South Carolina LLC Formation

Start an LLC in South Carolina — $110 State Fee, No Annual Report

South Carolina is a growing business-friendly state with no annual report requirement for LLCs — meaning once you're formed, your only recurring obligation is maintaining your registered agent. With a reasonable $110 filing fee, fast processing, and a booming economy anchored by Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, South Carolina is an excellent choice for entrepreneurs in the Palmetto State. Brendat handles your Articles of Organization, EIN, registered agent, and all compliance.

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Step-by-step guide

How to Form an LLC in South Carolina

Five simple steps — no publication requirement, no annual report. Brendat handles the filing while you focus on your business.

Choose a Name for Your South Carolina LLC

Your South Carolina LLC name must be unique among all businesses registered with the South Carolina Secretary of State and must include a required designator.

South Carolina Naming Rules:

Must include: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
Cannot use: Words implying a government agency (e.g., "FBI," "State Department")
Restricted words: "Bank," "Insurance," "University" require additional approval
Must be distinguishable: From all existing SC business names in the SOS database

Name Reservation Available

You can reserve your South Carolina LLC name for 120 days with the SC SOS for $25. Brendat checks name availability before filing your Articles of Organization.

Appoint a South Carolina Registered Agent

Every South Carolina LLC must designate a registered agent — an individual or company with a physical South Carolina street address — to receive legal documents and official state notices during business hours.

Who can be your registered agent?

Yourself: Must have a physical SC address and be available during business hours
A trusted individual: Any SC resident with a physical address
A professional service: Like Brendat — keeps your personal address off public records

Brendat provides registered agent service in South Carolina

Our SC address is listed on your Articles of Organization. Included in Standard and Premium packages.

File Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State

The Articles of Organization officially creates your South Carolina LLC. You file it with the South Carolina Secretary of State online or by mail.

Method	Fee	Processing Time
Online via SC SOS portal	$110	5–7 business days
By Mail	$110	4–6 weeks
Expedited (24-hour)	$110 + $50	Next business day

No publication requirement in South Carolina

South Carolina does not require LLCs to publish a notice in any newspaper. Once your Articles of Organization are approved by the SC SOS, your LLC is fully formed — no extra steps, no extra costs.

Create an Operating Agreement

South Carolina does not legally require an operating agreement, but it is strongly recommended for all South Carolina LLCs — especially multi-member ones. It establishes ownership, profit sharing, and management rules.

Your operating agreement should cover:

Ownership structure: Each member's percentage and capital contribution
Profit distribution: How and when profits are divided
Management: Who makes decisions and how voting works
Member changes: Process for adding or removing members
Dissolution: Steps to close the LLC if needed

Included in Brendat Standard and Premium

Brendat provides a professionally drafted South Carolina operating agreement with your formation documents.

Get Your EIN (Employer Identification Number)

An EIN is your LLC's federal tax ID — required to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. You apply through the IRS for free.

US residents: Apply free online at IRS.gov — instant approval
Non-US residents: Apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4 — 4–6 weeks
Brendat handles this: Included in Standard and Premium packages

That's it — your South Carolina LLC is ready!

South Carolina has no annual report for LLCs. Once formed and your EIN is obtained, your LLC has no recurring state filing obligations — just maintain your registered agent and file your federal and state tax returns each year.

Transparent pricing

How Much Does a South Carolina LLC Cost?

One of the lowest total costs of any state — no annual report, no publication fee.

State Filing Fee

$110

One-time fee paid to the South Carolina Secretary of State to file your Articles of Organization

Annual Report

South Carolina does NOT require LLCs to file an annual report — zero recurring state fee after formation

Publication Requirement

No newspaper publication requirement — unlike New York or other states

Registered Agent

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages. Every SC LLC must maintain a registered agent

EIN (Federal Tax ID)

Free from the IRS. Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages

Operating Agreement

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages

Total with Brendat Standard Plan

$149 + $110 state fee

$149 Brendat + $110 SC state fee · No annual report ever — $0 recurring state filing cost

Choose your plan

South Carolina LLC Formation Packages

All packages include accurate, state-specific filing. Pick what fits your needs.

Basic

Brendat service fee

+ $110 South Carolina state fee

Get Started Free

Articles of Organization filed
Name availability check
Email support
Digital copy of filed documents

Standard

$149

Brendat service fee

+ $110 South Carolina state fee

Start for $149 →

Everything in Basic
EIN / Federal Tax ID
Operating Agreement
Registered Agent (1 year)
Compliance support
Priority processing

Premium

$299

Brendat service fee

+ $110 South Carolina state fee

Get Premium

Everything in Standard
Business bank account setup
Compliance calendar & reminders
Dedicated account manager
Phone & priority support
Registered agent (1 year)

State Comparison

Is South Carolina the Right State for Your LLC?

South Carolina is best if you live or operate there. Here's how it compares to nearby states.

Feature	South Carolina	North Carolina	Georgia	Florida
State Filing Fee	$110	$125	$100	$125
Annual Report Fee	None	$200/yr	$50/yr	$138.75/yr
Publication Required	None	None	None	None
Processing Time	5–7 days	~5 days	~7 days	~5 days
State Income Tax	0%–6.2%	4.25%	4.49%	None
Best For	SC businesses	NC businesses	GA businesses	FL businesses

South Carolina's biggest advantage: No annual report

Most states charge $50–$300/year just to keep your LLC active. South Carolina LLCs have no annual report requirement — making your total long-term cost significantly lower than neighboring states.

Why choose us

Why 10,000+ Entrepreneurs Choose Brendat

Fast Filing

We submit your South Carolina Articles of Organization within 1 business day of your order. Standard processing takes 5–7 business days — expedited next-day available for $50 extra.

100% Accuracy Guarantee

Every filing is reviewed before submission. If the SC SOS rejects your documents due to our error, we fix it at no charge.

Privacy First

Your home address stays off the public record. We list our South Carolina registered agent address on all your formation documents.

Low Long-Term Cost

With no annual report fee, your South Carolina LLC costs just $110 to form — and nothing to maintain each year (beyond keeping a registered agent).

Non-US Residents Welcome

No citizenship or US residency required to form a South Carolina LLC. We assist international entrepreneurs with the full process including EIN filing.

Real Support

Reach our team at (303) 246-8693 or by email. Plain English answers — no jargon, no runaround.

Our reviews

What Our South Carolina LLC Customers Say

Brian T.

Real Estate LLC, Charleston SC

"No annual report in South Carolina is huge! Brendat explained all the benefits and had my Charleston LLC set up in less than a week. Excellent service."

Michelle W.

Consulting LLC, Columbia SC

"I started my consulting business in Columbia and Brendat made the process incredibly easy. The operating agreement they provided was exactly what I needed."

Derek N.

E-commerce LLC, Greenville SC

"Great experience forming my LLC in Greenville. Brendat handled everything quickly and professionally. I appreciated the transparency about all the costs upfront."

Common questions

South Carolina LLC — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about forming and running an LLC in South Carolina.

Still have questions?

(303) 246-8693

How much does it cost to form an LLC in South Carolina?

The South Carolina state filing fee is $110. Brendat's service starts at $0 (Basic) or $149 (Standard, which includes EIN, operating agreement, and registered agent). Total first-year cost with Standard is $259. South Carolina has no annual report fee — making your ongoing maintenance cost $0 per year from the state.

Does South Carolina require an annual report for LLCs?

No — South Carolina is one of the few states that does not require LLCs to file an annual report. Once your LLC is formed and in good standing, there is no recurring state filing fee. This makes South Carolina one of the lowest long-term cost states for maintaining an LLC.

How long does it take to form an LLC in South Carolina?

Standard online processing with the South Carolina Secretary of State takes approximately 5–7 business days. Expedited next-business-day processing is available for an additional $50. Mail filings take 4–6 weeks. Brendat submits your Articles of Organization within 1 business day of your order.

Does South Carolina have a newspaper publication requirement?

No — South Carolina does not require LLCs to publish a notice of formation in any newspaper. Once your Articles of Organization are approved by the SC Secretary of State, your LLC is fully formed with no additional publication steps.

What is the South Carolina state income tax for LLCs?

South Carolina has a graduated personal income tax rate ranging from 0% to 6.2%. For single-member LLCs taxed as disregarded entities and multi-member LLCs taxed as partnerships, income passes through to members' personal returns and is taxed at these graduated rates. South Carolina does not impose an additional franchise tax on most LLCs.

Can a non-US resident form a South Carolina LLC?

Yes. There is no US citizenship or residency requirement to form a South Carolina LLC. Non-residents need a registered agent with a physical South Carolina address (Brendat provides this). For your EIN, non-residents must apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4. Brendat assists with this process.

Ready to Start Your South Carolina LLC?

$110 to form, zero annual report fee, no publication requirement. Brendat handles your Articles of Organization, EIN, and registered agent — you handle the business.

Form My South Carolina LLC

$149 + $110 SC fee · No annual report · 100% accuracy guarantee