North Carolina Filing Fees: RIA, IAR, Broker-Dealer & Form D (2026)
What it actually costs to register and renew in North Carolina. Fees are paid to the NC Secretary of State, Securities Division.
RIA firm registration
$250
$50 above the national median
Per IAR
$55
$5 below the national median
Broker-dealer firm
$250
at the national median
Per BD agent
$55
$5 above the national median
Form D / Blue Sky notice
$350
$100 above the national median
Renewal
$250
Same as initial registration
Year-one cost scenarios in North Carolina
Solo state-registered RIA (1 IAR) in North Carolina
$250 firm + $55 IAR + $150 IARD system + $45 IAR system
$500
RIA with 3 investment adviser representatives
$250 firm + 3 × $55 IAR + IARD system fees
$700
Broker-dealer with 5 registered agents
$250 firm + 5 × $55 agent (excludes FINRA/CRD fees)
$525
Private fund Form D notice filing (North Carolina investors)
State Blue Sky notice fee, due within 15 days of first sale
$350
Filing fees only. Excludes compliance-manual drafting, Form ADV preparation, consulting, legal, E&O, and FINRA membership costs. Verify amounts with the NC Secretary of State, Securities Division before filing.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register as an investment adviser in North Carolina?
North Carolina charges $250 for investment adviser firm registration and $55 per investment adviser representative. Adding FINRA IARD system fees ($150 firm, $45 per IAR), a solo RIA should budget roughly $500 in year-one filing fees, excluding legal, consulting, and compliance-manual costs.
What is the North Carolina IAR registration fee?
$55 per investment adviser representative, paid through IARD to the NC Secretary of State, Securities Division. That is $5 below the national median.
What does a broker-dealer pay to register in North Carolina?
$250 for the broker-dealer firm and $55 per registered agent, paid through CRD to the NC Secretary of State, Securities Division. FINRA membership and CRD fees are separate.
What is the North Carolina Form D / Blue Sky notice filing fee?
$350 per offering for a Regulation D 506(b) or 506(c) notice filing when North Carolina residents invest. The notice is generally due within 15 days of the first sale in the state.
Does North Carolina charge the same fee to renew?
Yes — North Carolina charges the same amounts at annual renewal, so a solo RIA should plan on roughly $500 per year in recurring state and IARD fees.