North Carolina Registered Agent (Registered Agent Services)

What is a North Carolina Registered Agent & is it Necessary?

An LLC cannot be formed or do business in North Carolina without first having a registered agent on file with the Secretary of State. This is required by law and the penalties can be serious. Maintaining a registered agent doesn’t just keep you in good standing. It also provides an important service.

Think of your registered agent as your ambassador to the state, handling all your LLC’s important legal, tax, and compliance information. This can either be an individual, company or registered agent service, provided that they meet the state’s requirements (see below) and agree to take on the role.

As soon as they’re appointed, your registered agent must be consistently available in North Carolina to receive and act on mailed documents and service of process. Here’s what the Secretary of State specifically says:

And make sure you have a valid registered agent on file at all times, because the state isn’t messing around – they will administratively dissolve your LLC if you go more than 60 days without an agent.

What are the Requirements of a Registered Agent?

There aren’t a ton of restrictions on who can serve as your registered agent, so you should have no problem finding suitable candidates. But the state does have a few non-negotiable rules. To comply, your agent must:

• Be an individual North Carolina resident or a corporation authorized for business in the state.
• Have a physical address in North Carolina.
• Have a mailing address in North Carolina.

Members and managers can assume the registered agent role for their own LLCs, and you can even appoint yourself, as long as you meet the requirements.

No matter who you choose, you’ll need to declare their information on your Articles of Organization before the appointment is official. Here’s what you’ll see when filling out the form:

When you’ve got potential options for your registered agent, review each one to make sure that they meet these requirements. If they do, you’re good to go! If not, you’ll need to keep looking.

Who can be a Registered Agent in North Carolina?

North Carolina’s registered agent requirements are pretty broad, so you’ll have no shortage of options. On top of that, your agent can be either an individual or a professional service. But think carefully before choosing, because each option has its own pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look.

Individual

You may choose to appoint a single person as your registered agent. Some LLC owners take on registered agent duties themselves. Others appoint one of their partners or managers. Some will even appoint a family member. As long as the proposed agent fulfills the state’s requirements, they’re a valid option.

In addition to being a North Carolina resident, your agent must not currently be establishing residency or receiving benefits in another state, even if that residency is still forthcoming.

Some smart registered agent choices include attorneys, accountants, or other LLC partners, people who understand the ins and outs of business operations.

Pros

• Convenience – Having familiarity and mutual trust with your registered agent is extremely beneficial, and appointing an acquaintance can provide both. Plus, you’ll always know how to contact them.
• Cost – Hiring someone you know often won’t cost a dime. It’s certainly cheaper than a professional service.

Cons

• Scheduling – Part of a registered agent’s duty is being consistently available to receive mailed documents and service of process. If your agent goes on vacation or moves out of state, it will throw a wrench in your plans.
• Punctuality Risks – Some state communications and filings are very time-sensitive. If your agent is unavailable when documents are delivered, it could slow down the entire process and put you at risk for late fees and penalties. Even worse, a friend or family member could lose or misplace a document. So if you’d rather not interrogate Aunt Louise about the location of a particular tax form, you might consider using a registered agent service instead.

Registered Agent Service

If safety and reliability is your goal, hire a registered agent service. A business acting as your registered agent must be either a domestic entity in North Carolina or a foreign entity who has foreign qualified in North Carolina.

Pros

• Privacy – Some documents delivered to your registered agent will contain sensitive information. Do you want details about your lawsuit or taxes lost out there in the world? Definitely not. A friend or family member might misplace these documents, but a professional service will not. Plus, in North Carolina, all registered agent names and addresses are available to the public. This might make an individual uncomfortable, but hiring a company will keep this personal information off the record.
• Reliability – Handling and processing time-sensitive documents is a registered agent service’s specialty, its area of expertise, its main game. Hire a professional service and you can be sure that your filings will be submitted properly and punctually, so you’ll never have to deal with late fees or other penalties.
• Location – Many registered agent companies offer service in most or all 50 states, so if business is booming and you decide to expand outside North Carolina, you won’t need to find a new agent for each state.

Cons

• Cost – There’s no getting around it – hiring a service costs more than appointing an individual who’s willing to do it for free. However, for a reasonable price (roughly $100/year), you’ll receive premium services. Taking your car to a mechanic costs more than letting your neighbor try to fix it, but the mechanic gives you peace of mind that the job will get done right, and that may very well be worth the cost.

All of the other steps in the LLC formation process will keep you busy, but take some time to ensure you find a registered agent that fits with your business model, goals, and values. Do this, and your LLC will reap the benefits for years to come.

Registered Agent Changes and Resignation

You may have a wonderful registered agent, someone who takes care of everything efficiently and who you trust completely. But you know what they say: all good things must come to an end. At some point in the life of your LLC, you may need to change your North Carolina registered agent.

Make this change by uploading a Statement of Change of Registered Office and/or Registered Agent online or mailing a hard copy to:

Business Registration Division

PO Box 29622,

Raleigh, NC 27626-0622

There are a number of reasons you might need to file for a change, but the most common is a registered agent’s resignation. But don’t worry, you won’t be blindsided by an agent quitting because the state requires all resigning agents to deliver written notice to their businesses beforehand. Then, the agent retains his or her duties for 30 days after the resignation, giving you time to find a replacement.

Don’t delay, though, because the state won’t hesitate to administratively dissolve your LLC is you go more than 60 days without a valid agent on file.

Have Questions or Concerns?

This guide contains almost everything there is to know about North Carolina registered agents. However, you might have a unique situation that requires additional information. Reaching out to the North Carolina Secretary of State is easy, and they’ll have the answers you need. Here’s how to go about it:

Visit Their Website

The Business Registration Division page has a ton of helpful information on the LLC formation process, including registered agents. You’ll likely find answers to your questions there.

Give Them a Call

Sometimes, however, it’s nicer to speak with a person. If you prefer phone conversations, reach out to their Raleigh office at (919) 814-5400.