Registered Agent Fees › North Carolina
What North Carolina charges for a registered agent change (2026)
North Carolina charges $5 to file a change of registered agent. With Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick at $149 a year, switching costs $154 in year 1 and $149 after.
- North Carolina rules checked October 20, 2026
- Provider fees read October 2026
Every fee, in order
| Fee | Amount | Who charges it |
|---|---|---|
| Change-of-agent filing | $5 | North Carolina Secretary of State |
| Yearly agent service, year 1 | $149 | Mainstay Filing |
| Yearly agent service, renewal | $149 | Mainstay Filing |
| Setup fee | None | Mainstay Filing |
Mainstay Filing
$149 / year, same at renewal
- Registered agent, all year
- Mail and legal-document scanning and forwarding
- Compliance reminders
Checked October 20, 2026.
8 other providers priced in North Carolina
Harbor Compliance, Northwest Registered Agent, InCorp Services, FreeRegisteredAgent.com, LegalZoom, Registered Agents Inc, ZenBusiness and Bizee. Their yearly fees range from $0 to $249 in year 1, before the state’s fee.
North Carolina agent rules
- 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.
- Statute
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 55D-30
Questions
What does North Carolina charge to change registered agents?
$5, filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 55D-30). That is rank 36 of 50, highest first.
What is the total cost to switch to Mainstay Filing in North Carolina?
$154 in year 1: the state’s $5 fee plus $149 for the first year of service, with the same $149 at renewal.
Can I be my own registered agent in North Carolina?
A North Carolina resident, or a corporation, nonprofit or LLC on the North Carolina business registry other than the company itself. The address has to be a physical registered office in North Carolina. A P.O. box can be added only as a mailing address.
Sources
- North Carolina registered agent statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 55D-30): sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/registered_agent_links, checked October 20, 2026
- North Carolina Secretary of State: www.sosnc.gov/, checked October 20, 2026
- Provider registered agent pages, checked October 20, 2026