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Foreign registration price index · North Carolina

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in North Carolina (2026): Price Index

Indexed by value, the 2026 North Carolina ledger for foreign registration services runs Mainstay Filing ($199), NC Registered Agent.org ($199) and North Carolina Registered Agent.co ($199). Three-year service subtotals of $397 to $497 come on top of the $250 registration fee in North Carolina.
Entries by the LLC Price Index editorial team

Index basis: Weighted index: cost over three years counts 38%, coverage per dollar 32%

Quick tally

Fee paid at registration$250sosnc.gov (read October 2026) per the state
Opening range$199Provider fees alone
Subtotal at year three$397 to $497Year one and two renewals
Owed to the state, 3 years$650Not part of the index
First crossingDoes not happenOrder holds through year 10

The North Carolina index

Figures come from each company's own pricing. Add the $250 state fee to any line.
1

1. Mainstay Filing: best for the same fee wherever you register

Index leader
First year$199
Years 2 and on$149/yr
Three-year sum$497
$199 plus state fee, then $149/yr

Best value in North Carolina is Mainstay Filing: a $199 service charge in any state, first agent year thrown in.

NC Registered Agent.org saves $100 across three years and leaves more filings with you.

The agent bills $149 a year starting in year two, in any state.

Line includes

  • Registration filed on your behalf
  • Registered agent free for the first year
  • The same price across the country

Credits

  • Identical fee in every state
  • $199 above the state fee
  • The agent is free initially

Debits

  • Agent renews at $149, $50 above NC Registered Agent.org
2

2. NC Registered Agent.org: best for a lean way in on this ledger

North Carolina focus
First year$199
Years 2 and on$99/yr
Three-year sum$397
$199 plus state fee, then $99/yr

NC Registered Agent.org is line 2: $199 beyond the state fee, then $99 a year.

Line includes

  • State registration handled
  • Agent service in year one

Credits

  • $99 a year for the agent afterward
  • $199 for the registration
  • Agent included at the start

Debits

  • Limited to one state
3

3. North Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for another in-state choice

North Carolina focus
First year$199
Years 2 and on$99/yr
Three-year sum$397
$199 plus state fee, then $99/yr

North Carolina Registered Agent.co is line 3: $199 beyond the state fee, then $99 a year.

It matches NC Registered Agent.org to the dollar.

Line includes

  • State registration handled
  • Agent service in year one

Credits

  • $99 a year for the agent afterward
  • Agent included at the start
  • $199 for the registration

Debits

  • Limited to one state

What each line costs, year by year

LineProviderTotal, year 1Total, year 2Total, year 3Total, year 5
1Mainstay Filing$199$348$497$795Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2NC Registered Agent.org$199$298$397$595Visit NC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3North Carolina Registered Agent.co$199$298$397$595Visit North Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Year one plus renewals, using the prices read on November 13, 2026. The subtotals keep one order for a full decade.

Compute your subtotal

Change the years to compare subtotals.
Subtotal after 3 years: Mainstay Filing $497, NC Registered Agent.org $397, North Carolina Registered Agent.co $397. Lowest at that point: NC Registered Agent.org.

North Carolina state fees (official)

EntryAmountCited from
Registration filing charge$250sosnc.gov (read October 2026) per the state
Annual report$200sosnc.gov (read October 2026) per the state
Paid to the state by year 3$650Total of the above
Filing fee, plus the recurring reports in years two and three, plus any minimum tax: that is how the three-year state line is built.

How the index came out

Coverage per dollar settled line one. That column is 32% of the index; three-year cost index, renewal step, crossover year and price transparency make up the rest.

Registering here means at least two states; one provider for both beat NC Registered Agent.org.

Official North Carolina foreign LLC registration fee and rules

To do business in North Carolina with an LLC formed elsewhere, file the Application for Certificate of Authority for Limited Liability Company (Form L-09) with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division for $250. Add certificate of existence (or similar document, such as a certificate of good standing) not older than 180 days.

An unregistered LLC can face it cannot sue in North Carolina until it registers (G.S. 57D-7-02(a)); each additional day costing $10; back fees for the unregistered period.

Source text: sosnc.gov (read October 2026) per the state

The state-fees-only line

Skip the service and you pay North Carolina $650 over three years while handling every form yourself. The services bill $397 to $497 on top for that work.

Questions about North Carolina prices

What does North Carolina charge an out-of-state LLC to register?

$250 to the filing office, plus service fees starting in the $199 range.

What is the three-year subtotal for these services?

Service subtotals run $397 to $497 over three years.

Which document does the registering?

The registering document is Application for Certificate of Authority for Limited Liability Company (Form L-09), and the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division is the office that takes it.

Does North Carolina want a paper from the LLC's home state?

Yes, no more than 180 days old: certificate of existence (or similar document, such as a certificate of good standing).

What recurring filing comes after registration?

Next comes the annual report, billed at $200.

When does one line pass another in total cost?

Not within ten years; no line overtakes another.

Which foreign registration service indexes best in North Carolina?

Line one is Mainstay Filing, line two NC Registered Agent.org, line three North Carolina Registered Agent.co.

Related indexes

Source lines

  1. August 2026 confirmation of North Carolina Department of the at sosnc.gov.
  2. August 2026 confirmation of North Carolina Department of the at sosnc.gov.
  3. August 2026 confirmation of North Carolina report due date at ncleg.gov.
  4. August 2026 confirmation of N.C at sosnc.gov.
  5. October 2026 confirmation of North Carolina formation fee: Filing at sosnc.gov.
  6. October 2026 confirmation of North Carolina formation fee: Filing at sosnc.gov.
  7. October 2026 confirmation of North Carolina registered agent statute at sosnc.gov.
  8. October 2026 confirmation of North Carolina Secretary of State at sosnc.gov.
  9. October 2026 confirmation of Form L-09, Application for Certificate at sosnc.gov.
  10. October 2026 confirmation of Secretary of State guide to at sosnc.gov.
  11. October 2026 confirmation of G.S at ncleg.gov.
  12. October 2026 confirmation of Annual report due dates at sosnc.gov.
  13. November 2026 confirmation of N.C at ncleg.gov.
  14. November 13, 2026 reading of the Mainstay Filing North Carolina service page
  15. November 13, 2026 reading of the NC Registered Agent.org pricing page
  16. November 13, 2026 reading of the North Carolina Registered Agent.co pricing page