North Carolina Secretary of State – NC SOS Business Search

Disclosure: Our content is reader-supported. This means if you click on some of our links, then we may earn a commission. Our team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on LLC products and services.

North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State Corporations Division
Address: PO Box 29622, Raleigh, NC 27626-0622
Telephone: 1(919)807-2225
Fax: 1(919)807-2039
Website: www.sosnc.gov
E-Mail: sosnc.gov/contact

Lookup a Business Entity

Step 1 – Start

Search for a business entity (Corporation, LLC, Limited Partnership) in North Carolina by using the Secretary of State’s Website. You may be able to look up a corporation by Name or Registered Agent. Be sure when using the Name option that you include as many matching keywords as possible in order to narrow the results.

After making your selection you will be brought to the Results Page (See Below).

Step 2 – Choose Your Entity

Now you can try and find your entity on this page. To help you determine exactly which listing you are trying to find you will be able to preview its Name, Type, Status, Formation Date, and the option to File an Online Report. Click on the blue text link (under Name) and you will be brought to the Information Page.

Step 3 – Retrieve Information

You have reached the last step of the search process and will be able to view all the information located with the Secretary of State about the particular corporation including its Name, Type, ID Number, Status, Effective Date, State of Incorporation, Duration, Registered Agent (Name and Address), Principal Office Address, and Stock information (Number of Shares and Par Value).

If you would like to View Previously Filings or File an Annual Report you can do so by clicking the links at the top of the page.

Step 4 – Steps to form your new Business in North Carolina

• Business name availability search (above)
• Internet domain availability search for website and email.
• Choose your entity type (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, Partnership or Non-Profit Org)
• Obtain IRS EIN Number (employer identification number).  Create New IRS EIN Number
• Create Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws that include describing the business purpose of the entity, naming the registered agent, directors, registered address, operating guidelines, dissolution provisions, and other information.
• Determine if the new entity requires any federal, state, or local business licenses.
• Determine payroll tax requirements.
• Determine federal, state, and local tax filing requirements.
• Establish the business physical and/or mailing address, phone number, voicemail, website, email address and business cards.