North Carolina

Foreign registration · Form 972

North Carolina LLC Foreign Registration in Louisiana

An LLC formed in North Carolina that wants to do business in Louisiana files Form 972, with $190 in state fees. Louisiana also asks for North Carolina's Certificate of Existence ($10), no older than 90 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division using your North Carolina records and act as your registered agent there for the first year.

North Carolina vs Louisiana: the paperwork

	North Carolina formed here	Louisiana registering here
Document	North Carolina Certificate of Existence	Form 972, Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company
State fee	$10	$190 at order (filing fee $185 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	North Carolina: online as a downloadable electronic certified document, or on paper	Filed with Louisiana
Paid expedite		24-hour $35, 2 to 4 hour $60
Office	North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Official page	sosnc.gov	sos.la.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 90 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $203, every year	Annual Report, $35, every year
Due	April 15	On or before the anniversary date of registration in Louisiana
Agent	Your North Carolina registered agent	Our Louisiana registered agent

From North Carolina to Louisiana, step by step

Order the North Carolina certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($10) is ordered from North Carolina separately; it is not part of our Louisiana order. Louisiana accepts it within 90 days of North Carolina's issue date, so it is ordered shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form 972
It lists us as your Louisiana registered agent, next to your North Carolina name and formation date, with the certificate attached. The North Carolina certificate comes first; then the Louisiana filing goes in. After approval, your North Carolina LLC is registered with Louisiana.

First-year cost, North Carolina to Louisiana

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$190
Certificate of Existence, paid to North Carolina	$10
Our service, with a year of Louisiana registered agent service	$199
First-year total, North Carolina certificate included	$399

Louisiana's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Your North Carolina name and Louisiana's rules

We check your exact North Carolina name against Louisiana's records before filing.

Agents: Louisiana and North Carolina

North Carolina and Louisiana both call it a registered agent. Louisiana papers come to us; North Carolina's agent is unchanged.

Staying in good standing in North Carolina and Louisiana

Each year your LLC files North Carolina's Annual Report ($203) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($35). With our $149 registered agent renewal, North Carolina plus Louisiana comes to $387 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, North Carolina to Louisiana

A corporation formed in North Carolina files Form 326 with Louisiana ($160 in state fees). After that come North Carolina's Annual Report ($25) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($30). See the corporation filing.

Registering a Louisiana company in North Carolina

An LLC formed in Louisiana that registers with North Carolina files Form L-09 with $253 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($25) dated within 180 days. See that filing.

Questions North Carolina owners ask about Louisiana

Does my North Carolina company need to register in Louisiana?

Yes, once a North Carolina business operates there; Louisiana law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does it cost to register a North Carolina LLC in Louisiana?

$389 at checkout plus $10 to North Carolina for the Certificate of Existence, $399 in all (checkout is $190 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need North Carolina's certificate of good standing?

Yes: Louisiana wants North Carolina's Certificate of Existence ($10), no more than 90 days old at filing.

What are the yearly costs for North Carolina and Louisiana?

$387 a year: our $149 registered agent renewal, $203 to North Carolina and $35 to Louisiana for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with Louisiana?

A North Carolina company cannot sue in court there until it registers, and Louisiana can add a civil penalty of up to $1,000.

Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

Yes: the North Carolina registered agent stays, and ours covers Louisiana for year one.

Can I form a new Louisiana LLC instead?

Yes, but North Carolina keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Louisiana's Annual Report ($40), and the original keeps North Carolina's Annual Report.

What does a Louisiana company file to register in North Carolina?

It files Form L-09 with $253 in state fees, plus Louisiana's good standing certificate.

Official sources

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