Start An LLC in South Carolina
Protect your personal assets, privacy, and keep a peace of mind when forming an LLC in South Carolina. With no annual reports to the state, you can focus on what matters most for your business. Start your LLC in South Carolina by following our comprehensive guide that will lead you from understanding the requirements to having an established company in a matter days.
“…In the past I’ve filed personally but the ensuing telemarketing calls and extraneous mail was a headache. I should have used this company a long time ago, so far, it’s been more than worth it…” – Keith S.
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Do you want to save time and enhance your privacy? Hire us to form your LLC in SC. Our guarantee:
- Submitting Articles of Organization to the state without mistakes (or refiling is on us!)
- Uploading your complete documents to a user-friendly online portal
- Protecting your privacy with our Registered Agent service
- Saving time to sort through junk-mail and deliver relevant business mail scanning on the same day
And if you’re not ready to file yet, that’s okay! Take your time filling out your articles below. Your progress will be saved in our free tool. When you’re ready to file, you can submit the form yourself or hire us.
Your All-In-One LLC Formation Service
Setting up your South Carolina LLC is a lot of work! You want to avoid mistakes, double and triple-check your Articles of Organization to avoid rejection. Let us help form your South Carolina LLC. We take care of everything—beginning to end—while you focus on what matters to your business.
Here’s what’s included when you sign up for our South Carolina LLC Formation Service:
- Complimentary use of our business address on state documents
- Privacy Protection
- A full year of South Carolina registered agent services
- SC business identity today: business domain, website, SSL, email, and phone
- South Carolina annual report reminders
- Free Operating Agreement template
- A secure online account for storing important documents and forms
- Lifetime customer support
For $149 + state fees, we will set up your South Carolina LLC in a way that protects your privacy by listing our business address on public filings, not your address. We also make sure your business has all the tools and resources to establish your online presence by including a year free of web domain, along with 90 days free of hosting, SSL (web security protocol), business email, and local business phone number (easily accessible on your device using our iOS or Android app).
You will have access to all the tools from the start, with no hidden fees, or year-over-year price increases. You pay a one-time fee for the LLC formation and get access to an entire business hub for your South Carolina LLC. No longer need registered agent services or your website? Cancel it any time! And your data? It never gets sold!
How much does our South Carolina LLC Formation cost?
We believe in 100% transparency—no hidden fees or sudden increases. Here’s a clear breakdown of what we charge:
| Service | Fee |
| South Carolina LLC Filing Fee | $125 |
| Our Incorporation Service Fee | $100 |
| Our Business Identity Package Fee | $0 |
| One Year of Registered Agent Service | $49 |
| Total | $274 |
Everything Included with Your South Carolina LLC:
- Full LLC formation
- Full year of registered agent service
- State fees covered
- Free website domain for 1 year
- Pre-built website, business email, local phone number (90 days free)
How to Register An LLC in South Carolina: 8 Steps
Forming an LLC in South Carolina involves several important steps: choosing a business name, selecting a registered agent, and filing South Carolina Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State.
That’s just the basics. If you want to know how to start an LLC in South Carolina, we will guide you through the required, optional, and beneficial steps that should help you feel confident in setting up your business.
1. Pick a Business Name for Your South Carolina LLC
Choosing a unique business name is the first step in business formation. According to the Secretary of State, a failure to provide unique (not taken) business name is the number 1 reason for business filing rejections. That makes selecting an available business name a high priority for anyone who wants to register an LLC in South Carolina.
To avoid rejection as you file to form an LLC in SC, check the Secretary of State Business Name Search tool. Use different search options to find if the exact name is available and if there are very similar existing names such as “Brick And Mortar” vs “Brick & Mortar”, which might cause a filing issue.
Are there any rules for business names for South Carolina LLC?
Yes, there are certain rules business need to follow when selecting a business name. Here are some of the most notable:
- The name must designate entity as limited liability company. Most often, through abbreviations like “LLC” and others (S.C. Code § 33-44-105(a))
- The name of the LLC in South Carolina must be distinguishable from existing company names or DBAs (S.C. Code § 33-44-105(b))
If you’re set on the name but not ready to form your company, you can protect it from being taken by others by applying to reserve an LLC name (§ 33-44-106) for 120 days.
If you want to make sure the filing is submitted without mistakes, hire South Carolina Registered Agent to help you form your LLC today!
Do I need DBA?
A DBA—which stands for “doing business as”—is often called a fictitious or trade name. If your LLC is not using its legally-registered name to conduct business, you should have a DBA. Using a DBA, you can advertise, sell product, and even open new business locations. A DBA also lets you also expand your business beyond your original legal name. Let’s say you started as Suzzie’s Haircuts LLC, but want to expand into doing manicures and facial treatments. Using a DBA, you can rebrand as Suzzie’s Spa without fussing with the LLC paperwork.
In South Carolina, DBAs are registered at the county or city level depending on your location. In most municipalities, registering a DBA is part of the application process for local business licenses. (See our FAQs below for more information on business licenses).
2. Appoint a registered agent for your South Carolina LLC
A registered agent (or “agent for service of process” in SC forms) is a person or company you choose to receive official legal and government mail for your South Carolina LLC. A registered agent must:
- Be a state resident or authorized business.
- Have a street address in South Carolina (not a PO Box).
- Be present during regular business hours to receive Service of Process (documents notifying of legal action).
- Maintain a valid address on file with the Secretary of State.
Failure to receive these documents could result in missing lawsuits, default judgments against your business, loosing good standing with the state, and possible administrative dissolution.
Can I be my own registered agent?
Yes, you can be your own registered agent for your SC LCC. But it comes with several drawbacks:
- Your name and address become public (goodbye privacy, hello junk mail).
- You need to be available during regular business hours at the address you listed (9-5, Monday-Friday)
- If a lawsuit ever happens, you could be served at home, at your business location, in front of customers, etc. Whatever address you indicate, that’s where the business will be served.
- You have to keep your address updated with the state if you or your business moves.
- If you’re unavailable when service is attempted, the state may consider you “served” anyway – even if you never saw the documents. And the cherry on top? You might lose good standing with the state.
Being your own registered agent is legal – but not always practical. Running a business is tough work. Focus on your business, and let us be your registered agent. We will handle your junk mail, protect your privacy, scan and upload the important mail to your online account the same day we receive it.
3. File Articles of Organization for South Carolina LLC
To officially form your LLC, you’ll need to file Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State. You can file the form online ($125) or my mail ($110) by sending your LLC Articles of Organization in South Carolina to this address:
South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office
Attn: Corporate Filings
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201
If that’s your first time filing AOO, it might be hard to understand the terminology and what’s required. Here is a quick breakdown of what the state is looking for:
Company Name
This is the name of your LLC that will be registered with the state. Tip: make sure your name is unique or your filing is going to be rejected.
Note: The name of the limited liability company must contain one of the following endings: “limited liability company” or “limited company” or the abbreviation “L.L.C.”, “LLC”, “L.C.”, “LC”, or “Ltd. Co.” For example: “My Company, LLC”
Initial Designated Office
This is where your LLC in South Carolina located. It could be a home address or an actual office, as long as it is located in South Carolina.
Registered Agent Address
In this field, list the address of an appointed registered agent. It can’t be a PO Box, and it needs to be a an address in South Carolina.
Registered Agent Name
This is the person or entity that you have appointed to accept legal, state, and service of process mail for your business. The appointed agent must sign this form as well.
Note: This information becomes public, so if you want to protect your privacy, hire South Carolina Registered Agent and use our address on the form.
Company Term
If you plan to open your company temporarily, you can specify the date of future dissolution of the company. Keep this box unchecked if you don’t plan to close your company after a set period of time.
Management Information
Daily operations of South Carolina LLC could be managed by members (owners) or managers hired by owners. If you check the box, you’d need to indicate the names and addresses of the managers, which would also become public information. Otherwise, leave the box unchecked.
Liability Information
Check the box and provide names if any of the members should be personally liable for business debts. This is not required, and most LLCs leave that blank.
Delayed Start Date
Delay the start of your LLC to a certain date and time if you so choose.
Extra Provisions
Attach any other provisions for your LLC permitted by your operating agreement.
Organizer Signatures
Each of your LLC’s organizers must sign and date the form. If you hire South Carolina Registered Agent, we will do this for you protecting your privacy and ensuring smooth process.
4. Make an Operating Agreement for your South Carolina LLC
While South Carolina doesn’t not require to have an operating agreement, we strongly recommend having one. Many banks will ask to see your operating agreement before you open a business account. Additionally, the operating agreement can help keep your LLC out of legal trouble. Think of it this way: before playing a board game, everyone must know the rules. A good operating agreement will outline:
- The LLC’s business structure
- Distribution of profits and losses
- The responsibilities of LLC members and, if applicable, managers
- How business will be conducted
- The process of dissolving the LLC
Don’t know where to start? As a part of our South Carolina LLC formation package, we offer a customizable operating agreement.
5. Get an EIN for your South Carolina LLC
An EIN is needed for any business that plans to hire employees. An EIN is like a social security number for your business. You’ll need an EIN for tax purposes, for banking, and other business-related functions. Even if you’re a single-member LLC, we’d strongly recommend having an EIN, to avoid sharing your social security number to potential vendors. You can apply for an EIN on the IRS website or let us do it for you as part of our South Carolina LLC formation package.
6. Open a Business Bank Account
Did you hear that by opening LLC in SC you can protect your personal assets from liability? That is true, as long as you separate your personal and business assets. That’s why opening a separate business bank account should be on top of your list after the LLC formation.
Banks often require the following documents to open a bank account:
- South Carolina Articles of Organization
- EIN (Tax ID)
- LLC Operating Agreement
7. Get a License
South Carolina doesn’t have a statewide business license. However, most businesses will be required to obtain local licenses from county an/or city where they do business. To find out if you need one, follow the steps at SCBOS Local Business License.
Some professions and industries may require a license like health care, contracting industries, accounting, alcohol related, etc. Additionally, if you’re selling taxed goods, you must obtain a Retail License.
8. South Carolina LLC Compliance Requirements
Annual Reports.
South Carolina doesn’t require LLCs to file an annual report, unless they elect to be taxes as a C or S-corp. In that case, you would need to file the Corporate Income Tax through the South Carolina Department of Revenue.
Taxes.
By default, South Carolina LLCs are pass-through tax entities. That means your business does not pay income tax at the federal level. The LLC members are responsible for reporting business losses and revenue on their personal income tax filings. You can also elect S or C corporation status for your LLC.
Current Information.
You must notify the state of any changes to your address, registered agent, company structure, etc.
9. Optional (but recommended): Business Identity
No matter the business, chances are you’re going to need a company website and professional online business identity to get in touch with your audience clients and business associates. That’s why when you hire us, we hand you everything you’ll need to establish your online identity today, like a domain name, website, email address, and a local phone line. In minutes, you can have everything you need to establish your South Carolina business identity on the spot. We provide these services for no additional upfront fees so that you can get your business online and connected to your customers today. You can cancel at any time.
South Carolina LLC FAQs
What are the advantages of an LLC as business entity?
Simply put, an LLC gives you liability protection. If you don’t file Articles of Organization, you can still conduct business, but you’ll do so as a sole proprietor or general partnership. What does that mean in terms of liability protection? Well, if your business were to face legal actions, then your personal assets would be at risk. Forming an LLC creates a legal separation between you and the actual business, shielding your personal assets.
Why should I use a registered agent service?
Hiring a registered agent service makes your life as a business owner and operator much easier. For example, when you act as your own registered agent or list your business address, you’ll get an influx of junk mail. Buried in that junk mail are important documents from the state. An attentive registered agent service like us receives your mail (including the junk). We save the important documents and shred the rest. The important documents and mail are uploaded to your secure portal that is yours forever. You have better things to do as a business owner than sift through the mail and, frankly, we’re good at it.
The privacy offered by a registered agent service also protects you from potential embarrassment. Let’s say the worst happens, and someone files a lawsuit against your LLC. Unfortunately, acting as your registered agent means you’re responsible for accepting service of process. Electing a professional registered agent service ensures those dreaded words—You’ve been served—are kept out of your business and out of your customer’s earshot.
How much does South Carolina charge if I form LLC myself?
If you file your Articles of Organization online, you will spend $125, which includes a $15 online fee. Or, you can save fifteen bucks by filing by mail if you’re not in a hurry.
Can I change my SC LLC name later?
Yes, you can file Amended Articles of Organization §33-44-204(a) with the Secretary of State. You can file it online or by mail. The fee is $110.
Do I need a business bank account for my South Carolina LLC?
The question is better asked, Should I open a business bank account for my LLC? And the answer is yes, you should. You’ve gone through the trouble of forming a limited liability company, so you want to continue to limit your liability, right? A business bank account is a great way to keep your business assets separate from your personal assets. Plus, if you plan to take credit card payments, you’re probably going to need a business bank account. To open a business bank account, you’ll likely need your articles of organization, operating agreement, and EIN.
What if I need to do business in South Carolina but my LLC is based in another state?
If you need to do business in South Carolina, you will need to acquire a Certificate of Authority from the SC Secretary of State. This process is called “foreign registration.” You can read more about this process on our Register as Foreign LLC page.
How do I dissolve my South Carolina LLC?
To formally dissolve your LLC, you must file articles of termination in duplicate with the South Carolina Secretary of State and pay a $10 filing fee. The forms must be typed or printed with black ink and signed. The forms should be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope and sent to:
South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office
Attn: Business Filings Division
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 734-2158