Module 3 · South Carolina
Foreign LLC Registration in South Carolina (2026): a 5-Step Lesson and the 3 Best Services
The short version
You will be able to
- When the rule applies
- How the filing works
- The yearly upkeep
- How the graded picks compare
Our graded picks for South Carolina
1. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for a budget registration
First in the class in South Carolina is South Carolina Registered Agent.co: it files the South Carolina registration for $199 and includes a year of agent service, then renews at $99.
It costs less than Mainstay Filing over three years, and three-year cost is 32% of the grade.
What the price covers
- Filing with the state
- One year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- No agent fee in year one
- $199 to register
- A low $99 renewal
Where it loses points
- A one-state service
2. Mainstay Filing: best for one provider for both states
Next on the report card comes Mainstay Filing, graded second: a $199 fee for the work plus South Carolina's own fee, then $149 a year for the agent.
On three-year cost it falls $100 behind South Carolina Registered Agent.co.
After year one, the agent costs $149 a year.
What the price covers
- Filing with the state
- Any state at one price
Marks in its favor
- $199 to register
- Any state at one fee
Where it loses points
- South Carolina Registered Agent.co's agent costs $50 less each renewal
3. SC Registered Agent.org: best for a local filer
For number 3 we picked SC Registered Agent.org: it files the South Carolina registration for $199 and includes a year of agent service, then renews at $99.
On price it is level with South Carolina Registered Agent.co.
What the price covers
- Filing with the state
- One year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- $199 to register
- A low $99 renewal
- No agent fee in year one
Where it loses points
- A one-state service
The 3 graded picks compared
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | SC Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Registering in South Carolina, one step at a time
-
Step
1Decide whether South Carolina registration is required
Out-of-state LLCs that transact business in South Carolina file a foreign registration. If the LLC works there without registering: Its own claims cannot go to court in South Carolina until the registration is made (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). Signed contracts keep their force (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).
Where this comes from: dor.sc.gov confirms it, as of October 2026
-
Step
2Order the document from your home state
Attach certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, at most 30 days.
Order it once the rest of the filing is ready.
-
Step
3Find a registered agent with a South Carolina address
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street 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.
Our picks include this role.
Where this comes from: scstatehouse.gov confirms it, as of October 2026
-
Step
4Turn in the Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company
That filing is the registration, and the state charges $110 for it.
Where this comes from: dor.sc.gov confirms it, as of October 2026
-
Step
5Stay registered
You will not file a recurring South Carolina report as a foreign LLC.
Costs, step by step
| What | Goes to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The registration step | State | $110 |
| Service fees (optional) | Your service | $199 in year one |
| State total over three years | State | $110 |
Why this order
edged ahead of on tuition over three years, which counts for 32%.
Paying South Carolina Registered Agent.co for three years adds up to $397, which is $100 below the Mainstay Filing total.
Common questions
What does South Carolina charge for registering a foreign LLC?
$110 as the official fee. Our picks add $199.
Which form do I file to register?
Fill out the form named in step 4 and send it to the South Carolina Secretary of State.
Do I need a certificate from my home state?
Yes: certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, issued within 30 days of filing.
What if the LLC does business there without registering?
Its own claims cannot go to court in South Carolina until the registration is made (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). Signed contracts keep their force (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).
What is due after registering?
No recurring report for foreign LLCs in South Carolina.
Which service should handle the registration?
By grade: South Carolina Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing and SC Registered Agent.org. South Carolina Registered Agent.co is first because a $199 service fee, then $99 a year for the agent in South Carolina.
Class references
- Source for S.C: scstatehouse.gov, confirmed in August 2026, and the reason our figures match the official ones.
- Source for South Carolina Business Entities Online: businessfilings.sc.gov, confirmed in October 2026, and the reason our figures match the official ones.
- Source for SC Secretary of State, business entity FAQs: sos.sc.gov, confirmed in October 2026, and the reason our figures match the official ones.
- Source for SC Department of Revenue, corporate FAQs: dor.sc.gov, confirmed in October 2026, and the reason our figures match the official ones.
- Source for S.C: scstatehouse.gov, confirmed in November 2026, and the reason our figures match the official ones.
- South Carolina Registered Agent.co, pricing page, as it appeared on November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing, South Carolina service page, as it appeared on November 13, 2026
- SC Registered Agent.org, pricing page, as it appeared on November 13, 2026