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North Carolina Business License

Date: 11/27/2018 | Category: | Author: Jakub Vele

North Carolina Business License

After you have registered your LLC or business corporation in North Carolina, what is the next step towards making the business entity operational? You need to check whether your business requires a North Carolina company license or not. If a business entity requires a license or permit and if you have not applied for one, then even after registration or incorporation, your business will not be able to become operational.

It is important to understand that there is no single general license for businesses operation out of North Carolina. At the same time, some businesses may be subjected to several state licensing requirements while others might not require a business license at all.

How to Get a Business License in North Carolina

How do you find out if your business requires a permit or a license, or both? Who is the issuing authority for a business permit or license? How do you apply for business license in North Carolina? Will a business entity require a single license or multiple licenses or permits? The only way to answer these questions is by understanding the process of business licensing.

The following steps would provide guidance towards acquiring a business license in the state of North Carolina:

Step#1: The Industry or Business Type

The type of industry or the activities of a business entity helps in identifying the type of business license required in the state of North Carolina. The licenses or permits to transact in the state re issued by state agencies or county clerks. There are host of boards as well as commissions that administer the issuance of over 700 specialty business licenses and permits.

Let’s look at an example to understand this well.

Type of Business/Industry

  • Food establishment and other food services – License is issued by Food & Drug Protection Division of North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
  • Liquor selling and serving – Permits are issued by North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
  • Entertainment Business – A business license is issued by different counties and hence you will be required to apply for the same at the county office your business is situated in.
  • Family child care home and Child care center – License is issued by Division of Child Development and Early Education (NCDHHS)

The bottom line is that you need to check the industry your business belongs to. For example, a restaurant would belong to the “Food Establishment” industry.

Step#2: Licenses issued by City/County

If your business or industry type doesn’t fall under state-wide license then you will have to check with the local city or county office. A business license in North Carolina can also be issued by local counties or cities in which the business is located.

Let’s take a look at an example to understand this better.

City/County: City of Raleigh, NC

If you are planning to start a business in City of Raleigh, NC then you have to apply for and acquire a business license through the Revenue Services Division.

The type of license or permit as well as the required fee is determined by the type of business.

If you were to set up a business that provides Amplified Entertainment then you will require a business license by paying a fee of $500.

The license will be due annually on June 30, and the renewal fee would be $100

On the other hand, if your business is situated in a “defined hospitality district” then you would be required to apply for a Hospitality District Entertainment Permit.

Download Sample Application

Step#3: Issuance of a Business License

How is a business license in North Carolina issued? You have to identify the following to complete the process:

  1. The type of business or industry
  2. Do you need a license or a permit?
  3. Will it be issued by the state or the city?

Once you have identified the above, all you need to do is either download the application online or contact the concerned state department or city of clerk office.

It is important to note that a business license or permit will have to be renewed annually unless specific dates have been mentioned, to keep the business operational.

You can also check the Directory of State Business Licenses and Permits to get a full list of businesses that are issued licenses by various state agencies.

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Incorporate in North Carolina

Date: 11/22/2018 | Category: | Author: Jakub Vele

Incorporate in North Carolina

Known as the “Tar Heel State”, North Carolina has an exporter rank of 15 and a trade balance rank of 37. Some of the top industries or businesses involved in the highly revenue generating export state include Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Machinery, Aircraft, Electrical Machinery, Plastics, Motor Vehicles & Parts, and Cotton among others. Recently, the banking & finance industry has shown rapid economic growth and this is a favored industry for incorporation in North Carolina. Some of the top names in this sector include AONHewitt, BB&T, Credit Suisse, MetLife, Wells Fargo, TIAA, PNC, and Bank of America.

Why Choose North Carolina for Incorporation?

Whether you are planning to form a corporation or a limited liability company in North Carolina, it is a known fact that this is one state that has been consistently recognized for its pro business climate. Business incorporation in North Carolina will provide you with the platform required to grow and become a part of the thriving economy.

There are major benefits that small businesses can gain through various programs being implemented to provide businesses with the much needed support they require as start-ups. There are several programs in place for corporations and LLC’s and some of them are:

  • Machinery and Equipment, Sales and Use Tax Exemption: If you set up a company in North Carolina in the manufacturing sector and qualify for this program then your business can benefit from exemption from sales and use tax on manufacturing machinery.
  • Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG): It is a discretionary incentive program that is performance based. The main aim of the program is to facilitate cash grants directly to new businesses and expanding companies.

How do you incorporate in North Carolina?

What is the process of business incorporation in North Carolina? What type of documentation is required? These are some of the common questions that you will be confronted with if you are planning to establish a new business in the state. The following steps will help you understand the entire process:

Business Type

What type of business do you want to set up in North Carolina? If you want to set up a company in North Carolina, you can choose to form Profit and Professional Corporations, Limited Partnerships (LP), Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP), and Limited Liability Companies (LLC) among others. The type of business entity you want to form can be a domestic or a foreign entity. The forms and fee will be different for each type of entity.

Business Entity Name

If you have already identified the type of business you want to set up then the next step towards incorporation in North Carolina is to identify a name for your business entity. There are 3 steps towards business name formation and they are:

  • Naming Requirements: The naming requirements for LLC as well as business corporation should be pursuant to §55D-23 of the General Statutes of North Carolina. The name of each limited liability company must contain words like “Limited Liability Company” or abbreviations like “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. A corporate name must contain words like “corporation”, or “incorporated” or abbreviations like “corp.” or “inc.”
  • Business name search: You need to search for a business name that is not in use currently. You can conduct a name search here.
  • Name Reservation: Once you have identified a business entity name, you can reserve the name with the Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Department for a period of 120 days.
  • Name Registration: If you are a foreign entity planning to set up a company in North Carolina then you will be required to register your business name pursuant to §55D-24 of the General Statutes of North Carolina.

Choose a Registered Agent

A domestic business entity as well as a foreign entity authorized to transact business in the state of North Carolina will have to maintain a registered agent pursuant to NC Gen Stat § 55-5-01 (2013) for corporations and NC Gen Stat § 57D-2-40 (2014) for limited liability companies.

We are one of the respected registered agents in North Carolina and will be responsible towards initiating incorporation in North Carolina through processing of your “Articles of Organization” and “Articles of Incorporation” for domestic corporations and “Certificate of Authority” for foreign corporations.

Articles of Incorporation and Certificate of Authority

You will be required to submit “Articles of Incorporation” governed by 2013 North Carolina General Statutes, Section 55-2-02, if your business is a domestic corporation and a “Certificate of Authority” pursuant to 2013 North Carolina General Statutes, Section 55-15-03, if it is a foreign business entity. In order to streamline the process of incorporation in North Carolina, we can file documents on your behalf through the online process or through expedited process.

Date Stamped Copies

As a part of the process of company incorporation in North Carolina, we will ensure, you receive date-stamped and filed copies that verifies that the state has filed as well as formed your corporation.

Costs and Fees associated with North Carolina Incorporation

What would it cost to set up company in North Carolina? Check Fees here!

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Why North Carolina?

Date: 07/06/2015 | Category: | Author: Jakub Vele

Why incorporate in North Carolina?

Business Information & Rankings

  • North Carolina is the nation’s 11th most populous state. There are currently more than 8 million people live in North Carolina. The state’s rate of growth makes it the 5th highest in the nation from 1995-2000, and by the year 2025, North Carolina’s population is estimated to reach 9.3 million. (NC Commerce).
  • Site Selection magazine ranked North Carolina as the number one business climate in the US. (2005)
  • World Trade magazine ranked North Carolina as one of the Top Ten Places to do Business. (2005)
  • North Carolina ranks 1st in manufacturing employment and 2nd in the number of manufacturing facilities for the Southeast region. (Manufacturing News Inc., 2006).
    Studies show that N.C. workers produce more output per wage dollar than their counterparts do nationally. (Charlotte Chamber of Commerce website).

Cost of living

For Charlotte, NC (2005)Index Score
Composite:93.1
Housing:76.7
Utilities:78.0
Misc. Goods & Services:103.9

Crime Rate

North Carolina has the 37th lowest overall crime ranking in the U.S. (FBI, 2004)

Fees & Taxes

Business Inventory Tax
Business inventory is exempt.

Corporate Income Tax
North Carolina’s corporate tax structure consists of a flat 6.9% rate.

Personal Income Tax
North Carolina’s personal income tax system is one of the nation’s most expensive, composed of four brackets with a top rate of 8.25% starting at an income level of $120,000.

Personal Property Tax
North Carolina taxes real property, motor vehicles and personal property (inventories and household personal property are exempt). They do not tax intangibles.

State Sales and Use Tax
Base Rate: 4.5%*
Machinery Rate: 1%

*Most taxable sales or purchases are also subject to the state tax as well as the 2.5% local tax rate levied by all counties, for a combined 7%.

Unemployment Insurance
North Carolina’s new employers’ rate is 1.2% for 2 years.

North Dakota

Date: 06/22/2015 | Category: | Author: Jakub Vele

NORTH DAKOTA CORPORATION total only $189.00

Including North Dakota State Initial Filing fee $50.00 and $89.00 fee for checking name availability,preparing North Dakota state-approved Articles of incorporation, filing Articles with state, sending Articles to you.

See what’s included

Once your company is set up, you will need:

  1. Tax ID (EIN) – free over the Internet or phone.
  2. Yearly Requirements and Fees for North Dakota companies
  3. Company Minutes & Stock Certificates – are included in incorporation. You will have access to documents generated on your client account.

North Dakota Corporation ORDER ONLINE

Date: 07/06/2015 | Category: | Author: Jakub Vele

North Dakota Corporation

 ORDER ONLINE: Use this online order form and pay by credit card.

 ORDER BY FAX: You can print and fax us this order form.

Frequently Asked Questions about North Dakota Corporations.

North Dakota LLC ORDER ONLINE

Date: | Category: | Author: Jakub Vele

North Dakota LLC ( Limited Liability Company )

 ORDER ONLINE: Use this online order form and pay by credit card.

 ORDER BY FAX: You can print and fax us this order form.

Frequently Asked Questions about North Dakota Corporations.