Module 1 · South Carolina
How to Start an LLC in South Carolina (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
Key facts
You will be able to
- Where to file in South Carolina and what the fee is
- What the agent rule says
- The recurring state filing
- How the graded picks compare
If you would like help with the filing
1. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for an inexpensive South Carolina start
South Carolina Registered Agent.co comes first, and here is why: it forms the South Carolina LLC for $199 and covers the agent for year one, after which the agent renews at $99.
Mainstay Filing costs more over three years, and that hands this service the top spot.
What the price covers
- Filing with the state
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Then $99 a year
- No agent fee in year one
- $199 and the state fee
Where it loses points
- It charges $99 for the EIN step
2. Mainstay Filing: best for one flat yearly price
Mainstay Filing is a sound second choice because a single $199 price pays for the filing and the registered agent, with the EIN application thrown in.
On three-year cost it falls $200 behind South Carolina Registered Agent.co.
What the price covers
- Formation prepared and filed
- Registered agent for twelve months
- The EIN application
- Official fee, at cost
Marks in its favor
- $199 at renewal
- No extra charge for the EIN application
- $199 yearly, everything in one
Where it loses points
- Costs $100 more per year from year two
- South Carolina has no report to bundle, so the savings are smaller
3. SC Registered Agent.org: best for a local filer
SC Registered Agent.org is a sound third choice because it forms the South Carolina LLC for $199 and covers the agent for year one, after which the agent renews at $99.
South Carolina Registered Agent.co and this service charge the same.
What the price covers
- Filing with the state
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- No agent fee in year one
- $199 and the state fee
- Then $99 a year
Where it loses points
- It charges $99 for the EIN step
Our South Carolina picks side by side
| # | 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 | $199/yr | $597 | 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. |
How to form your South Carolina LLC
-
Step
1Settle on a name
Before filing, search the business records at the South Carolina Secretary of State so you know the name is not already on the South Carolina register.
A backup name helps if the first one is taken.
-
Step
2Choose a registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. 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.
The address has to be a street address in South Carolina for the agent, stated in the articles. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
All of our picks fill the registered agent role.
Where this comes from: The official page is scstatehouse.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
-
Step
3Choose between DIY and a service
Either way the state keeps $110. A filing service adds $199, and our grades show which one is worth it.
-
Step
4Turn in the Articles of Organization
Your formation filing is the Articles of Organization; take it, plus $110, to the South Carolina Secretary of State (S.C. Code § 33-44-202).
Where this comes from: The official page is scstatehouse.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
-
Step
5Apply for an EIN
Once approved, the LLC can get a federal tax ID, the EIN, from the IRS. A business bank account will need it. Mainstay Filing covers this step too.
-
Step
6Write an operating agreement
An operating agreement spells out who owns the South Carolina LLC and how decisions are made. You keep it with your records, and the state never sees it.
-
Step
7Stay in good standing in South Carolina
You will not file a yearly report for a South Carolina LLC, so the registered agent is the only item to maintain.
What each step costs in South Carolina
| Line | Goes to | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fee | Paid to the state | $110 |
| A service, if you use one | Your service | $199 in year one |
| State total over three years | Paid to the state | $110 |
How the grade worked out
Tuition over three years carries 32% of the report card, and that is where pulled ahead in South Carolina.
South Carolina Registered Agent.co totals $397 for three years, leaving $200 in your pocket compared with Mainstay Filing.
Short answers
Which fees come with forming an LLC in South Carolina?
Filing costs $110. Service fees among our picks run $199.
Which form creates the LLC?
Look for the Articles of Organization; the South Carolina Secretary of State is where it gets filed.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does South Carolina require each year?
The state requires no recurring report.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
It is allowed. Do the filing on your own for $110 and line up a registered agent as well.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
By grade: South Carolina Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing and SC Registered Agent.org. South Carolina Registered Agent.co is first because a $199 formation fee, then $99 a year to keep the agent.
Class references
- Homework check for S.C: the facts come from scstatehouse.gov, a page we last confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- South Carolina Registered Agent.co pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing South Carolina service page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- SC Registered Agent.org pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026