North Carolina Articles of Incorporation
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What Are North Carolina Articles of Incorporation?
Preparing and filing your articles of incorporation is the first step in starting your business corporation. Approval of this document secures your corporate name and creates the legal entity of the corporation. Only after this approval can the corporation apply for tax IDs, obtain business licenses, sign contracts, and otherwise conduct business.
Incorporating provides many important benefits:
- Limits the liability of directors, officers, and shareholders
- Fulfills statutory requirements to register your business name
- Provides governance and adds credibility
Fast Facts
For Domestic Corporations:
| Agency: | North Carolina Secretary of State - Business Registration Division |
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail, in-person, or online. |
| Agency Fee: | $125 + optional $100-200 expedite fee |
| Turnaround: | ~5-7 business days. 24 hours for $100 expedite fee. Same day for $200 expedite fee (submit by noon). |
| Law: | |
| Original Ink: | Not required |
| Notarization Required?: | Not required |
For Domestic Professional Corporations:
| Agency: | North Carolina Secretary of State - Business Registration Division |
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $125 |
Other Helpful North Carolina Facts
As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to North Carolina.
North Carolina Directors
- Number: One or more required.
- Qualifications: None.
- Quorum: Majority of directors, unless articles of incorporation or bylaws fixes a different number. No less than one third.
North Carolina Officers
- As stated in the bylaws, but a minimum of one. One person may hold multiple offices. One officer is required to be responsible for maintaining corporate records.
North Carolina Bylaws
- Required: Yes.
North Carolina Annual Shareholder Meeting
- Required: Yes.
- Action by written consent: Allowed if by all shareholders entitled to vote on the action. Artiticles of incorporation may provide if enough shareholders consent to equal the number required to take action by vote.
North Carolina Shareholders
- Qualifications: N/A
- Stock Certificate: Not required.
- Voting Trusts Allowed:
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