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North Carolina CorporationForm a Corporation or S-Corp in North Carolina for $0 service fee plus the $125 state fee. Articles, bylaws, 10M authorized shares, founder stock with vesting, EIN, BOI included.
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North Carolina Corporation Formation, 2026
Incorporating live in North Carolina · C-Corp & S-Corp supported

How to form a corporation in North Carolina for $0 service fee.

North Carolina state filing fee is $125. Standard processing 5 to 7 business days. We file Articles of Incorporation with the North Carolina Secretary of State, issue 10M authorized shares (QSBS-eligible), prepare North Carolina corporate bylaws, issue founder common stock with vesting and 83(b) templates, obtain your EIN, and file your BOI report.

Start your North Carolina Corporation Is a corp right for me
$0 service fee QSBS preserved 60-day money-back
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
North Carolina C-Corporation
Authorized shares10,000,000
Par value$0.0001
State fee$125
Processing5 to 7 business days
NC
SEAL
2026
$125
North Carolina incorporation fee
10M
Authorized shares (standard)
QSBS
Capital gains exclusion
$0
Our service fee
$0
Service fee
we file it free
$125
North Carolina state fee
passed through at cost
5-7 biz days
Processing
state office turnaround
C-Corp + S-Corp
Both supported
with S-Corp election
SOC 2 Type II · 2025 report 4.9 · 8,200+ reviews E&O Insured · carrier on request 51 Jurisdictions 220,000+ Formed
See disclosures + carrier names →
Bylaws + minutesNorth Carolina-specific corporate governance ready
Founder stock + 83(b)Vesting agreement, 83(b) template included
Cap table toolFree under 50 stakeholders, SAFE-ready
Is a North Carolina corporation right for you

When the corporation structure fits.

FORM A CORPORATION IN NORTH CAROLINA IF
  • You plan to raise venture capital (institutional investors require C-Corp)
  • You want to issue stock options to employees (ISOs)
  • You want QSBS eligibility for capital gains tax exclusion
  • You expect significant retained earnings (C-Corp can retain at 21% federal rate)
  • You want clear separation between operators and shareholders
FORM AN LLC INSTEAD IF
  • You are a solo operator or small business not raising outside capital
  • You want pass-through taxation with no corporate formalities
  • You prefer minimal annual compliance burden
  • You will own real estate (LLCs are standard for property holding)
  • You want simpler ownership transfer without share certificates
The North Carolina business environment

Why North Carolina for your corporation.

CNBC ranked NC #1 best state for business in 2022 and 2023. Charlotte is the 2nd-largest US banking center. Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) is one of the largest research/biotech clusters. State income tax 4.5% flat (phasing down).

State GDP$725BTotal state output
Population10.7MCensus estimate
Small businesses~970,000Per SBA
Notable#1 best state for business (CNBC 2022, 2023)Economic distinction
Top industries in North Carolina
Banking & finance (Charlotte)Technology (Research Triangle)Pharmaceuticals (RTP)Agriculture (tobacco, swine)Manufacturing
Top cities

Where North Carolina corporations are headquartered.

Charlotte
Largest city. Bank of America, Wells Fargo, financial services capital of the South.
Raleigh
State capital. Research Triangle, tech, biotech, NC State.
Greensboro
Manufacturing, textiles, growing tech.
Durham
Duke University, biotech, growing tech (Triangle).
Winston-Salem
Banking (legacy Wachovia), biotech, healthcare.
Cary
Tech (SAS Institute HQ), suburban Raleigh.
Ready to incorporate in North Carolina?5 minutes. $0 service. $125 state fee at cost. C-Corp default with 10M authorized shares.
Start your North Carolina Corp →Pay only state fee
What is included on Starter

Free with your North Carolina corporation LLC formation.

Starter is genuinely $0. We pass through the $state North Carolina corporation state fee at cost. Everything below is included free.

  • Articles filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State, our service fee $0
  • IRS EIN application (Form SS-4) filed for you
  • North Carolina corporation-specific Operating Agreement or Bylaws template
  • North Carolina corporation Registered Agent service: first year free, then $99/year
  • Basic North Carolina corporation compliance calendar (annual report dates)
  • Document storage, 5 GB
Upgrade to Growth · $49/mo

Add the operating stack most North Carolina corporation businesses need.

BOI filing + annual report filing + custom domain (1 free) + business email (3 mailboxes) + business phone line + brand kit (logo + 100 cards) + website builder + books + CRM + e-signature unlimited + document vault unlimited + audit trail + priority support. See full Growth features →

Or pay as you need

BOI filing $249 · S-Corp election $99 · Annual report filing $149 + state fee · Foreign qualification $149/state · Trademark $249/class + USPTO fee · Custom Operating Agreement $199 · Expedited state filing state fee + $50 service. Full add-on pricing →

Filing timeline

From form to filed in North Carolina.

1
Day 0
Tell us about your businessEntity name, incorporators, share structure, founder allocations
2
Day 1
We file with North CarolinaArticles submitted to the North Carolina Secretary of State
3
Day 2-5
EIN + governance docsEIN issued. Bylaws, board minutes, founder stock prepared
4
Day 5-30
83(b) + cap table83(b) mailed (30-day deadline). Cap table populated. Ready to operate
Skip the North Carolina paperwork.Articles, bylaws, founder stock, 83(b), EIN, BOI, all done end to end.
Start your North Carolina Corp →Pay only state fee
Compare to alternatives

North Carolina corp vs other formation states.

Delaware (default for VC-backed)$89+Required by most VCs. Foreign qualification in North Carolina still needed.
South Carolina$110Lower fees, no annual report
Virginia$100Lower fees, federal contractor economy
Georgia$100Lower annual fee, similar economy
North Carolina Corp$125Form here if you operate in North Carolina.
Local resources

North Carolina corporate resources.

Economic Development Partnership of NCState business support
NC SBDCStatewide network
Charlotte Regional Business AllianceMetro chamber and EDC
Raleigh ChamberTriangle chamber
60day promise

The File.Business Promise

If we miss a filing deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we pay the state penalty. If you change your mind in the first 60 days, we refund our service fee in full. Your data stays yours, always.

60-day money-back Penalty-free filings Cancel anytime QSBS preserved
FAQ

North Carolina Corporation questions.

Should I form my North Carolina corporation as a C-Corp or S-Corp?
Most North Carolina corporations start as C-Corps (default federal tax treatment). S-Corp is a federal election (Form 2553) you file later, typically when net profit crosses $60-80k. For venture-backed startups, C-Corp is required: S-Corp cannot have institutional investors, non-US shareholders, or multiple share classes. We file the North Carolina corporation; you can elect S-Corp anytime by filing Form 2553.
What is the difference between forming an LLC and a corporation in North Carolina?
LLCs are simpler (no shares, fewer formalities, pass-through tax by default). North Carolina corporations have shareholders, a board of directors, officers, bylaws, board minutes, and double taxation by default. Corporations are the standard structure for raising venture capital because investors require preferred stock, ESOPs, and other corporate-specific instruments LLCs cannot provide.
Do I need bylaws for my North Carolina corporation?
Yes. North Carolina corporations are governed internally by bylaws (board structure, officer roles, meeting requirements, voting rules) plus the Articles of Incorporation filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State. We include North Carolina-appropriate bylaws with every formation, along with initial board minutes and a corporate governance binder.
How many shares should my North Carolina corporation authorize?
Standard for a new C-Corp: 10,000,000 authorized shares of common stock with a small percentage actually issued to founders. The 10M structure leaves room for an option pool (typically 10-20%) and future preferred stock issuances in financing rounds. We file the 10M authorized share structure by default; you can specify a different number.
What is QSBS and does my North Carolina corporation qualify?
Qualified Small Business Stock (IRC Section 1202) lets shareholders exclude up to $10M (or 10x basis) of capital gains on qualifying C-Corp stock held more than 5 years. North Carolina C-Corps qualify if they meet the active business test (80% of assets used in qualified trade) and the gross asset test (under $50M at issuance). We preserve QSBS eligibility from day one.
Do I need to issue founder stock with vesting?
Highly recommended. North Carolina founder stock without vesting means a co-founder who leaves after 6 months keeps 100% of their shares. With standard 4-year/1-year-cliff vesting, the company can reclaim unvested shares. We issue founder stock with vesting and prepare Section 83(b) election forms (due to IRS within 30 days of issuance).
When should my North Carolina corporation elect S-Corp status?
S-Corp election (IRS Form 2553) can save self-employment tax when net profit crosses ~$60-80k. Restrictions: 100 shareholders max, US individuals only (no entities, no non-resident aliens), single class of stock. If you plan to raise venture capital, stay C-Corp. Our service fee for filing Form 2553 is $99.

Start your North Carolina Corporation in 5 minutes.

Tell us a few details. We file with the North Carolina Secretary of State, prepare your bylaws, issue founder stock with vesting, file your 83(b) reminder, obtain your EIN, and file BOI.

Start your North Carolina CorpTalk to a North Carolina specialist
Pay only state fee QSBS preserved 60-day money-back

Related searches: form a corporation in North Carolina · North Carolina C-Corp · North Carolinan S-Corp · North Carolina incorporation cost 2026 · how to incorporate in North Carolina · North Carolina Secretary of State corporation · North Carolina corporate bylaws · North Carolina QSBS · Delaware vs North Carolina C-Corp

Built for real businesses

Corporations we have formed in North Carolina.

Funded startup · North Carolina
Funded startup · North Carolina
C-Corp + 83(b)
C-Corp + 83(b)
S-Corp election
S-Corp election
$129/yr Compliance Annual Filings · penalty-free

On the $129/yr Compliance Annual Filings plan, we cover state late fees.

When you autofile your annual report through the $129/yr plan and we miss the deadline, we pay the state's late fee. The guarantee applies to that specific plan and the filings it includes. Other File.Business services are billed at the prices on this page.

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File.Business is a private business filing and compliance service. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with any Secretary of State office. You may file directly with the appropriate state agency. SOC 2 Type II audited. 220,000+ businesses formed since 2017.
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