 Florida |  North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| All-in to start with usOur $40 fee with the EIN, the registered agent for the first year, and the state fee. | $210 | $213 |
| State filing fee | $125 | $128 |
| Typical approval time | 2–5 business days | 1–2 weeks |
| What the state asks each year | Annual report $138.75 | Annual report $200 |
| Yearly state cost, about | $138.75 | $200 |
| Total over 5 years, aboutFormation, then four years of registered agent ($45) and state fees. Excludes bookkeeping and IRS filings, which are the same in every state. | $945 | $1,193 |
| State income tax on wages | None | Yes |
| Owners in the public formation document | Can be listed | Can be listed |
| Newspaper publication after formation | No | No |
Florida against North Carolina
Advantages
- Cheaper to form: $125 state fee against $128 in North Carolina.
- Cheaper to keep: about $138.75 a year to the state, against $200 in North Carolina.
- Faster approval: usually 2–5 business days, against 1–2 weeks.
- No state income tax on wages.
- A large, well-known state with a big international banking scene.
Disadvantages
None against North Carolina.
North Carolina against Florida
Advantages
Nothing stands out against Florida.
Disadvantages
- Costs $3 more to form than Florida.
- About $61.25 a year more to keep than Florida (annual report $200).
- Slower approval: usually 1–2 weeks.
- Has a state income tax, though it normally only reaches income connected to the state.
Which one to choose
Florida comes out ahead on both cost and speed: about $248 less over five years, and usually approved in 2–5 business days.
If your company will have staff, an office or a warehouse in one particular state, form it there: otherwise you register in that state anyway. Federal taxes and IRS filings are the same in every state.
General information about the states, not legal or tax advice. State fees change occasionally; the price at checkout is the price you pay.
Florida or North Carolina
Questions about this comparison
Is a Florida or a North Carolina LLC cheaper?
Florida is cheaper to form: $210 all-in with us, against $213. Each year after, Florida costs the state about $138.75 and North Carolina about $200, plus $45 for the registered agent.
Which is faster, Florida or North Carolina?
Florida usually approves an LLC in 2–5 business days, North Carolina in 1–2 weeks. We file within 48 hours of payment in either state.
Can a non-US resident form an LLC in Florida or North Carolina?
Yes, in both. Neither state asks for citizenship or residency, and the registered agent we include provides the in-state address. The EIN is included without an SSN.
Another pair