Formation MathLLC service costs, worked out step by step.
Registered agent worksheets · North Carolina
3 Best Registered Agents in North Carolina (2026): Worked Prices
Worked out for 2026, the best-value registered agents in North Carolina come to North Carolina Registered Agent.co ($99/yr), Mainstay Filing ($149/yr) and NC Registered Agent.org ($99/yr), in that order. One year: $99 to $149. Three years: $297 to $447.
Worked by the Formation Math editorial team
↓ Sorted by:Score = 42% three-year total + 28% coverage + three smaller terms (details)
North Carolina in brief
Is an agent needed?Yessosnc.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
Totals after one year$99 to $149Annual bill
Three-year range$297 to $447First year + 2 renewals
Annual report$200 a yearsosnc.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
Year the lines meetNeverNo row ever passes another
The North Carolina rows
Rows are sorted by the method. No state fee depends on the agent.
#Sorted byYear-1 priceRenewal priceSum of 3 years
1
Best value
1. North Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for owners who watch each dollar
$99/yr now, $99/yr at renewal
Year-1 price$99
Renewal price$99/yr
Sum of 3 years$297
Row one is North Carolina Registered Agent.co. The math: $99 a year, $99 when it renews, for an LLC that never leaves the state.
It beats Mainstay Filing on the biggest term in the score, three-year total.
The price buys
An address in the state on file
Legal documents posted to your account
Adds up
Lower yearly total than Mainstay Filing
Year 1 $99, year 2 $99
Does not add up
A one-state service
Annual report stays on your list
2
The all-in row
2. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who might add a state
$149/yr now, $149/yr at renewal
Year-1 price$149
Renewal price$149/yr
Sum of 3 years$447
Row 2 belongs to Mainstay Filing because the same $149 a year across all fifty states.
Do the subtraction: three years here minus three years at North Carolina Registered Agent.co leaves $150.
The price buys
A real address in the state
Three government mailings per year, scanned for free
Works for LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits
Adds up
Year 1 $149, year 2 $149
One account serves any state
Does not add up
Costs $50 more annually
You still handle the reports
3
North Carolina only
3. NC Registered Agent.org: best for another in-state option
$99/yr now, $99/yr at renewal
Year-1 price$99
Renewal price$99/yr
Sum of 3 years$297
NC Registered Agent.org scores third. Working: $99 a year, $99 when it renews, for an LLC that never leaves the state.
No difference in price from North Carolina Registered Agent.co.
To get the three-year state figure, add the filing fee, the reports due in years two and three, and any yearly minimum tax. Costs with no fixed amount, such as newspaper publication, are mentioned but not added.
What settled the order
Three-year total put North Carolina Registered Agent.co in row one. That term is 42% of the score; items covered per dollar, year-two change, crossover year and published detail make up the rest.
North Carolina Registered Agent.co wins the cost term at $297 over three years, against $150 more for Mainstay Filing.
North Carolina registered agent rules, from the source (North Carolina Secretary of State)
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A North Carolina resident, or a corporation, nonprofit or LLC on the North Carolina business registry other than the company itself. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 55D-30)
The address has to be a physical registered office in North Carolina. A P.O. box can be added only as a mailing address.
Quoted from: sosnc.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
The state-fees-only case
An owner who meets the address rule can serve for free; the rows above put a price of $99 to $149 a year on the convenience.
Quick answers
What does a registered agent in North Carolina cost per year?
$99 to $149 a year in this table.
What do three years of agent service cost?
Service totals for three years: $297 to $447.
Does North Carolina require a registered agent for an LLC?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Can the owner be the registered agent?
Yes, if you meet the eligibility and address rules above.
What does the state collect from the LLC each year?
Annual report at $200 per year, due April 15.
In what year does one service pass another in total cost?
No break-even inside ten years.
Which registered agent is best value in North Carolina?
From the top: North Carolina Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing and NC Registered Agent.org.