To run a South Carolina Secretary of State business search, use the Business Entities Online system and its entity search. It shows every corporation, LLC and partnership on file, along with registered agent details. If no entity has a name that is the same as yours apart from the ending or punctuation, the name is likely available.
A search doesn’t hold the name. An LLC name reservation costs $25 and lasts 120 days, and it can’t be renewed. South Carolina also has no statewide DBA registration: trade names are handled through your city or county business license and your Department of Revenue tax account.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in South Carolina (2026)
Our ranked picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in South Carolina are below, starting with Mainstay Filing. Each entry lists the yearly price and what the service covers.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | SC Registered Agent.org | South Carolina registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | South Carolina Registered Agent.co | South Carolina registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in South Carolina. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. SC Registered Agent.org
SC Registered Agent.org is a South Carolina registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. South Carolina Registered Agent.co
South Carolina Registered Agent.co is a South Carolina registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
South Carolina business name search at a glance
| Item | South Carolina details (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | South Carolina Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings |
| Search tool | Business Entities Online entity search, including a registered agent search |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $110 (S.C. Code § 33-44-1204); online filings add a portal processing fee |
| LLC name reservation | $25; 120 days; nonrenewable (§ 33-44-106) |
| Corporate name reservation | $10; 120 days; nonrenewable |
| DBA | No state registration; handled locally (SC Business One Stop) |
| LLC annual report | None for LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities |
Fees are set in Title 33 of the South Carolina Code. For the full cost of forming an LLC, see Mainstay Filing’s South Carolina LLC cost guide.
How to check business name availability in South Carolina
Here are the steps to find out whether your South Carolina business name is available.
1. Go to the Secretary of State’s Business Entities Online
Open the Secretary of State’s File and Search Online page and choose the entity search. The public can view general information for every entity on file, including its registered agent and registered office.
2. Search for the business name
Type the core words of the name you want and leave off endings like LLC or Inc. Searching “Lowcountry Tide” will bring up “Lowcountry Tide LLC,” “Lowcountry Tides, Inc.” and anything else that contains those words.
3. Rule out names with close matches
South Carolina requires a new name to be distinguishable upon the Secretary of State’s records. An exact match, or a name that differs only by its ending, punctuation or a plural, will be rejected. LLC names are also compared with approved fictitious names on file.
4. Choose a name with no conflicts
If your search turns up nothing close, the name is likely free to use. The Secretary of State makes the final decision when it reviews your filing.
5. Consider reserving the name
If you won’t file right away, a 120-day reservation keeps others from taking it in the meantime. See the reservation section below.
6. Check domain name availability
Before you commit, make sure you can get the matching website and social handles. Namechk checks both at once.
South Carolina business name rules
- LLC designator: “limited liability company” or “limited company,” or L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC. “Limited” may be shortened to Ltd. and “company” to Co. (S.C. Code § 33-44-105).
- Corporate designator: “corporation,” “incorporated,” “company” or “limited,” or an abbreviation (§ 33-4-101). A corporate name also can’t imply a purpose its articles don’t allow.
- Distinguishable: the name must be distinguishable upon the records from existing entities, reserved and registered names, and (for LLCs) approved fictitious names.
- Exceptions: a name that isn’t distinguishable can be used with the other entity’s written consent, a court judgment establishing your right to it, or in certain mergers.
How to name your South Carolina business
Finding an available name is easier when you start with a long list. A few habits help:
- Start with what you sell and who buys it. Jot down the keywords a customer would type to find you.
- Keep it easy to say and spell. Hard-to-pronounce names and strings of initials are harder to remember and search for.
- Leave room to grow. A name tied to one product or town can feel narrow once you expand.
- Use a generator for volume. Namechk’s business name generator and brand name generator turn a few keywords into dozens of options to test in the state search.
Your business structure affects the name, too. An LLC or corporation needs a designator in its legal name, while a sole proprietorship operates under the owner’s name unless it uses a trade name. Most small businesses that want liability protection choose an LLC.
How to reserve a business name in South Carolina
- LLCs: $25 to reserve a name for a nonrenewable 120-day period (§§ 33-44-106 and 33-44-1204). The reservation can be transferred to someone else.
- Corporations: $10 for a nonrenewable 120 days (§ 33-4-102).
- How to file: through Business Entities Online, which also offers downloadable paper forms.
Because the reservation can’t be renewed, file it only when you’re within a few months of forming the business.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
A South Carolina entity search doesn’t show federal trademarks. Run a USPTO trademark search to see whether anyone holds rights to the name. South Carolina also registers state trademarks with the Secretary of State ($15 to file, five-year term, Title 39, Chapter 15).
Then lock down your online presence. Namechk checks domains and social usernames together, and the domain name generator can suggest alternatives.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Do you need a DBA in South Carolina?
South Carolina doesn’t register DBAs at the state level. According to SC Business One Stop, “The state of South Carolina does not register DBAs.” Instead:
- Check locally: ask the city or county where you operate, including the county clerk, about recording a trade name.
- Business license: a DBA can typically be recorded on your local business license.
- Tax account: you can list the DBA on your South Carolina Department of Revenue business tax application, and your retail license will show both names.
- Exceptions: only limited partnerships and foreign corporations can apply for an assumed or fictitious name through the Secretary of State.
Local fees vary, so confirm them with your city or county.
Steps to register your South Carolina business
Once you’ve found an available name, our South Carolina LLC guide explains each filing in detail.
- File Articles of Organization through Business Entities Online. The state fee is $110 (§ 33-44-1204); the online portal adds a processing fee at checkout.
- Name a registered agent: an individual South Carolina resident, a domestic corporation, another LLC, or a foreign company authorized in the state. Mainstay Filing includes a registered agent in its formation package (South Carolina costs); our South Carolina registered agent guide explains the rules.
- Get an EIN from the IRS at no cost.
- Register for taxes and licenses. Standard LLCs don’t file a Secretary of State annual report, but you’ll still register with the Department of Revenue and your city or county. The South Carolina start-a-business guide covers both.
FAQs
How do I search for a business name in South Carolina?
Use the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Business Entities Online system at businessfilings.sc.gov. Its entity search shows corporations, LLCs and other entities on file, including registered agent and registered office details, and it also lets you search by registered agent. Search the core words of your name without LLC or Inc. to find close matches.
Why is it important to check business name availability in South Carolina?
South Carolina won’t accept a new entity name unless it is distinguishable upon the Secretary of State’s records. If you file with a name that is too close to an existing one, your Articles of Organization will be rejected and you’ll lose time. Checking first also helps you avoid customer confusion and trademark disputes.
How much does it cost to reserve an LLC name in South Carolina?
Reserving an LLC name in South Carolina costs $25 under S.C. Code § 33-44-1204. The reservation lasts 120 days and can’t be renewed, though it can be transferred. Corporate name reservations cost $10 for the same nonrenewable 120-day period. You can skip the reservation and file your formation documents directly.
Does South Carolina require a DBA?
South Carolina has no statewide DBA registration. The SC Business One Stop says the state does not register DBAs. Check with the city or county where you do business; a DBA can usually be recorded on your local business license and listed on your Department of Revenue business tax account. Only LPs and foreign corporations file assumed names with the Secretary of State.
How much does it cost to start an LLC in South Carolina?
The Secretary of State’s fee for LLC Articles of Organization is $110 under S.C. Code § 33-44-1204, and the online portal adds a processing fee at checkout. South Carolina LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities don’t file an annual report with the Secretary of State, which keeps ongoing state costs low.
Is the South Carolina business search the same as a trademark search?
No. The Business Entities Online search covers entities filed with the Secretary of State. It doesn’t include federal trademarks, so search the USPTO database too. South Carolina keeps a separate state trademark registry with the Secretary of State. Check domain names and social handles before you settle on a name.
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