Form an LLC in North Carolina with Tailor Brands for Free

The first step in this guide on how to form an LLC in North Carolina is to choose a unique, memorable, and relevant business name. Also, ensure that the name you choose meets the naming guidelines of North Carolina, like the use or omission of certain words.

You’ll also need to check the state database in North Carolina to ensure that no other business is using your chosen name. Tailor Brands offers a business name availability search tool that makes this process easy. Simply type in your search box and enter to find out if you can register your business name.

Sometimes, the process of forming an LLC in North Carolina can take a long time, especially to prepare all the documents and understand all requirements. In such cases, it’s best to reserve your business name so no one can use it while you’re busy preparing.

North Carolina, like most states, allows you to reserve your chosen business name for up to 120 days for a fee of $30. You need to use Form BE-03, not to be confused with Form BE-14, which reserves a business name for ten years when a business entity has acquired the “good will” of another business entity.

When you start an LLC in North Carolina, you’ll need a local registered agent who can receive all your business correspondence and legal documents. Registered agent services should be available at the official address on weekdays, during regular business hours.

Choosing Tailor Brands for your registered agent service in North Carolina not only fulfills this requirement but also provides a comprehensive solution for your business. You’ll be assured of consistent availability, meticulous compliance management, extensive coverage across various states, and efficient document management.

Before you register an LLC in North Carolina, you need to be clear about whether you should form a domestic LLC or a foreign LLC. If you’re forming an entirely new business and plan to run it within North Carolina, you’ll need to form a domestic LLC.

If you already have an established business in another state and want to expand to North Carolina, you’ll need a foreign LLC. Also, depending on the number of LLC owners, you’ll need to decide whether to form a single-member or a multi-member LLC.

If you want to run your business smoothly and avoid any conflict in how you manage your LLC in North Carolina, you need to create an LLC operating agreement. This is a document that lists all the rules of governance for your LLC, including how decisions will be made.

Your LLC operating agreement should include how profits will be divided, member roles and responsibilities, the process of how a member can get out, the process for dissolving the business, and other important rules for managing the business.

This is the step where you officially register your LLC in North Carolina with the Secretary of State. You can submit your LLC formation application along with your articles of organization online, via mail or fax, or even in person.

You can work with Tailor Brands so they can help review your application and ensure there are no mistakes, check if you have provided all the necessary documents, and file the application and articles of organization on behalf of your business.

Every LLC in North Carolina needs an employer identification number as that’s what the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses to identify a business. Just like individuals have social security numbers, businesses need employer identification numbers.

But that’s not all that an EIN is good for. You will need an EIN for opening a business bank account, getting funding for your business, hiring and paying employees, etc. You also need an EIN or Tax ID to pay the income taxes for your business.

Next, in this guide on how to start an LLC in North Carolina, you need to open a bank account for your business. A separate business bank account is a great way to manage your business finances and keep them separate from your personal finances.

There are many banks and business checking account options in the market, so you need to do some research before you choose one. Experts at Tailor Brands can help you with that by giving you some great business banking options to choose from.

Once you register your LLC in North Carolina, you’re legally allowed to run your business. However, you’ll need to acquire all the licenses and permits for your business as required by the county and state where you operate.

Check out the requirements for your specific type of business and your country and state permit requirements. These can range from general business licenses and professional licenses to fire permits, food permits, and even real estate permits.

An LLC in North Carolina can choose to be taxed as a Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, S-Corp, or C-Corporation. This offers a lot of flexibility to a Limited Liability Company as there are numerous options for how you want your business to be taxed.

Most LLCs choose the default pass-through taxation option, in which the business income passes to the LLC members. Each member then pays the federal and state personal income taxes on their income from the business and any other sources.

We’ve covered all the essential steps involved in forming an LLC in North Carolina. Now, let’s discuss some of the optional steps, which involve things that you should preferably take care of before you start running your business.

You can, for example, file for a DBA (doing business as) if you want to operate your business under a shorter, more catchy name. Official business names often include words like “LLC” or “Limited Company”, which are not the best for marketing purposes.

When you run a business, you need to establish a brand for your products and services. Brand marketing involves several brand elements like logo, brand colors, tagline, etc. that consumers can associate with the brand, creating a strong brand identity.

You can apply for a trademark in North Carolina to protect your brand. You can apply for state or federal trademarks for your business name, logo, etc. Tailor Brands offers these trademark and branding services as paid add-ons. It also offers expedited LLC formation in its paid plans.

If you want to market your LLC in North Carolina and attract relevant customers, you need to build an SEO-friendly website. It not only helps new customers find your products and services but also helps them get the information they need about your business.

You also need a domain name matching your business or brand name. GovDocFiling has partnered with GoDaddy to give you the best deal on its web design and marketing services that you can use to build a high-converting website.

As soon as you receive your certificate of formation, you are legally allowed to start operating your LLC in North Carolina. After that, running your business and staying in good standing with the state is an ongoing process.

For that, you must comply with all the rules and regulations of the state and meet your compliance deadlines. This includes paying taxes on time, filing the annual report before the deadline, and meeting any other requirements.

Tailor Brands’ Lite plan offers a cost-free solution for North Carolina entrepreneurs looking to establish their LLC with minimal fuss. 

This plan is perfect for business owners who want professional assistance with the fundamental aspects of LLC formation without incurring any costs.

With the Lite plan, you’ll receive:

• LLC Formation: Tailor Brands handles all the necessary legal paperwork, saving you time and ensuring accuracy.
• Standard Processing: Your LLC in North Carolina will be formed within 14 business days, providing a solid legal foundation.

While this plan doesn’t include extras like expedited processing or compliance assistance, it’s an excellent choice for entrepreneurs who are comfortable managing most aspects of their business independently. 

The Lite plan is ideal if you:

• Have a limited budget but still want pro help with the basics
• Don’t need expedited processing or extra features 
• Are comfortable managing compliance and operational tasks on your own

By choosing the Lite plan, you can establish your LLC’s legal structure without any financial commitment, allowing you to allocate your resources to other critical areas of your business. It’s a straightforward, no-frills option that gets the job done efficiently.

Price: Free

The Essential plan from Tailor Brands is designed for entrepreneurs who desire a more comprehensive package that goes beyond basic LLC formation. 

This plan combines faster processing with additional features to support your business compliance and operations, making it an attractive option for those who want a balance of speed, support, and affordability.

Here’s what you’ll get with the Essential plan:

• Expedited LLC Formation: Your LLC in North Carolina will be processed within 2 business days, significantly faster than the Lite plan.
• Annual Compliance Support: Tailor Brands will file your mandatory reports and keep you informed about important deadlines, ensuring legal compliance.
• Operating Agreement Creation: You’ll gain access to tools for drafting a proper LLC operating agreement, which is a legal requirement in North Carolina.
• $30 Amazon Gift Card: This is a small bonus to welcome you to Tailor Brands while simultaneously helping offset some of your initial business expenses.

The Essential plan provides peace of mind by handling critical aspects of your LLC formation and maintenance. It’s particularly valuable for first-time business owners or those who prefer to have professional support in managing their legal obligations. 

Price: $199/year

Tailor Brands’ Elite plan is the ultimate package for entrepreneurs who want to form their North Carolina LLC and simultaneously build a strong brand presence. 

This comprehensive plan combines all the features of the Essential plan with a wide array of business and branding tools, making it ideal for those who want to hit the ground running with a fully-fledged business identity.

The Elite plan includes:

• All Essential Plan Features: Expedited LLC formation, compliance support, and operating agreement creation.
• Upgraded $50 Amazon Gift Card: A larger bonus to help with your startup costs.
• Extensive Online Business and Branding Tools:
  • 1-Year Free Domain: Secure a professional web address for your business.
  • DIY Website/Online Store Builder: Create your website or store with ready-made templates.
  • Free Logo Designs: Build your brand identity with eight professionally designed logos.
  • Digital Business Card: Get a convenient link containing all your contact information.
  • Social Media Post Maker: Generate branded content to promote across social platforms.
  • Business Card Design Tools: Easily create and customize professional business cards.

With the Elite plan, you’re not just forming an LLC; you’re launching a fully equipped business with all the tools needed to succeed. It’s an all-in-one solution that combines legal formation, brand development, and online presence creation.

Price: $249/year