3 Best Registered Agents in North Carolina (2026): Prices Tracked
North Carolina watchlist, 2026: North Carolina Registered Agent.co ($99/yr), Mainstay Filing ($149/yr) and NC Registered Agent.org ($99/yr) lead the registered agents, best value first. Yearly agent prices begin at $99 to $149, which adds up to $297 to $447 over three years.
Tracked by the Filing Price Watch editorial team
Ordered by:
Ordered by five tracked measures, led by cost at 37% and filings covered at 29%
Snapshot
Does the law call for one?Yessosnc.gov (pulled October 2026, noted here)
Year 1 spread$99 to $149Annual price
Three-year spread$297 to $447Three years of provider charges
Annual report$200 a yearsosnc.gov (pulled October 2026, noted here)
Each line above links to the state's own page. Summing them gives the three-year state figure, which covers filing, years two and three of reporting and a minimum tax where there is one.
Why this order for North Carolina
In North Carolina, tracked three-year cost (37% of the order) was the measure where North Carolina Registered Agent.co pulled ahead.
North Carolina Registered Agent.co totals $297 by year three, which is $150 less than Mainstay Filing.
North Carolina registered agent requirements, as written by the state (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. See 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.
From the source: sosnc.gov (pulled October 2026, noted here)
State fees and nothing else
An owner who meets the address rule may serve free of charge; the services above put a price of $99 to $149 a year on that convenience.
North Carolina pricing questions
How much does a North Carolina registered agent cost per year?
These agents charge $99 to $149 each year.
What do three years of agent service cost?
The first year and two renewals total $297 to $447.
Is a registered agent required for a North Carolina LLC?
Yes, it does. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Can the owner serve as the registered agent?
You can, provided you meet both the address and eligibility rules.
What does the state charge the LLC each year?
$200 each year for the annual report, with the deadline given as April 15.
In what year does one service become pricier than another?
Not in the next ten years. The running totals keep their order.
Which registered agent is the best value in North Carolina?
North Carolina Registered Agent.co is first, with Mainstay Filing and NC Registered Agent.org after it.