Start an LLC by State › South Carolina
Starting an LLC in South Carolina: step by step (2026)
To start an LLC in South Carolina, file the Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State and pay the $110 state fee. South Carolina has no annual report for LLCs. Every South Carolina LLC must keep a registered agent with a South Carolina street address.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
- Prices verified October 2026
How to form an LLC in South Carolina
- Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the South Carolina Secretary of State business records.
- Name a registered agent: a South Carolina resident, a South Carolina corporation, another LLC, or a corporation or company from another state authorized to do business in South Carolina.
- File the Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State and pay $110.
- Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
- Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
- Stay in good standing. South Carolina has no annual report for LLCs.
Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application for $199 a year plus South Carolina’s fees.
South Carolina LLC fees and rules
- State filing fee
- $110
- Formation document
- Articles of Organization
- Filed with
- South Carolina Secretary of State
- Yearly filing
- None
- Registered agent
- Required. A South Carolina resident, a South Carolina corporation, another LLC, or a corporation or company from another state authorized to do business in South Carolina.
- Agent address
- The address has to be a street address in South Carolina for the agent, stated in the articles. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
- Filing fee rank
- 27th lowest of 50 (26 states charge less, 21 charge more)
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees
$199 a year plus South Carolina’s $110 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Compliance reminders
The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.
Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.
South Carolina compared with neighboring states
| State | Filing fee | Yearly filing |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $110 | None |
| Georgia | $110 | $60 / yr |
| North Carolina | $125 | $200 / yr |
South Carolina LLC questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in South Carolina?
$110 to the state to file. South Carolina has no annual report for LLCs. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent and EIN application are $199 a year on top of the state fees.
Does South Carolina require an annual report for LLCs?
No. South Carolina has no annual report for LLCs.
Do I need a registered agent in South Carolina?
Yes. A South Carolina resident, a South Carolina corporation, another LLC, or a corporation or company from another state authorized to do business in South Carolina.
Can I form a South Carolina LLC myself?
Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization directly with the South Carolina Secretary of State and pay the $110 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and compliance reminders for $199 a year.
Other formation services
- Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
- ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
- Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
- LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.
Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.
Sources
- S.C. Code § 33-44-202 (organization) and § 33-44-203 (articles of organization); fee set by § 33-44-1204(a)(1) (multira state research spine): www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t33c044.php, checked August 12, 2026
- South Carolina Secretary of State for formation (multira state research spine): dor.sc.gov/tax-index/business-income-taxes/corporate/c-corporation, checked August 12, 2026
- South Carolina Secretary of State for formation (multira state research spine): dor.sc.gov/business-income-taxes/corporate/s-corporation, checked August 12, 2026
- South Carolina yearly filing: Annual report, official source read 2026-10-01: dor.sc.gov/business-income-taxes/corporate/corporate-faqs, checked October 1, 2026