South Carolina

North Carolina

Foreign registration · Form L-09

South Carolina LLC Foreign Registration in North Carolina

North Carolina registers an LLC from South Carolina as a foreign LLC on Form L-09, with $253 in state fees. North Carolina also asks for South Carolina's Certificate of Existence ($10), no older than 180 days. We file it with the Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division from your South Carolina records, then serve as your registered agent there for year one.

South Carolina vs North Carolina: the paperwork

	South Carolina formed here	North Carolina registering here
Document	South Carolina Certificate of Existence	Form L-09
State fee	$10	$253 at order (filing fee $250 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	South Carolina: online	Filed with North Carolina
Paid expedite		24-hour $100, same-day $200
Office	South Carolina Secretary of State	North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division
Official page	businessfilings.sc.gov	sosnc.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	No annual report	Annual Report, $200, every year
Due		April 15
Agent	Your South Carolina agent for service of process	Our North Carolina registered agent

From South Carolina to North Carolina, step by step

Order the South Carolina certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($10) is ordered from South Carolina separately; it is not part of our North Carolina order. North Carolina counts 180 days from the day South Carolina issues it, so the order goes in shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form L-09
It names us as your North Carolina registered agent, with your South Carolina name and formation date and the certificate attached. The South Carolina certificate comes first; then the North Carolina filing goes in. After approval, your South Carolina LLC is registered with North Carolina.

First-year cost, South Carolina to North Carolina

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$253
Certificate of Existence, paid to South Carolina	$10
Our service, with a year of North Carolina registered agent service	$199
First-year total, South Carolina certificate included	$462

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

Will your South Carolina name work for North Carolina?

North Carolina accepts your South Carolina name if it includes limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC. If the South Carolina name already ends in LLC, it meets the rule. North Carolina can hold a name for $10 before you file.

Agents: North Carolina and South Carolina

North Carolina calls it a registered agent; South Carolina says agent for service of process. Your current agent for service of process stays for South Carolina; ours takes North Carolina's papers and notices.

Yearly filings: North Carolina and South Carolina

South Carolina has no annual report for LLCs; North Carolina wants the Annual Report every year ($200). The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, South Carolina to North Carolina

A corporation formed in South Carolina files Form B-09 with North Carolina ($253 in state fees, the same). After that come South Carolina's Annual Report (Schedule D of Form SC1120 / SC1120S) and North Carolina's Annual Report ($25). See the corporation filing.

The other way: North Carolina into South Carolina

An LLC formed in North Carolina that registers with South Carolina files Form F0008 with $110 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Existence ($10) dated within 30 days. See that filing.

Common questions: South Carolina to North Carolina

Does my South Carolina company need to register in North Carolina?

Yes, once a South Carolina business operates there; North Carolina law lists 11 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does the North Carolina registration cost?

$452 at checkout plus $10 to South Carolina for the Certificate of Existence, $462 in all (checkout is $253 in state fees plus our $199).

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

Yes: North Carolina wants South Carolina's Certificate of Existence ($10), no more than 180 days old at filing.

How long does the North Carolina registration take?

North Carolina's standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days, once South Carolina's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: 24-hour $100, same-day $200.

What are the yearly costs for South Carolina and North Carolina?

Our registered agent renewal ($149 a year), no South Carolina yearly report and North Carolina's report ($200).

What if I don't register with North Carolina?

A South Carolina company cannot sue in court there until it registers, and North Carolina can add a penalty of $10 a day, up to $1,000 a year.

Does North Carolina require a registered agent?

Yes: the South Carolina agent for service of process stays, and ours covers North Carolina for year one.

Will North Carolina accept my South Carolina name?

Yes, if no company there already uses it and it includes limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC.

Can I form a new North Carolina LLC instead?

Yes, but South Carolina keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files North Carolina's Annual Report ($203), and South Carolina has no yearly report for the original.

How do I withdraw from North Carolina later?

South Carolina companies leave by filing Form L-14, Application for Certificate of Withdrawal ($10); until then, North Carolina's report stays due alongside South Carolina's filings.

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