WEBVTT 00:00:00.250 --> 00:00:05.530 The 5 best registered agents in North Carolina in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, 00:00:05.610 --> 00:00:11.450 Northwest Registered Agent, NC Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and 00:00:11.503 --> 00:00:14.170 North Carolina Registered Agent.co. 00:00:14.170 --> 00:00:16.650 Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast. 00:00:16.762 --> 00:00:19.530 Okay, North Carolina. What's the headline fee? 00:00:19.530 --> 00:00:23.770 Five dollars. That's what the Secretary of State charges to change your registered 00:00:23.837 --> 00:00:29.930 agent, on Form BE-06. The expensive state bill in North Carolina is the annual 00:00:30.010 --> 00:00:31.610 report, not the agent. 00:00:34.986 --> 00:00:37.093 So who's allowed to be the agent? 00:00:37.093 --> 00:00:41.893 Someone who agrees to act, and who either lives in North Carolina, or is a 00:00:41.960 --> 00:00:48.453 corporation, nonprofit or LLC that is registered on the state's Business Registry, 00:00:48.501 --> 00:00:52.653 with a business office address matching the registered office. 00:00:52.783 --> 00:00:58.453 The page says you may be your own registered agent if you live in North Carolina. 00:00:58.453 --> 00:01:00.613 But not your own LLC. 00:01:00.613 --> 00:01:05.653 No. The BE-06 asks for an agent other than your own entity. 00:01:05.653 --> 00:01:08.533 And what's the agent actually obliged to do? 00:01:08.533 --> 00:01:14.133 Less than people assume. The state's page says the sole duty of the registered agent 00:01:14.293 --> 00:01:20.533 is to forward any notice, process or demand to the entity's last known address. 00:01:20.704 --> 00:01:26.333 Accepting those documents at the registered office counts as legal notice. 00:01:26.333 --> 00:01:28.933 By the way, I'm Maya, and Dan's with me. 00:01:28.933 --> 00:01:33.893 Hi, everybody. I'd say that's a good reason to pick an agent who forwards fast. 00:01:35.733 --> 00:01:37.253 So, who tops the list? 00:01:37.253 --> 00:01:44.452 Mainstay Filing. $149 a year, and it renews at $149. 00:01:44.452 --> 00:01:45.733 What does the money cover? 00:01:45.733 --> 00:01:49.573 Its North Carolina address replaces your own on the public record. 00:01:49.661 --> 00:01:53.733 Documents served on your company are scanned and uploaded within the business day 00:01:53.765 --> 00:01:58.453 they arrive, and that's free. The first three government mailings of the year are 00:01:58.503 --> 00:01:59.973 scanned free as well. 00:01:59.973 --> 00:02:02.453 Does that match the forwarding duty you mentioned? 00:02:02.453 --> 00:02:07.493 It's the same job, done faster, since you get a scan the same business day rather 00:02:07.525 --> 00:02:08.933 than waiting on the mail. 00:02:08.933 --> 00:02:09.573 Switching? 00:02:09.573 --> 00:02:13.493 Mainstay files Form BE-06 for you. 00:02:13.553 --> 00:02:16.452 The $5 state fee is passed through at cost. 00:02:16.826 --> 00:02:17.653 Downsides? 00:02:17.653 --> 00:02:23.733 Two other names cost $99, so that's $50 a year less than Mainstay. 00:02:23.866 --> 00:02:29.093 If you'd rather have an unchanging price and the form filed for you, Mainstay is the 00:02:29.139 --> 00:02:30.053 answer to that. 00:02:31.143 --> 00:02:32.583 Number two, then. 00:02:32.583 --> 00:02:36.743 Northwest Registered Agent at $125. 00:02:36.803 --> 00:02:41.383 Its site says it has not raised the price in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of 00:02:41.443 --> 00:02:44.263 regular business mail a year are scanned free. 00:02:44.263 --> 00:02:46.663 What do I check before I click buy? 00:02:46.663 --> 00:02:49.543 Whether you want the annual report service. 00:02:49.650 --> 00:02:55.303 It's turned on automatically, at $100 plus state fees per filing, and you'd have to 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:59.703 cancel it. The page says you can add or cancel it whenever you like. 00:02:59.703 --> 00:03:03.303 In North Carolina the state fee is large, isn't it? 00:03:03.303 --> 00:03:09.223 The annual report is $200 on paper, $203 online by card. 00:03:09.463 --> 00:03:15.863 So with Northwest's service on, the state's $200 plus the $100 service would be 00:03:15.890 --> 00:03:20.983 $300 in a year, in addition to the $125 for the agent. 00:03:21.720 --> 00:03:22.441 Third place? 00:03:22.441 --> 00:03:27.801 NC Registered Agent.org: $99 a year, the same at renewal. 00:03:28.068 --> 00:03:33.321 It lists the office address, same-day scanning of court papers and reminders before 00:03:33.374 --> 00:03:34.361 state deadlines. 00:03:34.361 --> 00:03:36.281 To move over? 00:03:36.281 --> 00:03:41.081 Only the $5 state fee. Its page shows $0 on its side. 00:03:41.361 --> 00:03:46.361 And you've heard the catch before: annual report filing is separate. 00:03:46.361 --> 00:03:48.201 So, three years? 00:03:48.201 --> 00:03:55.161 $297. Mainstay is $447. And at five years, 00:03:55.193 --> 00:03:59.561 $495 versus $745. 00:04:01.325 --> 00:04:02.365 Number four. 00:04:02.365 --> 00:04:05.245 Bizee, which began as Incfile. 00:04:05.445 --> 00:04:10.045 The registered agent is free in year one if you buy a formation package. 00:04:10.173 --> 00:04:14.365 Year two is $149 and it renews automatically. 00:04:15.313 --> 00:04:17.564 And that's the same price as Mainstay. 00:04:17.564 --> 00:04:21.805 At that point, yes. The difference is that you only get the free first year by 00:04:21.855 --> 00:04:23.405 forming your LLC with them. 00:04:24.196 --> 00:04:24.916 And the fifth? 00:04:24.916 --> 00:04:29.156 North Carolina Registered Agent.co, $99 flat. 00:04:29.396 --> 00:04:33.636 A registered office address, scanned legal documents and reminders for state 00:04:33.706 --> 00:04:34.196 filings. 00:04:34.196 --> 00:04:35.716 Same sort of catch? 00:04:35.716 --> 00:04:38.756 Yes, annual report filing is extra. 00:04:38.816 --> 00:04:44.196 And between the two $99 companies, nothing in the listings sets them apart on price. 00:04:45.328 --> 00:04:50.368 Let me do the state side. What does it cost to form a North Carolina LLC? 00:04:50.368 --> 00:04:55.648 Articles of Organization on Form L-01 are $125. 00:04:55.701 --> 00:05:02.128 If you file online by card, it's $128, and $127 by ACH. 00:05:02.128 --> 00:05:03.488 And every year after? 00:05:03.488 --> 00:05:08.448 The annual report is due April 15 each year after the year of creation. 00:05:08.688 --> 00:05:13.168 It's $200 on paper or $203 online by card. 00:05:13.408 --> 00:05:16.448 It restates the registered office and agent too. 00:05:16.448 --> 00:05:18.688 Add a first year with Mainstay. 00:05:18.688 --> 00:05:25.648 $125 plus $149 is $274. Then 00:05:25.696 --> 00:05:31.888 from the next year, $200 plus $149, so $349. 00:05:31.888 --> 00:05:34.689 That second figure is what surprises people. 00:05:34.689 --> 00:05:38.048 It's the report, and it's not tied to any agent. 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:41.248 Even a free agent doesn't remove the $200. 00:05:41.966 --> 00:05:43.806 There's more than BE-06, right? 00:05:43.806 --> 00:05:50.526 A few. BE-05, $5, designates an agent when your company doesn't have one on record. 00:05:50.819 --> 00:05:55.846 BE-12, also $5, is for the agent's own change of address. 00:05:55.846 --> 00:05:57.326 And the annual report? 00:05:57.326 --> 00:06:01.086 The state says you might need to mail it if you're changing the registered agent's 00:06:01.166 --> 00:06:04.366 name, so don't count on the online form covering that. 00:06:04.366 --> 00:06:06.366 What else is on BE-06? 00:06:06.366 --> 00:06:10.846 The new agent's consent to the appointment, either on the form or as a separate 00:06:10.892 --> 00:06:15.806 signed consent, and an officer, manager or general partner has to sign. 00:06:16.046 --> 00:06:21.166 You can file it online or mail it to the Business Registration Division in Raleigh. 00:06:21.166 --> 00:06:22.606 How quickly do I have to do it? 00:06:22.606 --> 00:06:27.726 Within 60 days of any change, you're required to update the agent's name and office 00:06:27.758 --> 00:06:28.446 with the state. 00:06:29.203 --> 00:06:30.723 And if my agent walks away? 00:06:30.723 --> 00:06:36.083 It files Form BE-07, with no fee, and mails the company a copy. 00:06:36.223 --> 00:06:40.563 The state sends copies to the registered office and the principal office, and the 00:06:40.603 --> 00:06:43.683 appointment ends on the 31st day after filing. 00:06:43.683 --> 00:06:45.763 What if I never replace it? 00:06:45.763 --> 00:06:48.723 The Secretary of State becomes your agent for service. 00:06:48.883 --> 00:06:53.483 The state can also start administrative dissolution if you've been without a 00:06:53.508 --> 00:06:58.963 registered agent or office for 60 days or more, or didn't tell it within 60 days of 00:06:59.003 --> 00:07:04.403 a change or resignation. You then have 60 days after notice is mailed to fix it. 00:07:05.425 --> 00:07:07.585 What's the shortlist question for North Carolina? 00:07:07.585 --> 00:07:10.385 Are you paying for forwarding or for scanning? 00:07:10.572 --> 00:07:16.305 Given that the state's rule is only that the agent forwards papers, a same-day scan 00:07:16.365 --> 00:07:19.745 and an unchanging renewal are what you're really buying. 00:07:19.745 --> 00:07:21.345 And that points to... 00:07:21.345 --> 00:07:26.785 Mainstay Filing, our pick for North Carolina, at $149 a year. 00:07:28.524 --> 00:07:30.443 Run the list again. 00:07:30.443 --> 00:07:35.644 One, Mainstay Filing: $149 a year, same at renewal. 00:07:35.924 --> 00:07:42.844 Two, Northwest: $125, and cancel the report service if you don't want it. 00:07:43.044 --> 00:07:49.644 Three, NC Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. 00:07:49.724 --> 00:07:56.724 Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. 00:07:56.876 --> 00:08:02.524 Five, North Carolina Registered Agent.co: $99 00:08:02.604 --> 00:08:04.204 flat. 00:08:04.204 --> 00:08:08.924 Links are in the show notes. Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.