How to Start an LLC in South Carolina (SC LLC 2024)


Steve Goldstein
Steve Goldstein
Business Formation Expert
Steve Goldstein, founder of LLCBuddy, is a specialist in corporate formations, dedicated to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners through the LLC process. LLCBuddy provides a wealth of streamlined resources such as guides, articles, and FAQs, making LLC establishment seamless. The diligent editorial staff makes sure content is accurate, up-to-date information on topics like state-specific requirements, registered agents, and compliance. Steve's enthusiasm for entrepreneurship makes LLCBuddy an essential and trustworthy resource for launching and running an LLC.

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How to Start an LLC in South Carolina: If you’re looking to start an LLC in SC, you’ve come to the right page. Setting up an LLC is easy and cost-effective. To form an LLC, you must follow a few steps that include naming your LLC, hiring a registered agent, filing your formation documents, doing the operating agreement, and finally obtaining the EIN. You can easily set up your LLC at a very low cost in South Carolina. Though, you must pay the mandatory state filing fee. These fees and charges can be tax deductible, making the LLC formation cost almost negligible.

On this page, You’ll find all the steps that must be taken to ensure that your South Carolina LLC has been correctly formed. We recommend you read the whole article very carefully, word by word, don’t miss anything 🙂

How to Start an LLC in South Carolina

An LLC (aka Limited Liability Company) is a hybrid business entity combining a corporation’s characteristics with a partnership or sole proprietorship. It separates your personal assets from your business assets, thus giving you personal asset protection. For an LLC, members’ personal assets are not affected by business debts. However, in some cases, if the LLC is sued for business debts, courts might pierce the corporate veil and use the owner’s personal assets to meet their corporate liabilities.

If you wish to start an LLC in South Carolina, you must file your Articles of Organization with the State and pay a filing fee of $110. While it’s the most important step, it’s not the only one. There are 4 other crucial steps to follow to get your LLC formed in South Carolina. Below are all 5 steps that explain everything you need to do to start a South Carolina LLC in 2024. Let’s get started! You can always hire a professional LLC formation service in South Carolina to set up your LLC instead of doing it alone; a Pro service will ensure everything is done properly.

Step 1: Decide a Name for Your South Carolina LLC

South Carolina name your llc

The first step while forming a limited liability company in South Carolina is to give a proper name to your LLC. Before you name your business, you must know that the name should be easy to remember, available in the state, and follows all the LLC naming guidelines.

South Carolina LLC Naming Guidelines

There are a few specific requirements all the LLCs in South Carolina must follow while naming their Company. Some of the most important requirements are as follows:

  • Your business name should be available and no other existing business in South Carolina can have the same name. ZenBusiness offers unlimited business name searches without any hassle.
  • “Limited Liability Company”, “LLC”, and “L.L.C.” – any one of these has to be used as a suffix in your business name.
  • You cannot use any name for your business that is confusing or misleading. Terms such as “Treasury”, “State Department”, “FBI”, “CIA”, etc. shouldn’t be included.
  • Terms like “Bank“, “University“, “Attorney“, “Doctor“, etc can be added only after the additional requirements by South Carolina State Government are fulfilled.
  • (Optional) It’s better to name your business something for which your desired domain is available.
Important Links –Submit Offline Form to –
South Carolina Business Entity Search – Online Name Search
Name Reservation Form – PDF
South Carolina LLC Name Search – Instructions
Secretary of State
Attn: Corporate Filings
1205 Pendleton Street Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201

Reserve Business Name for Future

If you do not wish to file your LLC right now but want to hold the name you have decided on, then you can reserve your LLC name for 120 days. To keep the name, you must file a name reservation application and pay $25 to reserve your name with the South Carolina Secretary of State.

Doing Business As (DBA) or Trade Name

In South Carolina, there is no need for DBA filing. LLCs can file and reserve their LLC names if they are not registering the business right now.

Recommended: You can do name search, business domain, website, emails, and a lot more in one place by hiring a professional service. We recommend using –

#1 TOP PICK

ZenBusiness($0 for LLC Formation)

Apart from LLC formation, ZenBusiness offers customized website templates and business emails at a very reasonable price. If you plan to get a website, then it is wise to have a “.com” domain for your business, but these days you can also use other TLDs like “.io”, “.company”, “.xyz,” etc. Here you can get everything you need for your business in one dashboard.

Do I have to include LLC in my company email/domain?

It is not legally mandatory to use the word LLC in your domain name or email. If you want, you can use it. However, it is recommended not to use LLC in the domain name. A domain name should be short and easy to remember.

Step 2: Assign a Registered Agent in South Carolina

South Carolina registered agent

The second step to forming an LLC in South Carolina is to appoint a Registered Agent. A registered agent is a person or business entity working on your LLC’s behalf. This person or business will receive important tax forms, legal documents, all notices of lawsuits, and other official government correspondence in South Carolina. Hence, hiring a competent South Carolina Registered Agent for your LLC is necessary.

Make sure your registered agent is a resident of South Carolina or has a physical street address. This address will be used as the principal address of your LLC to receive any legal documents. Most LLC formation companies also provide registered agent services. Below are two great LLC formation services; even if you buy their cheapest plan (normally $0), you also get registered agent service and other services at a very reasonable price.

LLC Service

Our Rating & Pricing

Top Features

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#1 TOP PICK

$0 + State Fees

  • 100% accuracy guarantee

  • Worry-free service

  • Great customer support

  • Established reputation

  • Extras are bit more expensive

  • Good customer support

These two are our top recommendations for registered agent service, as they are competent and authorized to conduct business in South Carolina. Some LLC formation services also offer standalone South Carolina registered agent services. You can purchase only Registered Agent services without purchasing any other LLC formation services. This standalone service might become handy if you are doing it yourself and don’t want to disclose your home address or you don’t want to pierce the corporate veil.

Who Can Be a Registered Agent?

A person above 18 years of age and has a physical address in the state of South Carolina can be a Registered Agent. A Registered Agent can be an independent person or can be a business entity. One is responsible for handling all the legal documents on the LLCs behalf.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent?

Yes, you can be your own registered agent if you are a resident of the state of South Carolina and you are above 18 years of age. To become a registered agent, you must have the authority to conduct any type of business in South Carolina.

Why Shouldn’t I be My Own Registered Agent?

There are a few reasons why you shouldn’t be your own registered agent. The address of the registered agent is used to communicate with the SOS or for any legal activities. If you are your own registered agent, you might have to upload your personal address to the public forum. Besides, the registered agent must be at the address during business hours. It won’t be easy for you as you also have to take care of other things in your LLC. Hence, it is wiser to appoint a separate entity as your registered agent.

What is Piercing the Corporate Veil in LLC?

If an LLC is sued in South Carolina, in some cases, courts might decide to lift the corporate veil, which means the owners of the LLC will be personally liable for their business debts. They might have to forgo their personal assets to repay their business debts. This is called piercing the corporate veil, where personal and business assets are not separated anymore. Your personal assets can be protected if you have enough capital and all your LLC documents are properly filed.

Registered Agent Consent Application

In South Carolina, there is no separate Consent Letter to be produced to the Secretary of State. At the time of change of Registered Agent (or the name or address), the new Registered Agent has to sign the consent letter. It comes with the Application form to Change the Registered Agent. The filing fee of $10 should be paid for it. For more information on the same, read our guide on South Carolina Registered Agent.

Step 3: File Articles of Organization in South Carolina

South Carolina certificate of formation

The third and most important step in forming a South Carolina LLC is to file the Articles of Organization. This South Carolina Articles of Organization is a legal document that is required to register your business with the South Carolina Secretary of State. It costs $110 to file your formation certificate in South Carolina.

The Articles of Organization include details like the name of the LLC, the registered agent’s name, address, employees’ details, and the company’s structure (member-managed or manager-managed). Before hiring employees in South Carolina LLC, one should know the rules and regulations thoroughly. Also, if you are expanding your existing business (an LLC) in other states to South Carolina, you must register as a South Carolina Foreign LLC.

How to File Online

Go to the Secretary of State Online Service. You will get the online service page. If you’re not a user, you can directly start filing your LLC by clicking on the “Online Filing” button below. Read more about the South Carolina Articles of Organization for online registration.

How to File by Mail

If you prefer filing real-life forms for your South Carolina LLC registration, you can download Domestic LLC Formation Form. Read the form thoroughly, fill it out, and mail it along with the following,

Mailing Address:

South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office
Attn: Corporate Fillings
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201

Processing Time: Normally, it takes around 7 business days (approx) to get your LLC formed in South Carolina. The processing time for online filing might be a little faster than offline filing. With an additional cost, you can get expedited filing as well. However, the document processing time can be changed due to various factors.

Recommended: Online LLC Formation service can provide all these documents way faster than usual time with lifetime customer support and 100% accuracy. We recommend using –

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ZenBusiness – ($0 + State Fees) Online LLC Setup

Every LLC owner has to pay the filing fees to register their business in South Carolina. This fee is mandatory but also tax deductible. If you’re doing it yourself (filing on your own), it will not cost you any additional service fee. However, it is not feasible to do that as the DIY process might be delayed, complicated, and messy, especially if you’re a novice entrepreneur. Hence, it is recommended to get professional guidance to get your LLC formed in South Carolina.

Step 4: Create Your South Carolina LLC Operating Agreement

South Carolina operating agreement

Moving on to the fourth step, filing your operating agreement. An operating agreement is a document that legally outlines the proprietorship and operating procedures of your LLC. This document is vital as it ensures that all business owners are on the same page regarding how they operate, thus reducing future conflicts.

When it comes to filing a South Carolina LLC Operating Agreement, the state does not require you to have a comprehensive operating agreement, but it is ideal to have one that contains all the details of your business operation that helps in taking future business decisions, especially if you decide to dissolve South Carolina LLC later. Hence, having an operating agreement may not be necessary, but it is surely ideal.

Recommended: You can get a professionally made operating agreement for very less cost with ZenBusiness. You don’t need to worry about drafting it as they will take care of it on your behalf. We recommend using –

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ZenBusiness – ($0 + State Fees) Online LLC Setup

The operating agreement draft can be created for free if you don’t hire a professional. However, there is an advantage to appointing a proficient person/service. You will get a businesslike quality operating agreement at a very cheap fee, which will help you in the future. Hiring a professional service means you can sleep well at night 🙂

Step 5: Filing a South Carolina LLC EIN

South Carolina file EIN for llc

The Employer Identification Number (aka EIN) is a nine-digit number given by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to make it easier to identify the type of business for tax purposes and taxes in general. The EIN is necessary for any active business or any form of business.

EIN is needed when the LLC hires employees. Hiring employees in South Carolina LLC requires following specific rules and regulations. On the other side, EIN for South Carolina foreign LLC should be obtained if your LLC is based in other states.

To obtain EIN (aka FEIN), one must fill up a form (Online or by mail) and submit it to the IRS. Enter details of your LLC, and finally, complete the form and send it to the address given. You can also get an EIN Assistant to help you with the process.

Mail to: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999

Fax: (855) 641-6935 | Fee: Free

Recommended: This hassle will be reduced when you hire an LLC formation service. They take care of obtaining EIN and all other things for your LLC. We recommend using –

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ZenBusiness – ($0 + State Fees) Online LLC Setup

Note: You don’t need a Social Security number when getting an EIN. You can proceed to fill out I.R.S. Form SS-4 and leave section 7b blank. You must then call the IRS at (267) 941-1099 to complete your application. Agents or employees will help you with that.


Congratulations, you are now done with all the necessary steps to form your Limited Liability Company in South Carolina. If you do it yourself, it should take you a long time to understand and do all the steps properly.

However, if you use ZenBusiness, it should be way faster. You will always have a live chat option and phone support with experts for any help you need. Their worry-free service will make things easier for you.


After Starting Your South Carolina LLC

After forming your LLC, there are still some things that you will need. The most important thing is to separate your business and personal assets. LLCs have limited liability protection that protects your personal assets from business liability. This is called a corporate veil. However, the corporate veil can be lifted or pierced by the court if the LLC is sued. In that case, the owners of the LLC become personally liable for their corporate debts. A few things like appointing a legit registered agent, having enough capital, and filing all the major documents with the state can save the LLCs from being pierced into the corporate veil.

Apart from that, there are a few things you need to take note of,

This page has provided you with steps to LLC formation and filing processes. You now have to remember upcoming filing deadlines and filing fees or filing costs, including fees for late filings to make sure your LLC is up-to-date.

Cost of South Carolina LLC

LLCs can be formed by spending very less price. Apart from the mandatory state filing fees, you don’t have to bear additional service charges if you do it yourself. Following are the fees and taxes LLCs in South Carolina must pay to register and run a business in the state. Forming an LLC is no doubt cost-effective compared to other business structures. However, the fees and charges (tax-deductible) that you must pay to the state, such as name reservation fee, name filing fee, LLC filing fee, and Franchise Tax & Sales Tax (If applicable). Here are the main fees and taxes you must pay while forming your limited liability company in South Carolina,

Fees/TaxAmount to be Paid
Name Reservation Fee$25
Articles of Organization Fee$110
LLC Annual FeeNot Required
Sales Tax6%

In South Carolina, an LLC name reservation is not mandatory. You can register your LLC name at the time of registering your LLC. If you wish to hold the name for some time without registering your LLC, then you can do that online. Your LLC name will be reserved for 120 days without registering your LLC. It can be done by paying $25.

In South Carolina, LLCs have to pay a Sales Tax of 6% every year. Read our guide on LLC costs in South Carolina for more information.

South Carolina Foreign LLC

If you are interested in forming a Foreign LLC in South Carolina then you need to file the Certificate of Foreign LLC to the South Carolina Secretary of State. Foreign LLCs allow you to operate your business in more than one state. Along with the Certificate of Foreign LLC, you need to submit some more documents like the Certificate of Good Standing, etc. to the South Carolina SOS to form your foreign LLC in South Carolina. To know more in detail, check out our guide on South Carolina Foreign LLC.

Reasons to Start an LLC in South Carolina

In the last decade, it is noticed that the GDP of South Carolina has jumped manifolds, and the reason behind this is the businesses it is catering to. Also, the reduction in tax liabilities and various business funding options is why South Carolina is a good option for LLCs. Read more on South Carolina’s classification of LLC tax. The other benefits offered are just unbeatable, a glimpse of which is discussed below.

Service sector incentive programs

If your start-up is based on the service sector and you start an LLC in South Carolina, this incentive program is made. There are some incentive programs in this program, like the job development program in which an entrepreneur will be provided credit based on jobs that they are creating. This fund will help out a business in leveling its cost of expansion of the business.

Along with that, a property tax exemption is also available under this program. A person is provided an exemption on the intangible property in which they invest their money.

Manufacturing Sector incentive Programs

Those who have a manufacturing unit running as their South Carolina LLC must know about this incentive program. There are two further divisions in this program, named Jobs Tax Credits and Investment Tax Credits. Any business entity in the sector can get a lucrative incentive in tax credits for the jobs they are creating at the altar. The range credit is from $1000 to $9000, depending on the job you create. This one-time credit program can last for a period of around 10 years.

Business Incentive Programs

Some attractive tax incentive programs are offered under this umbrella program started by the government for LLCs in South Carolina. The eligibility of these programs is variable, and one needs to include programs like.

  • Tax credits are provided to an LLC in the form of an investment tax credit, Research and development credit, jobs creation credit, etc. It is provided to the LLC, which can help them invest more in developing their company and the state.
  • According to the operational areas of the business, a sales and use tax incentive is offered to the business. Out-of-state sales and purchase is considered in this program for exemption, and one has to file a form to be eligible for this.
  • If an entrepreneur buys new property in the state for their LLC, they get a tax rebate on that property for at least 5 years.

Top 3 Businesses in South Carolina

Before you take the major step to form an LLC in South Carolina, it is essential to brush up on your knowledge. You must go through a list of top businesses of South Carolina and their contribution to the state to better understand the business environment there.

Agriculture businesses

The state is known for its advanced agriculture techniques and machinery. They are number in the country in terms of the number of greenhouses and nurseries planted there. The area deployed under agriculture in the state is 4.9 million hectares supporting the jobs of more than 68,000 people.

Moreover, the advanced agriculture of the state is getting continuous investments with the help of which the contribution of the sector to state GDP is $41.7 billion. The main contributors to this value are cotton, wheat, eggs, and corn and cattle farms.

Automotive industry

There are a wide variety of automobile companies present in the state, which covers manufacturing to supplying automobile vehicles and their parts. If you look at the sector’s history, then the first BMW car was manufactured in South Carolina only.

Also, the state is the third-largest exporter and manufacturer of tires in the USA which has covered 1/3rd of the market. The total sales that the sector has managed to make in a year is around $27 billion, which is a considerable contribution to its GDP.

Aerospace Businesses

The aerospace industry’s economic contribution to the state’s total GDP is around $19 billion, making it an economic driver. Boeing aircraft are assembled and delivered in the South Carolina state, after which there are more than 400 companies of aerospace in the state. Right now, 22,000 people are working in the industry alone, and the numbers are rising significantly.

Some small businesses in the state are:-

  • Car renting business
  • Uber driver
  • WordPress developer

South Carolina LLC Formation Review

Time needed: 5 minutes

Just to recap, here are the easy steps again when forming an LLC in SC. Click on the steps in this list to read the full detail.

  1. Name your South Carolina LLC

    The first thing you must do is to choose a company name, which should be unique, easy to find, and available in the state.
    name your llc

  2. Choose a Registered Agent

    In South Carolina, it is mandatory to select a registered agent for your LLC. Get a professional Registered Agent from LLC formation services to get things done hassle-free.
    registered agent

  3. File a Formation Certificate

    Filing a formation certificate is necessary when forming an LLC in South Carolina. Depending on the state, it could be called any of the following: Certificate of Formation, Articles of Organization, or Certificate of Organization.
    articles of organization

  4. Create an Operating Agreement

    An operating agreement is not a strict requirement in South Carolina but something encouraged when you start an LLC to avoid future conflicts.
    operating agreement

  5. Get an EIN

    The Employer Identification Number (EIN), also called Federal Tax Identification Number, serves to identify a business entity like a social security number but for a company.
    file EIN for llc

F.A.Qs

Can I file an LLC in South Carolina by myself?

If you are a resident of South Carolina, then you can file your LLC by yourself. However, it is always worth having a professional than doing it yourself to handle legal complexities, paperwork, and other documentation.

What is the cost of forming an LLC in South Carolina in a year?

Apart from the formation fee of $110 (domestic LLC) and $110 (foreign LLC), LLC costs in South Carolina include fees for Annual Reports every year. LLCs are liable to pay sales tax of 6% every year.

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

It takes 24 hours to get an LLC in SC if you file it online. For the mail filing, it takes 5 to 7 days to get an LLC. If you hire a professional LLC service, then it might take less than that. We recommend TailorBrands which has impeccable turnaround time.

How to renew my LLC in South Carolina?

Every year all the LLCs have to submit an Annual Report to the South Carolina Secretary of State and renew the LLC. It is mandatory to renew your LLC every year.

What is the tax structure for an LLC in South Carolina?

Generally, for the LLCs, it is a default tax structure. Once you will obtain the EIN, you will get the various tax structure options to select. Sometimes LLCs choose S Corp to reduce federal tax burdens. Read more on the South Carolina Classification of LLC Tax.

How Fast Can I Form an LLC in South Carolina

LLC filing procedures in South Carolina take about 5 to 7 business days when done via mail. Online filings can be completed within 24 hours.

One of the first steps in forming an LLC in South Carolina is choosing a unique name for your business. This step may sound simple, but it’s important to ensure that your chosen name is not already taken by another business in the state. Before officially registering your business name, it’s a good idea to conduct a name search through the South Carolina Secretary of State’s website to ensure its availability.

Following the selection of a business name, the next step in forming an LLC in South Carolina is submitting the necessary paperwork to the Secretary of State’s office. This paperwork typically includes a completed Articles of Organization form, which outlines basic information about your business, such as its name, address, and type of operation. Once the Articles of Organization form is submitted along with the requisite filing fee, the Secretary of State’s office will review the application and, if everything is in order, approve the formation of your LLC.

The speed at which your LLC can be formed in South Carolina largely depends on the efficiency of the Secretary of State’s office in processing your paperwork. While some states may take several weeks to approve an LLC formation, South Carolina is known for its relatively quick turnaround time. However, it’s important to keep in mind that processing times can vary depending on the volume of applications received by the Secretary of State’s office at any given time.

In addition to paperwork processing times, the timeline for forming an LLC in South Carolina can also be influenced by other factors, such as whether additional documentation or information is required by the Secretary of State’s office. For instance, if there are any errors or missing information on your Articles of Organization form, this could result in delays in the approval of your LLC formation.

Ultimately, while it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact timeframe for forming an LLC in South Carolina, many aspiring business owners are able to get their businesses up and running relatively quickly. By carefully following the steps outlined by the Secretary of State’s office and ensuring that all necessary information is provided, forming an LLC in South Carolina can be a smooth and efficient process. With its reputation for prompt approval of LLC formations, South Carolina is a popular choice for entrepreneurs looking to establish their businesses without unnecessary delay.

In Conclusion

LLCs are easier to establish than other business structures. Small businesses, especially start-ups can easily start their LLCs in South Carolina at a bare minimum cost. LLCs have a ‘pass-through taxation’ advantage for which they are excluded from certain taxes. The formation of limited liability companies requires much lesser documents and legal processes. Share your queries with us, and leave a comment below.

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