North Carolina Business Licenses

We help you obtain and maintain licenses for your business or nonprofit nationwide

General Guides & Resources

Get step-by-step guidance for forming and running a compliant organization in North Carolina

Licenses for Regulated Industries

Explore resources for firms in licensed professions like engineering and construction.

Corporate Filings

Learn what filings to submit to state agencies throughout an organization’s lifecycle.

Tax Filings

Get all the information you need to register for state taxes or apply for tax exemption.

State Licensing Agencies

Access state agencies responsible for licensing and regulating North Carolina organizations.

Local Business Licenses

Find a complete listing of jurisdictions in the state, from county to city to neighborhood.

General North Carolina Guides & Resources

These guides provide detailed, step-by-step instructions for starting a business or nonprofit, registering with state authorities, and establishing a compliant organization.

Business Resources:

Annual Report

Fast easy instructions and affordable support for filing your North Carolina annual report.

Construction License

Get your North Carolina construction licenses. Harbor Compliance assists with initial and renewal registrations in every state.

Energy Licensing

Licensing guide for energy industry registrations and licenses in North Carolina. Find detailed application, renewal, and reporting requirements.

How to Form an LLC

Total cost, time, and step-by-step instructions to form a limited liability company in North Carolina. Do it yourself or purchase our formation service.

How to Incorporate

Total cost, time, and step-by-step instructions on how to incorporate in North Carolina. Do it yourself or purchase our incorporation service.

Licensing Resources

North Carolina Business Licensing Guides and Information.

Start a Business

Total time, cost, and paperwork to start your business in North Carolina today! Our affordable formation services are state-specific.

Nonprofit Resources:

How to Start a Nonprofit Organization

Total cost, time, and how to start a nonprofit in North Carolina. Instruction and services to assist with your non-profit formation.

Nonprofit Compliance

Comprehensive solutions (and free resources) to help manage your fundraising, tax exemption, license renewals, and other nonprofit compliance activities in North Carolina, and across the US.

North Carolina Business Licenses for Regulated Industries

Our licensing guides provide a wealth of information including requirements, filing instructions, fees, timelines to licensure, and more for a range of industries and activities.

North Carolina Corporate Filings

These web pages provide detailed information on state filings required to form an entity, register a name, gain authority to operate, maintain good standing, and more.

North Carolina Tax Filings

Find the information you need to register for state taxes or seek tax exemptions.

North Carolina State Licensing Agencies

Below is a listing of the state-level licensing agencies within North Carolina that a business should check for business license requirements.

Board for the Licensing of Geologists
Board of Architecture
Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors
Board of Landscape Architects
Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NCBLCMHC)
Board of Nursing
Board of Pharmacy
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Food and Drug Protection Division - Drug Program
Department of Commerce - Division of Employment Security
Department of Health and Human Services - Asbestos Hazard Management Program
Department of Health and Human Services - Drug Control Unit
Department of Insurance
Department of Labor - Wage and Hour Division
Department of Revenue

Licensing Board for General Contractors
Medical Board
Private Protective Services Board
Psychology Board
Real Estate Commission
Secretary of State - Business Registration Division
Secretary of State - Charitable Solicitation Licensing Division
Social Work Certification and Licensure Board
State Bar
State Board of CPA Examiners
State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors
State Bureau of Investigation - Alcohol Law Enforcement Branch
Veterinary Medical Board

North Carolina Local Business Licences

Below is a listing of the local jurisdictions within North Carolina that a business should check for local business license requirements.

County / Parish

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Alamance County
Alexander County
Alleghany County
Anson County
Ashe County
Avery County
Beaufort County
Bertie County
Bladen County
Brunswick County
Buncombe County
Burke County
Cabarrus County
Caldwell County
Camden County
Carteret County
Caswell County
Catawba County
Chatham County
Cherokee County
Chowan County
Clay County
Cleveland County
Columbus County
Craven County

Cumberland County
Currituck County
Dare County
Davidson County
Davie County
Duplin County
Durham County
Edgecombe County
Forsyth County
Franklin County
Gaston County
Gates County
Graham County
Granville County
Greene County
Guilford County
Halifax County
Harnett County
Haywood County
Henderson County
Hertford County
Hoke County
Hyde County
Iredell County
Jackson County

Johnston County
Jones County
Lee County
Lenoir County
Lincoln County
Macon County
Madison County
Martin County
McDowell County
Mecklenburg County
Mitchell County
Montgomery County
Moore County
Nash County
New Hanover County
Northampton County
Onslow County
Orange County
Pamlico County
Pasquotank County
Pender County
Perquimans County
Person County
Pitt County
Polk County

Randolph County
Richmond County
Robeson County
Rockingham County
Rowan County
Rutherford County
Sampson County
Scotland County
Stanly County
Stokes County
Surry County
Swain County
Transylvania County
Tyrrell County
Union County
Vance County
Wake County
Warren County
Washington County
Watauga County
Wayne County
Wilkes County
Wilson County
Yadkin County
Yancey County

City / Borough / Municipality / Neighborhood