Charlotte · Mecklenburg County
Starting a business in Charlotte: LLC filing, assumed names and local rules
Your company is formed once with the NC Secretary of State ($125). If you trade under a brand, record an assumed name with the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds for $26. Charlotte does not sell a general business license; the General Assembly ended city privilege license taxes in 2015.
State filing
$125 (G.S. 57D)
Assumed name
$26, Mecklenburg County
Local license
None (zoning applies)
LLC annual report
$200, April 15
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits North Carolina filings for owners. We are not the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and we do not give legal advice. Every state and county charge passes through at the exact amount billed, and anyone can file directly with the Business Registration Division for no service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits North Carolina filings for owners. We are not the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and we do not give legal advice. Every state and county charge passes through at the exact amount billed, and anyone can file directly with the Business Registration Division for no service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits North Carolina filings for owners. We are not the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and we do not give legal advice. Every state and county charge passes through at the exact amount billed, and anyone can file directly with the Business Registration Division for no service fee.
Doing business in Charlotte
The state's largest city, with banking and fintech uptown, Ballantyne office parks and a heavy construction and logistics base.
Charlotte does not sell a general business license; the General Assembly ended city privilege license taxes in 2015. Local approval comes through Charlotte's zoning and permitting process: home occupations must follow the zoning ordinance, and a new storefront needs a certificate of occupancy.
Official sourceRecording an assumed name in Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds: County Courts & Office Building, 720 East Fourth Street, Suite 103, Charlotte, NC 28202. Phone: 704-336-2443.
Assumed name certificates are recorded for $26 for a one-page document; the office also takes them by mail with a check or money order payable to the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds.
Official sourceSolve this in 5 minutes
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits North Carolina filings for owners. We are not the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and we do not give legal advice. Every state and county charge passes through at the exact amount billed, and anyone can file directly with the Business Registration Division for no service fee.
Step-by-step in Charlotte
- Check the name on the Secretary of State business search and the statewide assumed name search.
- File Articles of Organization ($125). We file the same business day.
- Get an EIN and open the bank account in the LLC's exact name.
- Record an assumed name with the Mecklenburg Register of Deeds if you will trade under a brand ($26).
- Register with the NC Department of Revenue if you sell taxable goods or have employees.
- Confirm zoning for your address before signing a lease.
Brand name on the truck, LLC name on the contract
Charlotte property managers and general contractors check vendor names. If your trucks say "QueenCity Clean" but the LLC is "Ramirez Services LLC", record the assumed name first or the mismatch delays payment.
Worked example: A two-person commercial cleaning company in south Charlotte trading under a brand
Add NC Department of Revenue withholding registration once you hire.
Next year: the LLC annual report is $200 (plus $3 online) by April 15. We file it for $149 plus the state fee.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Corp USA Pro package | $349 |
| NC Articles of Organization (state fee at cost) | $125 |
| Assumed name certificate, county recording fee | $26 |
| Known day-one total | $500 |
Doing it yourself vs. having us file
| Task | On your own | With Corp USA |
|---|---|---|
| Name check and Articles | You, with the Business Registration Division | We prepare and file the same day |
| Registered agent | Your address goes public | Our NC address, $199/yr |
| Assumed name | You, at the county | $149 + $26 |
| April 15 annual report | You | We track and file |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Charlotte business license?
No general license exists. Zoning, building and trade permits still apply.
SourceWhere do I file a DBA in Charlotte?
Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds, 720 East Fourth Street, Suite 103. The fee is $26.
SourceReady when you are
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits North Carolina filings for owners. We are not the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and we do not give legal advice. Every state and county charge passes through at the exact amount billed, and anyone can file directly with the Business Registration Division for no service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits North Carolina filings for owners. We are not the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and we do not give legal advice. Every state and county charge passes through at the exact amount billed, and anyone can file directly with the Business Registration Division for no service fee.