Promote:
Invest in North Carolina
A short guide for companies expanding into North Carolina: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. North Carolina at a glance
Population
11.2 million
The population was 11,197,968 as of July 1, 2025.
Source: Census Bureau, state population estimates, July 1, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$895.9 billion
GDP was US$895,919.2 million in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$80,007
GDP per person was US$80,007.3 in 2025, in current dollars, computed from BEA's GDP and the Census Bureau's population estimate.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
1.8%
Real GDP growth was 1.8 percent in 2025, BEA's published percent change.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Currency and inflation: see the United States at a glance
2. Before you set up
The body that handles foreign investment, North Carolina’s limits on foreign ownership, the zones and other rules for investors, as the guide found them.
SelectUSA names the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina as the state economic development organization for North Carolina.
Source: SelectUSA, state economic development organizations list (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Session Law 2026-54, the Farmland and Military Protection Act, bars a prohibited foreign party from holding farmland or land near a military installation from April 1, 2027.
Source: UNC School of Government, bill summary, House Bill 133 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 8, 2026
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board's 2024 annual report lists 5 foreign-trade zones in North Carolina.
Source: Foreign-Trade Zones Board, annual report 2024, Appendix D (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
The act covers land within a 50-mile radius of a military installation, and a public map of the boundaries is due by April 1, 2027.
Source: UNC School of Government, bill summary, House Bill 133 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 8, 2026
Show 5 more
A prohibited foreign party that held an interest earlier must register it with the Secretary of State, and a buyer gives an affidavit of compliance.
Source: UNC School of Government, bill summary, House Bill 133 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 8, 2026
Knowingly selling an interest in violation of the act is a Class 2 misdemeanor, and a party that inherits prohibited land must divest within one year.
Source: UNC School of Government, bill summary, House Bill 133 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 8, 2026
The act's prohibited foreign parties are those on the State Department's International Traffic in Arms Regulations list, which can change, the Real Estate Commission says.
Source: Real Estate Commission, bulletin on new land law, August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Real Estate Commission must create the buyer affidavit form and, with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the land map, both due by April 1, 2027.
Source: Real Estate Commission, bulletin on new land law, August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Governor Stein signed House Bill 133 on July 7, 2026, and his July 8, 2026 release lists it among the bills signed.
Source: Governor of North Carolina, bill actions, July 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 8, 2026
Investment rules across the United States: see Invest in the United States
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in North Carolina
- Register a company formed outside North Carolina with the Secretary of State, the state business filing office.North Carolina Secretary of StateOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Economic Development Partnership, Start a Business page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Register the business for state taxes, such as withholding and sales and use tax, with the Department of Revenue.North Carolina Department of RevenueOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Department of Revenue, register a business (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Check the corporate income and franchise tax rates for your entity before you set up the books.North Carolina Department of RevenueOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Department of Revenue, corporate income and franchise tax rates (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- If the business will have employees, create an NCSUITS account with the Division of Employment Security to register for unemployment insurance.North Carolina Division of Employment SecurityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Division of Employment Security, create an employer account (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 3 more set-up steps
- Ask the Small Business Advisors which state or local licenses apply, since the state issues no generic business license.Economic Development Partnership of North CarolinaOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Economic Development Partnership, Start a Business page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Before you buy or lease land, check the Farmland and Military Protection Act on agricultural land and land within 50 miles of a military installation.North Carolina Real Estate CommissionOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: UNC School of Government, bill summary, House Bill 133 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 8, 2026
- Ask the Economic Development Partnership about incentives, such as the Job Development Investment Grant, before you commit to a site.Economic Development Partnership of North CarolinaOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Economic Development Partnership, incentives and grant programs (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Steps that apply across the United States: see Invest in the United States
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with NC Commerce. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
State commerce department
NC Commerce
North Carolina Department of Commerce
Leads state economic development and builds ties with foreign investors, as in its October 2026 partnership work with Japan.
Visit NC Commerce (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Commerce, press release, October 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 28, 2026
State unemployment insurance agency
Employment Security
North Carolina Division of Employment Security
Registers employers for unemployment insurance tax and runs NCSUITS, where employers file wage reports and pay tax.
Visit Employment Security (opens in a new tab)Source: Division of Employment Security, NCSUITS page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
NCDOR
North Carolina Department of Revenue
Registers businesses for state tax accounts and publishes corporate income and franchise tax rates and guidance on tax law changes.
Visit NCDOR (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Revenue, register a business (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
State ports authority
NC Ports
North Carolina State Ports Authority
Operates the deep-water ports of Wilmington and Morehead City and an inland port in Charlotte.
Visit NC Ports (opens in a new tab)Source: North Carolina Ports, fast facts (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
District export council
North Carolina DEC
North Carolina District Export Council
Offers free mentoring to North Carolina companies on exporting, from business leaders appointed by the Secretary of Commerce.
Visit North Carolina DEC (opens in a new tab)Source: North Carolina District Export Council, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Reserved sectors
Session Law 2026-54 bars a prohibited foreign party from holding agricultural land or land within 50 miles of a military installation from April 1, 2027.
What to do: Check whether a parcel is farmland or lies near a military installation before you sign.
Sources: UNC School of Government, bill summary, House Bill 133 (opens in a new tab); Real Estate Commission, bulletin on new land law, August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
State corporate tax rate
The corporate income tax rate is 2.00 percent for 2026, down from 2.25 percent for 2025.
What to do: Confirm the rate for your tax year with the Department of Revenue before you model returns.
Source: Department of Revenue, corporate income and franchise tax rates (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Federal tax conformity
Session Law 2026-31 moved the state's reference to the Internal Revenue Code to July 5, 2025, from January 1, 2023.
What to do: Ask your tax preparer how the new conformity date changes your North Carolina return.
Source: Department of Revenue, FAQs on session law changes, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Hurricane Helene recovery
The Richmond Fed reported on October 15, 2026 that Buncombe County home prices fell 4.4 percent from July 2025 to July 2026 after Hurricane Helene.
What to do: Check housing and rebuilding conditions in western North Carolina before you choose a site or move staff there.
Source: Richmond Fed, post-Helene housing, October 15, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Across the United States: see Worth knowing in Invest in the United States
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your North Carolina project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Free to start. No card required.
Already have an account? Sign in
Promote:North Carolina is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 4, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.