How to Start an LLC in South Carolina (2025 Guide)

Wondering how to start an LLC in South Carolina? We’ve got you covered.

To get started, you’ll need to pick a suitable business name, choose a registered agent, and file your Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State. The cost to form an LLC in South Carolina is $110.

You can do this independently, consult with a business attorney for specialized legal guidance, or join the other 65% of our readers and hire a specialized South Carolina LLC formation service (recommended).

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

LegalZoom ($249 + State Fees)

Cost to Start an LLC in South Carolina

How to Form an LLC in South Carolina in 5 Steps

In order to form your LLC in South Carolina, there are certain steps you’ll need to complete:

Name Your South Carolina LLC
Choose a South Carolina Registered Agent
File the Articles of Organization
Create an Operating Agreement
Get an EIN

Step 1: Name Your South Carolina LLC

Before you get started, you will need to pick a suitable name for your South Carolina LLC.

This will need to comply with all applicable naming requirements under South Carolina law and be both succinct and memorable, as this will make it easily searchable by your potential clients.

1. South Carolina LLC Naming Guidelines

Your name must include the phrase “limited liability company” or one of its abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.). Note that you can also abbreviate “Limited” as “Ltd.” and “company” as “Co.”
Your name cannot include words that could confuse your LLC with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
Your name cannot include certain words (e.g. “Bank,” “Attorney,” or “University”) without prior approval from the appropriate state agency and the involvement of a properly licensed professional.
Your name must be clearly different from the name or fictitious name (DBA) of any other business already registered in South Carolina.

We recommend checking out the for a complete list of naming rules for LLCs outlined on the South Carolina Legislature website.

2. South Carolina Name Availability Search

To check whether your desired name has already been taken by another business entity in South Carolina, you can perform a Business Name Search on the State of South Carolina’s website.

If you’re not going to start your LLC right away, it might be a good idea to consider reserving your name for up to 120 days ($25 filing fee).

For more information, you can have a look at our South Carolina LLC Name Search guide.

3. Finding the Right Domain

You should check online to see if your business name is available as a web domain. Even if you don’t plan to create a business website right away, this is an extremely important step as it will prevent others from acquiring it, potentially saving you both time and money in the long term.

Once you have verified your name is available, you may now select a professional service to complete the LLC formation process for you.

FAQ: Naming a South Carolina LLC

LLC is short for “limited liability company.” It is a simple business structure that offers more flexibility than a traditional corporation while still providing your personal assets with legal protection from business debts. Read our What is a Limited Liability Company guide for more information.

Or, watch our two-minute video: What is an LLC?

You must follow the South Carolina LLC naming guidelines when choosing a name for your LLC:

Include the phrase “limited liability company” or one of its abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.).
Do not use words that could confuse your business with a government agency (FBI, State Department, CIA, etc.).
Receive the proper licensing when using the words such as lawyer or doctor.

If you are having trouble coming up with a name for your LLC use our LLC Name Generator. That will not only find a unique name for your business but an available URL to match.

South Carolina does not offer DBA filings for LLCs.

Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent in South Carolina

After you find the right name for your LLC, you will need to nominate a South Carolina registered agent (known in the state’s formation documents as an “agent for service of process”). This is a necessary step in your Articles of Organization (i.e., the document used to file and register your LLC with the Secretary of State).

What is a registered agent?

A registered agent is an individual or business entity responsible for receiving important tax forms, legal documents, notice of lawsuits, and official government correspondence on behalf of your business. You can think of your registered agent as your business’s primary point of contact with the state.

Who can be a registered agent?

A registered agent must be a resident of South Carolina or a corporation, such as a registered agent service, authorized to transact business in the state of South Carolina. You can choose to elect an individual within the company (e.g., yourself, etc.), use an attorney (not recommended due to the high cost), or go with a registered agent service.

In order to be eligible, all prospective South Carolina resident agents must satisfy the following general requirements:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a physical street address in South Carolina
Always be available at this specified address during normal business hours

Your agent must also sign their consent when you file the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State.

Get Free Registered Agent Services

Form an LLC with Northwest Registered Agent to get one year of registered agent services free of charge.

FAQ: Nominating a Registered Agent

Yes. You, or anyone else in your company, can serve as the registered agent for your South Carolina LLC; though new business owners are encouraged to hire a professional registered agent service.

Read more about being your own registered agent.

Using a professional registered agent service is an affordable way to manage government filings for your LLC. For most businesses, the advantages of using a professional service significantly outweigh the annual costs.

Step 3: File the South Carolina LLC Articles of Organization

To register your LLC, you’ll need to file the South Carolina Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. You can do this online or by mail.

Before filing, make sure you have completed your Articles of Organization correctly. You will need to have filled in the following sections:

The name of your LLC
The address of your initial designated office
The name and signature of your initial agent for service of process (registered agent)
The name and address of each organizer
Whether your LLC is member-managed or manager-managed
The names and addresses of all initial members/managers
When your Articles of Organization will become effective
The signature of each organizer

File the Articles of Organization

OPTION 1: File Online with the South Carolina Secretary of State

– OR –

OPTION 2: File by Mail

State Filing Cost: $110, payable to the South Carolina Secretary of State. (Nonrefundable)

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

For help with completing the form, visit our South Carolina Articles of Organization guide.

Note: If you’re expanding your existing business to the state of South Carolina, you’ll need to register as a foreign limited liability company (LLC).

FAQ: Filing South Carolina LLC Documents

Filing online is recommended as your forms will normally be processed within 24 hours. By comparison, if you mail your filing, it will typically take the Secretary of State’s Office between two and three days to complete processing once they receive your documents.

Note that filing times may take longer than these estimates depending on the Office’s workload volume.

An LLC is referred to as a “domestic LLC” when it conducts business in the state where it was formed. A foreign limited liability company must be formed when an existing LLC wishes to expand its business to another state.

Read our What Is a Foreign LLC article to learn more.

The main cost of starting a South Carolina LLC is submitting your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State, which costs $110. However, other fees can increase the starting cost, such as whether you choose to reserve a name ($25 fee), or adopt a fictitious name ($2).

To learn more, read our guide on the cost to form a South Carolina LLC.

Step 4: Create a South Carolina LLC Operating Agreement

A South Carolina LLC is not required to have an operating agreement, but it’s a good practice for LLC members to have one.

What is an operating agreement? An operating agreement is a legal document outlining the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC.

Why are operating agreements important? A comprehensive operating agreement ensures that all LLC members are on the same page and reduces the risk of future conflict.

You can use the free tool in our Business Center to create a custom operating agreement in minutes — or download our free templates:

FAQ: Creating a South Carolina LLC Operating Agreement

No. The operating agreement is an internal document that you should keep on file for future reference. However, many other states legally require LLCs to have an operating agreement.

Step 5: Get an EIN for Your South Carolina LLC

You can get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for free. It is used to identify a business entity and keep track of a business’s tax reporting. It is essentially a Social Security number (SSN) for the company.

Why do I need an EIN? An EIN is required for the following:

To open a business bank account for the company
For federal and state tax purposes
To hire employees for the company

Where do I get an EIN? An EIN is obtained from the IRS (free of charge) by the business owner after forming the company. This can be done online or by mail.

FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS: You do not need an SSN to get an EIN. Learn more here.

Get an EIN

Option 1: Request an EIN from the IRS

– OR –

Option 2: Apply for an EIN by Mail or Fax

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

Fax: (855) 641-6935

Fee: Free

FAQ: Getting an EIN

An SSN is not required to get an EIN. You can simply fill out IRS Form SS-4 and leave section 7b blank. Then call the IRS at (267) 941-1099 to complete your application. Learn more about applying as an international applicant.

All LLCs with employees, or any LLC with more than one member, must have an EIN. This is required by the IRS.

Learn why we recommend always getting an EIN and how to get one for free in our Do I Need an EIN for an LLC guide.

When you get an EIN, you will be informed of the different tax classification options that are available. Most LLCs elect the default tax status.

However, some LLCs can reduce their federal tax obligation by choosing the S corporation (S corp) status. To learn more, read our LLC vs. S Corp guide.

Best LLC Services in South Carolina Compared

* Total costs include South Carolina state filing fee on top of each service’s initial filing fee
Service	Total Cost*	Filing	Registered Agent	EIN	Operating Agreement
Northwest TOP PICK 25% TRUiC Discount	$189	$29	Free 1st Year $125/yr after	$50	Free
Tailor Brands 35% TRUiC Discount	$437	$0	$199/yr	$99	$29
ZenBusiness	$407	$0	$99 1st Year $199/yr after	$99	$99
LegalZoom	$537	$0	$249/yr	$79	$99

For a comprehensive comparison, read our Best LLC Service guide. We reviewed and ranked the top LLC formation services to help you determine the best fit for your new business.

Important Next Steps to Protect Your South Carolina LLC

After you’ve formed your LLC, you’ll need to complete several key steps in order to:

Separate your personal and business assets
Stay compliant with state and federal laws

1. Get a Business Bank Account and Credit Card

Getting a dedicated business bank account is an essential part of operating legitimately as it keeps your personal and business assets separate, and therefore helps shield your personal limited liability.

Skipping this step can often lead to:

Courts determining that you haven’t been treating your LLC as a separate entity
Your “corporate veil” being pierced, meaning that you will no longer benefit from limited liability in law.

Recommended: Have a look at our Best Business Bank Accounts for LLCs in 2025 review.

You can also choose to acquire a corporate credit card if you’re interested in building your credit and potentially raising capital down the line.

2. Check If You Need a South Carolina Business License

In addition to the general business license included with your Articles of Organization, your LLC may need a number of other licenses in order to operate legally.

These will depend on where your business will be located and what kind of work it will perform.

Local Licenses: You’ll need to check with your city or county clerk’s office to identify any local licensing requirements you’ll be subjected to. It is not uncommon in South Carolina for your business to need both a county license and one or more city licenses, especially if it operates in multiple jurisdictions.
State-Level Licenses: You can find out more information on any state-level licenses your LLC may need by visiting the South Carolina Business One Stop website.
Federal Licenses: While most South Carolina LLCs will not be subject to federal regulation, those involved in heavily regulated industries (such as agriculture, alcohol, and firearms) will. You can have a look at this Small Business Administration article for the relevant federal agency you’ll need to contact.

A few questions to ask yourself when deciding whether you need an additional license include:

Will you sell taxable goods or services? If so, you’ll need to register for a Retail License with the South Carolina Department of Revenue. You can find more information on this on our South Carolina Sales Tax guide.
Will you work as a licensed professional? If your LLC will focus on regulated fields — such as medicine, law, insurance, or real estate — you’ll need to ensure that you or a member of your LLC is appropriately licensed.
Will your LLC’s activities negatively impact the environment? If so, you might need to obtain a business license or permit from the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.

For more information, you can have a look at our South Carolina Business License guide; If you’d rather have a service handle this step for you, we recommend checking out LegalZoom’s Business License service.

3. Understand Your South Carolina LLC Tax Obligations

South Carolina LLCs are not all taxed in the same way; this is because LLCs are taxed as pass-through entities by default, meaning that they are largely taxed similarly to sole proprietors — the business gets paid, the profits pass to you as the owner, and you get taxed. There is no “corporate” tax involved.

This means that:

On a Federal Level

You’ll need to submit personal income tax returns using either Form 1040 (for single member LLCs) or Form 1065 (for multi-member LLCs). If you have employees, you will also be subject to federal income tax withholding.

On a State Level

There are a number of South Carolina taxes that you may need to pay based on your LLC’s structure, revenue, and business activities. These include individual income tax on each member’s share of profits (ranging from 0% to 6.2%), corporate income tax at a flat 5% rate if your LLC is taxed as a C corporation (plus an annual license fee), and sales and use tax at a 6% base rate if you sell taxable goods or services.

Keep in mind that if your LLC will have employees, you’ll also need to register for employer withholding.

On a Local Level

Your LLC may need to pay property taxes, local option sales taxes, and certain excise taxes imposed at the county or city level. These are often used to fund infrastructure, public schools, or transit projects, with common examples including the Capital Projects Tax, Education Capital Improvement Tax, and Transportation Tax.

For more information on the South Carolina-specific LLC tax obligations that may apply to you, we recommend having a look at our in-depth South Caroli na LLC Taxes guide. Alternatively, you can schedule a free online consultation with 1800-Accountant for all your tax-related questions.

4. Get Business Insurance for Your LLC in South Carolina

Even though an LLC offers limited liability, you’ll still likely need to purchase some form of business insurance to protect your LLC’s assets.

This is because an LLC’s default limited liability protects your personal assets, not the business’s. Some of the most common types of business insurance include:

General Liability Insurance: This is a broad insurance policy that protects your business from lawsuits. Most small businesses end up getting general liability insurance.
Professional Liability Insurance: This is a business insurance policy for professional service providers (consultants, accountants, etc.) that covers against claims of malpractice and other business errors.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance: A type of insurance that covers employees for work-related injuries, illnesses, or deaths, and is legally required for any South Carolina business with four or more employees.

What This Means:

Without insurance: If a guest speaker slips on the stairs at your language school and sues for $93,000 in medical bills and lost income, your classroom equipment, learning materials, and business bank account could be at risk. Your personal assets — like your home or personal checking account — would still be safe, but your business could take a serious hit.

With insurance: Your general liability policy could cover the full $93,000 claim, meaning that both your personal and business assets would remain untouched.

That’s why many small business owners turn to providers like Next Insurance for affordable, tailored coverage. Get a free quote today.

Want to learn exactly what coverage your South Carolina business may need? Read our full South Carolina Business Insurance guide.

5. Learn How to Properly Sign Your LLC’s Legal Documents

Improperly signing a document as yourself and not as a representative of the business can leave you open to personal liability.

When signing legal documents on behalf of your company, you we recommend following this formula to avoid any problems:

Formal name of your business
Your signature
Your name
Your position in the business as its authorized representative

It’s important to be consistent and sign all official documents using this format; this will help protect your personal assets by clearly showing that the agreement is with the LLC, not you as an individual.

6. Submit an Annual Report for Your South Carolina LLC (If Applicable)

LLCs taxed as pass-through entities are exempt from South Carolina’s annual report requirement and do not need to file an annual report.

LLCs taxed as C or S corporations, on the other hand, are required to file two reports with the South Carolina Department of Revenue:

An Initial Report (Form CL-1) within 60 days of formation
An annual report filed each year after that

You can use the following forms to file your annual report:

Form SC1120 if taxed as a C corporation
Form SC1120S if taxed as an S corporation

Keep in mind that when you file either form, you’ll also need to pay a business license fee; this will be equal to 0.1% of your LLC’s capital and paid-in surplus, plus $15, with a minimum fee of $25.

South Carolina Business Resources

Business Center

Check out our business center for regular updates, vetted reviews, free downloadables, and video guides that aim to help you start and grow your business.

Local Resources

Have a look at South Carolina’s local business resources:

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