Lookup Business Entity | Form Corporation | FAQ
A search on the Secretary of State’s website of the state where the corporation is registered will yield information on any corporation or commercial entity in North Carolina. Before establishing a North Carolina corporation, all firms should conduct a North Carolina business name search.
| Official website: | https://www.sosnc.gov/online_services/search/by_title/_Business_Registration |
| Address: | PO Box 29622, Raleigh, NC 27626-0622 |
| Telephone: | 1(919)807-2225 |
| Fax: | 1(919)807-2039 |
| E-mail: | cmyers@sosnc.com |
North Carolina Business Search Shortcut
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How To Lookup An Entity In South Carolina
North Carolina Secretary Of State Business Search By Name
- Go to the North Carolina business search page and type the entity name into the form given. You can also select the search type from a drop-down menu.
- After you’ve input the name, you’ll be able to find the entity you’re looking for in the created list on the next page.
- To learn more about a company’s operations, simply click on its name.
- You can review all the information presently on record with the Secretary of State on this page. You will also be able to obtain a Certificate of Existence or comparable document if you are logged into your online account.
North Carolina Secretary Of State Business Search By Registered Agent
- Navigate to the webpage and select the registered agent option from the second drop-down menu to search by a registered agent in North Carolina. This allows you to select the search type and entity type.
- To proceed, type the agent’s name into the form and click “Search.”
- The registered agent search will provide somewhat different results than the company name search.
- On the left, you’ll find the name of the individual or entity, and on the right, you’ll see the total number of companies represented.
- To learn more about an agent, simply click on his or her name. The agent’s information consists of a list of all the companies they represent. This page will provide you with a few bits of information. If you want to see a complete history of each entity’s filings, you’ll have to click on its name.
- You’ll be able to see document filings, file an annual report, edit a prior annual report, order certificates, and learn more about the company in general here.
North Carolina Secretary Of State Business Search By A Company Official
Searching by business official is comparable to searching by a registered agent in terms of nature.
- To begin, type the name of the individual or entity into the supplied area on this page.
- A list of individuals or entities should appear based on the metrics of your search.
- Click on the name to review the businesses associated with that company.
- To get the business details of the entity youre researching, you will need to click on the entity’s name in the left-hand column.
- The business details will be presented on this webpage. This particular page will allow you to perform several actions depending on the status of the business.
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North Carolina Secretary Of State Business Search By SOS ID
Search North Carolina by SOS ID, which is the number assigned to each entity upon registration, for the quickest results.
- Simply navigate to the webpage, choose the SOS Id search type, and enter the number into the empty field in the search field.
- Only one business should appear in the search results.
- To learn more about it, simply click on its name.
- You will be able to see all the information currently on record with the Secretary of State, as in all cases. If you represent a business, you will be able to file an annual report or request certifications through this website.
Steps To Forming A New Corporation In North Carolina
1. Choose a business structure
New businesses must determine the structure of their business. In the North Carolina Department of Assessment and Taxation, the most frequent business formations are; limited liability companies, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and corporations.
2. Choose a business name
The name of your corporation must be distinct from that of other corporate names that are currently on record with the North Carolina Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. By checking the North Carolina business name database, names may be examined for availability. By submitting an Application for Reservation of Name to the North Carolina Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Commercial Services, you can reserve a name for six months.
3. Hire a registered agent
The state of North Carolina requires every business to have an agent for legal process serving. If a company is sued, this person or business consents to take court documents on the company’s behalf. An entity with a certificate of power to conduct business in North Carolina such as Northwest Registered Agent and GoDaddy, a North Carolina resident, a North Carolina company, or a foreign entity may serve as a registered agent.
4. File Incorporation article
The articles must contain the following information: the corporation’s name; its intention; the number of shares it is permitted to issue; the name and address of the agent receiving service of process; the name and address of the resident agent receiving service of process; and the names and addresses of all incorporators.
5. Make bylaws for your corporation
The fundamental guidelines for running your organization are outlined in the bylaws, which are internal corporate documents. They are not reported to the government. Corporate bylaws are not legally needed for your company, but you should nonetheless adopt them since they define how your company will operate and demonstrate to lenders, creditors, the IRS, and other parties that your company is genuine.
6. Appoint the Board of Directors and hold the first meeting of the Board of Directors
The first corporate directors are chosen by the incorporator and serve on the board up until the inaugural annual shareholder meeting. At the first board meeting, the directors pick corporate officials, choose a corporate bank, establish the corporation’s fiscal year, approve the issuing of shares of stock, and adopt a formal stock certificate form and official seal.
7. Obtain an EIN
Obtaining a federal employer identification number (EIN) is required for your business. For taxation reasons, this identification number serves as the corporation’s Social Security number. Among other things, it enables you to recruit staff and create a company bank account. The IRS website has an online application that you may use to get an EIN. You will require this number for future documents and to file your company’s tax filings, so keep a record of it.
7. Determine whether the new company requires any federal, state, or local business licenses
For your unique sort of business and location, you would need a North Carolina business license, an occupational license, environmental permits, and/or to fulfill zoning laws.
8. Find out which taxes are necessary and how to pay them
Note that corporate taxes must be paid separately from shareholder profits taxes. Federal and state governments require the proper returns to be filed annually in order to do this.
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Frequently Asked Questions On North Carolina Secretary Of State Business Search
How can I find out whether my company name in North Carolina is available?
You’ll need to double-check that the name you select for your company is accessible. On the North Carolina Secretary of State’s website, you may conduct a name search. This will tell you if the name you’re considering is available and not currently in use by another company.
What does it cost to start a business in North Carolina?
The North Carolina Secretary of State will charge you $30 to register your business name. The North Carolina Secretary of State charges a minimal filing fee of $125 to file your Articles of Incorporation. In addition, all firms conducting business in North Carolina are required to file a yearly report, which costs $125.