LLC Formation by State › South Carolina
South Carolina LLC formation: fees and rules (2026)
Forming an LLC in South Carolina costs $110 in state fees, paid to the South Carolina Secretary of State when you file the Articles of Organization. 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
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 |
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 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 LLC services, in brief
- 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