It depends on how your agency is organized.

North Carolina General Statute § 58-33-31(b) states that any business entity selling, soliciting, or negotiating insurance in this State must be licensed.

North Carolina General Statute § 58-33-10 (4) defines business entity as a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, or other legal entity. A sole proprietor is not a business entity according to the statute and cannot be licensed. 

Apply for a license electronically at www.nipr.com. The business entity must designate a designated licensed responsible producer on the application. The designated responsible licensed producer must already hold an active license in the State of North Carolina.

The business entity is responsible to comply with any NC Secretary of State requirements to operate in NC.  Contact them at (919) 814-5400 or https://www.sosnc.gov/Corporations/ for additional information.

Apply for a license electronically at www.nipr.com. The business entity must designate a designated licensed responsible producer on the application. The designated responsible producer must already hold an active license in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Department of Insurance does not require that a nonresident business entity register with the NC Secretary of State to operate in NC. 

As of October 1, 2010, the NC Department of Insurance no longer required insurance business entities to report affiliated producers including additions and deletions. The administrative rule, 11 NCAC 06A .0413, requiring producer affiliations has been repealed.

The business entity should maintain a current list of affiliated agents and provide it to the Department upon request. 

Contact your attorney or business consultant for advice.

Yes. You must notify the Commissioner before using an assumed name (North Carolina General Statute § 58-33-83). The Department issues licenses under the legal name. Once the Department receives a DBA name request, it is added to the existing license record, but does not display on the license unless the legal name of the entity is changed. 

Yes, but you must first obtain a resident business entity license in your home state.

A registered agent is a person or firm, situated in North Carolina who can accept service for your firm.  Registered agents are required by the NC Secretary of State, not the Department of Insurance.  Contact the Secretary of State’s office at (919) 814-5400 or https://www.sosnc.gov/Corporations/ for additional information. 

Common mistakes include not providing the complete Federal tax identification number and not having a designated producer already licensed in the State of North Carolina.

Business entity licenses renew on April 1 of each year. An invoice is e-mailed to the business email address on the business entity license record. Electronic payment is required via www.nipr.com.

That depends on the organization of the business entity.  If all branches use the same FEIN, then one license covers all branches.  If each branch has its own FEIN, then a license is required for each branch. 

If an insured’s insurance company will not accept premium payments by credit card in accordance with North Carolina General Statute § 58-33-145, an insurance agent or agency can still accept premium payments by credit card from those insureds.  However, since North Carolina General Statute § 58-33-80 prohibits agents from making any discrimination in favor of any person, the insurance agency must offer this payment option to all existing and prospective insureds.  In addition, the insurance agent or agency must either absorb the cost of providing this service to all insureds or charge all insureds a fee for this service.  If the insurance agent or agency decides to charge a fee for the service, it must comply with the requirements of North Carolina General Statue § 58-33-85(b) by obtaining the insured’s written consent to the fee and with the following requirements as outlined in 11 NCAC 4.0120:

(1) A sign that informs the applicant in large bold print that a policy or service fee of [amount] will be charged, shall be displayed in a prominent place so as to be seen and read from any part of the office lobby.

(2) The applicant's consent in writing is obtained on a separate form each time a policy or service fee is charged. The form shall be entitled, "Policy or Service Fee Consent" and shall include the date and amount of each fee charged. 

(3) A dated receipt for the payment of a policy or service fee shall be issued either separately from the policy premium receipt or stated separately on the receipt issued for the policy premium

An insurance agency can accept premium payment by credit card from insureds if meeting the conditions imposed by North Carolina General Statute §  58-3145. A fee can be charged for this service as long as the agency obtains the insureds written consent for this fee per the requirements of North Carolina General Statute §  58-33-85(b) and the agency complies with all of the following fee requirements outlined in 11 NCAC 4.0120:

(1) A sign that informs the applicant in large bold print that a policy or service fee of [amount] will be charged, shall be displayed in a prominent place so as to be seen and read from any part of the office lobby.

(2) The applicant's consent in writing is obtained on a separate form each time a policy or service fee is charged. The form shall be entitled, "Policy or Service Fee Consent" and shall include the date and amount of each fee charged. 

(3) A dated receipt for the payment of a policy or service fee shall be issued either separately from the policy premium receipt or stated separately on the receipt issued for the policy premium.