North Carolina General Statute 55B requires any limited liability company organized after June 5, 1969 to qualify in North Carolina as a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC). To qualify as a Professional Limited Liability Company, ownership of the firm must meet N.C.G.S. 55B-6 and 55B-4(3), which requires at least 2/3 ownership by licensees and at least one North Carolina licensee for each profession that will be offered who is a member and manger in the limited liability company. Up to 1/3 of the limited liability company may be owned by non-licensed employees. No company may be an owner of the Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC).

In addition, all limited liability companies qualifying in North Carolina as professional limited liability companies must use the suffix “PLLC” after the company name.

Professional Limited Liability Company

If filing as a Domestic Professional Limited Liability Company, use Section A of the instructions. If filing as a Foreign Professional Limited Liability Company, use Section B of the instructions.

Section A – Domestic Professional Limited Liability Company Applicants:
1. Complete the Professional Limited Liability Company Application - The name on the Application should be the name you will operate as in NC (Example: <<Company Name>> with PLLC after the name).

2. Complete the North Carolina Secretary of State Form PLLC-02 (Application for Certificate of Authority – Professional Limited Liability Company) – On the first part of Line 1, put your actual company name with “LLC” after it. On the second part of Line 1, put your company name with “PLLC” after it. Once licensed in NC, any project that you perform will need to contain the title block of your company name with PLLC after it.

3. Send the original Professional Limited Liability Company Application and a copy of Form PLLC-02 to the Director of Business Licensure & Compliance along with a $100 Application fee made payable to the NC Board of Examiners. Keep the original of Form PLLC-02 to file with the NC Secretary of State after the application is approved by this office.

Section B – Foreign Professional Limited Liability Company Applicants:
1. Complete the Professional Limited Liability Company Application below - The name on the Application should be the name you will operate as in NC (Example: <<Company Name>> with PLLC after the name).

2. Complete the North Carolina Secretary of State Form PLLC-01 (Application for Certificate of Authority- Professional Limited Liability Company) below – On the first part of Line 1, put your actual company name with “LLC” after it. On the second part of Line 1, put your company name with “PLLC” after it. Once licensed in NC, any project that you perform will need to contain the title block of your company name with PLLC after it.

NOTE: Lines 6-8 of the form asks for a NC Registered Agent, although you do not have to have an office in NC, you must maintain a Registered Agent with the NC Address where civil correspondence, subpoenas, etc. can be delivered on behalf of your firm. There are several national agencies that offer this service.

3. Complete the SOS Resolution for PLLC below – Since the firm is using a fictitious name in North Carolina, the NC Secretary of State requires the signing of this Resolution.

4. Send the original Professional Limited Liability Company Application, a copy of Form PLLC-01 and a copy of the SOS Resolution for PLLC to the Director of Business Licensure & Compliance along with a $100 Application fee made payable to the NC Board of Examiners. Keep the original of Form PLLC-01 and the SOS Resolution for PLLC to file with the NC Secretary of State after the application is approved by this office.

5. For Foreign Professional Limited Liability Company Applicants Only – In addition to the above, also send a copy of your existing Articles of Organization and a copy of a Certificate of Existence from the firm’s State of Organization that is less than 6 months old.

Forms:

Professional Limited Liability Company Application
Form PLLC-02
Form PLLC-01
SOS Resolution for PLLC

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