In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in North Carolina
North Carolina’s certificate of good standing is the Certificate of Existence for domestic entities, or the Certificate of Authorization for foreign entities, issued by the Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division. It costs $15 for LLCs and business corporations. Order online with a free Secretary of State account: search your business, order the certificate and save the electronic certified document. No processing time is published.
- Official name: Certificate of Existence (domestic entities); Certificate of Authorization (foreign entities)
- Issued by: North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division
- Fee: $15 for an LLC or business corporation Certificate of Existence
- How to order: Online through the Secretary of State business registration search with a free online account
- Turnaround: Electronic certified document; no processing time published
- Free status check: Secretary of State business registration search
- What keeps you in good standing: File the Annual Report on time each year and keep a registered agent
Ask a North Carolina bank for a certificate of good standing and the document you hand over is called a Certificate of Existence. The Secretary of State issues it as an electronic certified document that you save and print yourself. This page covers both North Carolina certificate names, the $15 fee, and the Annual Report rules behind them. For other states, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a North Carolina Certificate of Good Standing Is
North Carolina names its good standing documents by entity origin. A domestic LLC or corporation receives a Certificate of Existence. A foreign entity registered to do business in North Carolina receives a Certificate of Authorization. Both come from the Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division, and both confirm that the entity is active on the state’s records.
Third parties ask for a Certificate of Existence when they need state-issued proof that the business is active:
- Banks opening an account or approving credit
- Other states, when you register your North Carolina LLC as a foreign LLC there
- Lenders and investors in due diligence
- Payment processors verifying a merchant
- Buyers of the business
- Licensing boards and government contracting offices
Certificate of Existence vs Certificate of Authorization
Order the Certificate of Existence if your entity was formed in North Carolina. Order the Certificate of Authorization if your entity was formed elsewhere and registered in North Carolina as a foreign entity. The Secretary of State explains both on its certified documents page.
How to Order a Certificate of Existence in North Carolina
North Carolina sells certificates online, and you need a free Secretary of State online account to place the order.
- Create a free online account with the Secretary of State, or sign in to your existing account.
- Open the business registration search and search for your LLC or corporation by name.
- Open the entity record and confirm it shows as active.
- Order the Certificate of Existence (domestic) or Certificate of Authorization (foreign).
- Pay the $15 fee.
- Save and print the electronic certified document.
The Secretary of State’s guide to placing an online order walks through each screen. The pages we checked describe online ordering only; they do not describe a mail route for certificates.
North Carolina Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Existence, online (LLC) | $15.00 | Electronic certified document; time not published by the state |
| Certificate of Existence, online (business corporation) | $15.00 | Electronic certified document; time not published by the state |
| Certificate of Authorization, online (foreign entity) | Not published by the state | Not published by the state |
The Secretary of State lists a $3.00 credit card or $2.00 ACH processing fee for online annual reports. The certificate fee page does not say whether that processing fee applies to certificate orders, so check the total at checkout.
How to Check North Carolina Good Standing Status for Free
The Secretary of State business registration search is free to use. Search the entity, open the record and read its status. If the entity does not show as active, fix the missing filing before you pay $15. For help with the search screens, see our North Carolina business entity search guide.
How a North Carolina LLC Stays in Good Standing
North Carolina requires an Annual Report from every LLC and business corporation, with different dates and fees for each.
- LLCs: due April 15 each year, starting the year after the LLC is created. The fee is $200 on paper or $203 online.
- Business corporations: due the 15th day of the fourth month after the end of the fiscal year. The fee is $25 on paper or $21 online.
- Registered agent: every North Carolina entity must keep a registered agent on record. Failure to maintain one is a ground for administrative dissolution.
Missing an Annual Report, losing your registered agent or other non-compliance triggers a notice of grounds for administrative dissolution. Under NCGS 57D-6-06, an LLC has 60 days from that notice to cure the problem before the Secretary of State dissolves it. Due dates for every entity type are on the Secretary of State’s annual report due dates page. To compare North Carolina with other states, see our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your North Carolina Business Is Not in Good Standing
If the 60-day cure period passes and the Secretary of State dissolves your entity, reinstatement is a paper filing.
- Search the entity to confirm its status and the years of missing Annual Reports.
- Complete the reinstatement form: Form L-08 for an LLC or Form B-08 for a business corporation, from the Secretary of State’s reinstatement page.
- Include every missing Annual Report with its fee: $200 per year for an LLC or $25 per year for a corporation.
- Add the $100 reinstatement application fee.
- Mail the package to the Secretary of State.
- Once the record shows the entity as active, order a new Certificate of Existence online.
An LLC missing two years of reports pays $500 to reinstate: $100 plus $400 in report fees. For the general process across states, see how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
North Carolina Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
The Certificate of Existence confirms your entity’s status with the Secretary of State. It does not address taxes. The North Carolina Department of Revenue issues a separate Letter of Good Standing to any entity whose tax accounts are all in compliance. Request it through the Department’s online Request for Letter of Good Standing Electronic Form, by mail to PO Box 25000, Raleigh, NC 27640, or by fax to 919-733-5750. Banks and other states ask for the Certificate of Existence; buyers and contracting agencies checking tax compliance ask for the Department of Revenue letter.
Using a North Carolina Certificate in Another State
When your North Carolina LLC registers in another state, the receiving filing office asks for proof of good standing from North Carolina. Send the Certificate of Existence; it serves as North Carolina’s certificate of good standing. Order it online right before you file so it reflects your current status. For how this document relates to the authority you receive, see certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
North Carolina Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
What is a North Carolina certificate of good standing called?
North Carolina issues a Certificate of Existence to domestic entities and a Certificate of Authorization to foreign entities. Both come from the Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division.
How much is a North Carolina Certificate of Existence?
The fee is $15 for an LLC or business corporation. You order it online and receive an electronic certified document.
Do I need an account to order a North Carolina certificate?
Yes. Online orders require a free Secretary of State online account. Searching the business registration database is free.
When is the North Carolina LLC Annual Report due?
North Carolina LLCs file the Annual Report by April 15 each year after the year of creation. The fee is $200 on paper or $203 online.
How do I reinstate a dissolved North Carolina LLC?
File Form L-08 by mail with a $100 application fee plus $200 for each missing Annual Report. Corporations use Form B-08 and pay $25 per missing report.
Fees verified against official North Carolina sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the North Carolina Secretary of State site before you order.
