South Carolina charges $110 to form an LLC: that is the statutory fee for Articles of Organization filed with the South Carolina Secretary of State as of October 2026, usually submitted online through Business Entities Online. Better still for small owners, a standard South Carolina LLC files no annual report and pays no annual Secretary of State fee.
The exception is an LLC that elects to be taxed as a corporation, which reports annually through its South Carolina corporate tax return. The steps below cover naming, the registered agent, filing, taxes and the few ongoing duties that remain.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in South Carolina (2026)
Our ranked picks for forming an LLC 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 LLC at a glance (October 2026)
| Item | South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Filing office | South Carolina Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings |
| Formation document | Articles of Organization |
| Filing fee | $110 (S.C. Code § 33-44-1204); online checkout may add a processing fee |
| How to file | Online at Business Entities Online, or on paper |
| Annual report | None for LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities |
| Corporate-taxed LLCs | One-time CL-1 initial report ($25 license fee), then Schedule D with the SC corporate return |
| Registered agent | Required; SC resident or authorized entity with a street address |
| Change of registered agent | $10 |
Step 1: Pick and check your LLC name
A South Carolina LLC name needs a designator that identifies it as a limited liability company, such as “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company,” and it must be distinguishable from names already on file with the Secretary of State. Search the business entity records on Business Entities Online before you file.
Our South Carolina business name search guide covers the search tool. Then check that the matching domain and social handles are available with Namechk, find alternatives with the business name generator, and look for conflicts in the USPTO trademark database.
Step 2: Designate a registered agent
Under S.C. Code § 33-44-108 (part of the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act), every South Carolina LLC must designate and continuously maintain an agent for service of process. The agent must be an individual who lives in South Carolina, a domestic corporation, another LLC, or a foreign corporation or company authorized to do business in the state.
The articles list the agent’s street address in South Carolina, and the LLC must also keep a designated office in the state, which does not have to be a place where it does business. A P.O. box does not work as the agent’s address. Changing agents later costs $10.
Mainstay Filing includes a South Carolina registered agent for the first year with its formation service. If you only need an agent, SC Registered Agent.org offers one at a flat $99 per year.
Step 3: File Articles of Organization ($110)
Most filers use Business Entities Online, the Secretary of State’s filing system, which also offers downloadable paper forms. The statutory fee is $110 under S.C. Code § 33-44-1204; the online checkout may add a processing fee, which the portal shows before you pay.
The articles, governed by S.C. Code § 33-44-203, include:
- The LLC name
- The address of the designated office in South Carolina
- The registered agent’s name and South Carolina street address
- The name and address of each organizer
- Whether the company is a term company and, if so, its term
- Whether the LLC will be manager-managed and, if so, the managers’ names and addresses
- Whether members will be personally liable for company debts (almost always no)
For a full cost breakdown, see the South Carolina LLC cost guide from Mainstay Filing.
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
South Carolina does not require you to file an operating agreement with the state. You should still have one: it records ownership percentages, management, profit distributions and buyout terms, and it overrides default rules that may not fit your business.
Banks commonly ask for it, and a written agreement helps show that the LLC is separate from its owners.
Step 5: Get an EIN and register with the SC Department of Revenue
Apply for a free EIN with the IRS. If you sell taxable goods or services or have employees, register with the South Carolina Department of Revenue for sales tax and withholding accounts before you start.
By default, a single-member LLC is a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC is taxed as a partnership, with profits flowing to the owners’ South Carolina income tax returns.
Step 6: Know what ongoing filings apply
For most LLCs, there is nothing to file with the Secretary of State each year. South Carolina’s LLC Act contains no annual report requirement for LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities, and there is no annual Secretary of State fee.
The rules change if your LLC elects to be taxed as a corporation. It then files a one-time CL-1 Initial Annual Report with a $25 license fee when it registers, and afterward files its annual report as Schedule D of the SC1120 (C corporation, due by the 15th day of the fourth month after year-end) or SC1120S (S corporation, due by the 15th day of the third month) with the Department of Revenue, along with an annual license fee.
Corporate-taxed LLCs should confirm the exact deadlines and license fee calculation with the Department of Revenue or a tax professional, since they depend on the LLC’s tax year and capital.
Whichever applies, keep your registered agent current. That is the one Secretary of State record every LLC must maintain.
Step 7: Licenses and permits
South Carolina has no general statewide business license, but most cities and counties require a local business license, and many occupations are licensed by state boards. Check with the city or county where the LLC operates before you open.
See our guide to starting a business in South Carolina for licensing, insurance and banking steps.
South Carolina LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to form an LLC in South Carolina?
The South Carolina Secretary of State’s fee for Articles of Organization is $110 under S.C. Code § 33-44-1204, as of October 2026. Filing online may add a processing fee at checkout. A standard LLC pays no annual report fee afterward, so ongoing state costs are mostly tax-related.
Does a South Carolina LLC have to file an annual report?
Not if it is taxed as a partnership or a disregarded entity, which is the default. South Carolina’s LLC Act has no annual report requirement for those LLCs. An LLC that elects corporate taxation files a one-time CL-1 initial report and then reports annually on Schedule D of its corporate tax return.
Who can be a registered agent in South Carolina?
Under S.C. Code § 33-44-108, a South Carolina registered agent must be an individual resident of the state, a domestic corporation, another LLC, or a foreign corporation or company authorized to do business in South Carolina. The agent’s street address in the state is listed in the articles.
Can I be my own registered agent in South Carolina?
Yes, if you live in South Carolina and have a street address where you can accept legal papers. That address appears in the public record. Owners who live elsewhere or prefer privacy typically appoint a commercial registered agent instead, so that legal papers are received during business hours even when they are away.
Does South Carolina require a business license for an LLC?
South Carolina has no general statewide business license, but most cities and counties require a local business license, and regulated occupations need state board licenses. LLCs selling taxable goods or services also register with the South Carolina Department of Revenue.
How do I change my registered agent in South Carolina?
File a statement of change of registered agent or office with the South Carolina Secretary of State, which costs $10. The new agent must be a South Carolina resident or an entity authorized to do business in the state, with a South Carolina street address. You can file the change through Business Entities Online.
Does South Carolina require an operating agreement?
South Carolina does not require LLCs to file an operating agreement with the Secretary of State. It is still recommended, because it sets ownership, management and profit-sharing rules, supports the LLC’s separate identity for liability purposes, and is often requested by banks.
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