 2: Apply for an EIN by Mail or Fax
Mail to:
Internal Revenue Service
Attn: EIN Operation
Cincinnati, OH 45999
Fax: (855) 641-6935
Fee: Free
Subscribe to our YouTube channelIt is very important to adhere to the formalities of running a corporation. Read our How to Run a Corporation guide to learn more.
Depending on the nature of your business, you may be required to register for one or more forms of state tax:
If you’re selling a product, you’ll typically need to register for a seller's permit through the North Carolina Department of Revenue's website. This allows a business to collect sales tax.
If you hire employees, you will need to register for North Carolina employer taxes through the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s website. This includes Employee Withholding Tax, Unemployment Insurance Tax, and Disability Insurance.
To operate your corporation in North Carolina, you must comply with federal, state, and local government regulations. For example, restaurants likely need health permits, building permits, signage permits, etc. Learn more in our North Carolina Business License guide.
You must file the North Carolina Annual Report each year by the 15th day of the fourth month following the close of your corporation’s fiscal year. You can file online or by mail with the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $25.
A Certificate of Good Standing, known in North Carolina as a Certificate of Existence, verifies that your North Carolina corporation was legally formed and has been properly maintained. You can order a Certificate of Existence online with the North Carolina Secretary of State's Online Services. After logging in, search for your corporation and then select “Order a Documents Online.” The fee is $15.
Request a Certificate With the North Carolina Secretary of State Online Services Request Online Fee: $15
North Carolina corporations have two options for filing dissolution documents: the Articles of Dissolution Prior to Issuance of Shares or the Articles of Dissolution by Board of Directors and Shareholders. You can file by mail or through North Carolina's PDF Upload Portal.
Articles of Dissolution Prior to Issuance of Shares
If your corporation has not yet issued any shares and doesn’t have any unpaid debt, you should file the Articles of Dissolution Prior to Issuance of Shares. The fee is $30.
Articles of Dissolution by Board of Directors and Shareholders
If your corporation already issued shares, you must file the Articles of Dissolution by Board of Directors and Shareholders. The fee is $30.
An LLC provides limited liability protection without corporate complexity.
Find out if an LLC is the right structure for you.
After forming a corporation, you’ll want to protect your personal and business assets and build credit.
Taking these steps will set your business up for success:
Form a Corporation with Northwest for $29 Plus State Fees
