Registered Agent Costs

Registered Agent Costs › North Carolina

North Carolina registered agent cost: five-year comparison (2026)

Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, is $149 a year in North Carolina, $745 over five years. Across the 9 providers priced for North Carolina the five-year cost runs $516 to $1,245. Changing agents costs $5 in state fees.

  • Prices read October 2026
  • North Carolina rules checked October 20, 2026

Five-year cost in North Carolina

ProviderYear 1Renewal5-year
FreeRegisteredAgent.com$0$129$516
Northwest Registered Agent$125$125$625
InCorp Services$129$129$645
Harbor Compliance$99$159$735
Mainstay Filing$149$149$745
Bizee$149$149$745
ZenBusiness$99$199$895
Registered Agents Inc$200$200$1,000
LegalZoom$249$249$1,245

North Carolina agent rules

Agent requirement
Required. A North Carolina resident, or a corporation, nonprofit or LLC on the North Carolina business registry other than the company itself.
Address
The address has to be a physical registered office in North Carolina. A P.O. box can be added only as a mailing address.
Change-of-agent fee
$5
Statute
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 55D-30
Best overall in North Carolina

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$149 / year, same at renewal

Questions

How much is a registered agent in North Carolina?

9 providers have a published price for North Carolina: $0 to $249 in year 1, and $516 to $1,245 over five years. Mainstay Filing is $149 a year.

Do I have to pay for an agent in North Carolina?

You must have one, but you may be able to serve as your own agent if you meet these terms: A North Carolina resident, or a corporation, nonprofit or LLC on the North Carolina business registry other than the company itself.

What does it cost to change agents in North Carolina?

The state charges $5 to file the change of registered agent (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 55D-30).

Sources