Step 1: Choose a name South Carolina will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company”, “L.L.C.” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the South Carolina Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in South Carolina against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $25, for 120 days (not renewable). See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in South Carolina who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents South Carolina companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the South Carolina Secretary of State. The fee is $110. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
South Carolina doesn't require one (S.C. Code § 33-44-103(a)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free South Carolina LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once South Carolina has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the South Carolina LLC annual report
| After formation | South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | None for most LLCs (LLCs taxed as corporations report to the Department of Revenue) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Existence, $10 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a South Carolina certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in South Carolina
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $110 |
| First year, state fees | $110 |
| Each year after | $0 |
Over five years, South Carolina's state fees come to $110. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
S.C. Code title 33, chapter 44, scstatehouse.gov, checked 2026-10-07
S.C. Code title 33, chapter 4, scstatehouse.gov, checked 2026-10-07
FAQs about business entities, sos.sc.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Business entities, sos.sc.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Corporate FAQs, dor.sc.gov, checked 2026-10-07
C corporation, dor.sc.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Search, businessfilings.sc.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in South Carolina
- Choose a name South Carolina will accept and check it against the South Carolina Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in South Carolina.
- File the Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State ($110).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in South Carolina?
$110 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $110 in the first year and nothing in later years; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in South Carolina?
The South Carolina Secretary of State doesn't publish a processing time; its site shows how to file and check on a filing.
Do I need an operating agreement in South Carolina?
South Carolina doesn't require one (S.C. Code § 33-44-103(a)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in South Carolina online?
Yes. The South Carolina Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for $110.
When is the South Carolina LLC annual report due?
Not applicable for LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities. An LLC taxed as a corporation files the CL-1 Initial Annual Report of Corporations within 60 days of starting business and then an annual report with its SC1120 corporate return.
Does South Carolina require an annual report for LLCs?
Not for most LLCs (LLCs taxed as corporations report to the Department of Revenue).