Register Your Business
You have decided which type of entity you want to form and you have selected your name. The next steps are to prepare the documents and submit them to the Secretary of State.
Who is required to register when forming a North Carolina business entity?
Business Corporations, Nonprofit Corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLC), Limited Partnerships (LP), Limited Liability Partnerships(LLP or RLLP), and Limited Liability Limited Partnerships (LLLP) are required to register with the NC Secretary of State’s Office prior to conducting business in North Carolina.
If the company you want to organize is a sole proprietorship or general partnership, you may have to file an assumed name certificate with the Register of Deeds Office in the county where your principal office is located. Please see https://edpnc.com/start-or-grow-a-business/start-a-business/ for more information on assumed names and for the forms for filing with the Register of Deeds Office.
Articles of Incorporation/Organization and Registration of a Partnership are the legal documents which must be filed in order to register a business entity with the Secretary of State in North Carolina.
There are two steps to getting the document filed: