Every South Carolina LLC must keep a designated office and an agent for service of process in the state, at a South Carolina street address. The agent can be a South Carolina resident or a corporation or LLC authorized to do business there. Filing a statement of change to switch agents costs $10 under South Carolina law as of October 2026. Our recommendation is Mainstay Filing at $149 a year, and SC Registered Agent.org is a lower-cost alternative.
Updated October 2026.
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Best Registered Agents in South Carolina (2026)
Our ranked picks for registered agent service 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 | Registered agent service with a flat renewal price | $149/year (renews at $149) | Registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost) |
| 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 $149/year (renews at $149) and covers registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost). 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 registered agent facts at a glance
| Topic | South Carolina (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Legal term | “Agent for service of process” at a “designated office” (S.C. Code 33-44-108) |
| Who can serve | An individual South Carolina resident, a domestic corporation, another LLC, or a foreign corporation or LLC authorized in South Carolina |
| Address | Street address of the agent in South Carolina |
| Statement of change of designated office or agent | $10 |
| Agent resignation takes effect | 31st day after filing |
| If no agent can be found | The Secretary of State becomes the agent ($10 per service) |
| LLC articles of organization | $110 |
| LLC name reservation | $25 |
| Annual report | None with the Secretary of State for standard LLCs |
Fees are set by S.C. Code section 33-44-1204.
What is a registered agent in South Carolina?
South Carolina’s LLC statute does not use the phrase “registered agent.” It calls the role an “agent for service of process,” and the address on file is the “designated office.” Everyday usage treats them as the same thing.
Under S.C. Code 33-44-108, every South Carolina LLC, and every foreign LLC authorized to do business there, must designate and continuously maintain two things in the state:
- An office, which does not have to be a place of business
- An agent for service of process, with that agent’s street address
The agent’s job is to receive lawsuits, notices and demands directed at the company and to get them to the owners promptly.
Promptness matters because a court’s response deadline usually starts when papers are delivered, not when you finally read them. When you compare agents, look for a staffed South Carolina street address, prompt notice of anything served (ideally a scan in an online account), and a renewal price that matches the first-year price. Also note that the “designated office” and the agent’s address can differ: the office does not have to be a place of business, but the agent must be reachable at its own street address.
Who can be an agent for service of process in South Carolina?
Section 33-44-108(b) limits the role to:
- An individual who is a South Carolina resident
- A domestic corporation
- Another limited liability company
- A foreign corporation or foreign LLC authorized to do business in South Carolina
An owner who lives in South Carolina can serve. Owners in Georgia, North Carolina or elsewhere need a resident individual or an authorized business, such as a registered agent service.
Can you be your own registered agent in South Carolina?
Yes, if you live in South Carolina. You would be listed personally as the agent at a South Carolina street address. The LLC itself cannot be its own agent: section 33-44-108 allows “another limited liability company,” which excludes the company naming itself.
Before choosing that route, weigh the trade-offs:
- Cost: nothing beyond your time.
- Privacy: your name and street address are public in the Secretary of State’s business records.
- Availability: process servers need to find you at that address; travel, job sites and seasonal schedules make that harder.
- Moves: if you relocate, you must file a $10 statement of change.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in South Carolina?
A statement of change of designated office or agent for service of process, or both, costs $10 under S.C. Code 33-44-1204 as of October 2026. The same $10 covers changing the agent, the office address, or both in one filing, so if your agent’s address and your designated office are changing together, file a single statement.
Other South Carolina LLC fees set by the same section include $110 for articles of organization, $25 to reserve a name, and $25 to apply for reinstatement after administrative dissolution. Standard South Carolina LLCs file no annual report with the Secretary of State; only LLCs taxed as corporations report, through their South Carolina Department of Revenue tax return. Because there is no yearly state report to prompt a review, it is worth checking your agent’s details yourself from time to time. Mainstay’s South Carolina LLC cost guide brings the state and service costs together.
How to change your registered agent in South Carolina
S.C. Code 33-44-109 spells out what the statement of change must say. To file:
- Choose a new agent who meets section 33-44-108 and agrees to serve.
- Look up your company’s current record with the Secretary of State’s business entity search.
- Prepare the statement of change with: the company name; the street address of the current designated office; the new designated office address, if it is changing; the name and address of the current agent; and the name and street address of the new agent.
- File it with the South Carolina Secretary of State, online or on the paper form, with the $10 fee.
- Confirm that the record shows the new agent.
What if your South Carolina agent resigns or disappears?
An agent can resign by filing a statement of resignation. The Secretary of State then mails one copy to your designated office and another to your principal office, and the agency ends on the 31st day after the statement is filed. Use that window to appoint a replacement with a $10 statement of change.
If your company has no agent, or the agent cannot be found at its address with reasonable diligence, section 33-44-111 makes the Secretary of State your agent. A plaintiff can serve the Secretary of State for a $10 fee, and the Secretary of State forwards the papers by registered or certified mail to your designated office. If that office is out of date, the lawsuit may move ahead without you.
South Carolina guides on namechk
- How to start an LLC in South Carolina
- South Carolina business name search
- How to start a business in South Carolina
- Need a name? Use the business name generator and check domains and handles on namechk
FAQs
Does a South Carolina LLC need a registered agent?
Yes. S.C. Code 33-44-108 requires every South Carolina LLC, and every foreign LLC authorized to do business there, to designate and continuously maintain an office and an agent for service of process in the state. The agent must have a street address in South Carolina. The statute calls this role an agent for service of process.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in South Carolina?
Under S.C. Code 33-44-1204, the Secretary of State charges $10 to file a statement of change of designated office or agent for service of process, or both, as of October 2026. The statement must list the current and new agent and office details required by section 33-44-109.
Who can be a registered agent in South Carolina?
South Carolina allows an individual who is a South Carolina resident, a domestic corporation, another limited liability company, or a foreign corporation or LLC authorized to do business in the state. The agent needs a South Carolina street address where legal papers can be delivered to it.
Can I be my own registered agent in South Carolina?
Yes, if you are a South Carolina resident with a South Carolina street address where you can be served. Your name and address become part of the public record. If you live in another state, you need a resident individual or an authorized business entity to act as your agent.
What happens if my South Carolina registered agent resigns?
The agent files a statement of resignation, and the Secretary of State mails copies to your designated office and principal office. The resignation takes effect on the 31st day after filing. You should file a $10 statement of change naming a new agent before then.
What if a South Carolina LLC has no agent for service of process?
Under S.C. Code 33-44-111, if an LLC fails to maintain an agent or the agent cannot be found with reasonable diligence, the Secretary of State becomes the company’s agent. Plaintiffs can serve the Secretary of State for a $10 fee, and the papers are mailed to the company’s designated office.
What is the total cost of a registered agent service in South Carolina?
Expect an annual service fee plus $10 to the Secretary of State if you are changing from another agent. Mainstay Filing costs $149 for the year, renews at $149, and passes the $10 fee through at cost. SC Registered Agent.org charges $99 a year. Serving as your own agent avoids the service fee but puts your address on record.
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