South Carolina LLC Filing Requirements and Fees
The South Carolina Articles of Organization filing fee is $110 by mail or $125 online. Learn every requirement, fee, and deadline for forming an LLC in South Carolina.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
South Carolina LLC fees at a glance
Filing fee: $110 by mail; $125 online ($110 + $15 electronic records access fee)
Processing time: Online: approximately 24–48 hours; mail: longer, varies
State agency: South Carolina Secretary of State — Business Entities Online (businessfilings.sc.gov)
Annual report due: South Carolina does not require LLCs to file an annual report with the Secretary of State
State tax rate: No state-level LLC franchise tax; pass-through income taxed at individual rates (consult a tax professional for your situation)
South Carolina LLC filing requirements and fees
Forming an LLC in South Carolina requires filing Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State and paying a $110 state filing fee — or $125 if you file online. Those are the core costs. Beyond formation, you'll need a registered agent, an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS, and any business licenses your industry or municipality requires.
Articles of Organization: what you file and what it costs
The Articles of Organization is the formation document that officially creates your LLC in South Carolina. You file it with the South Carolina Secretary of State — either online through the Business Entities Online system or by mailing the paper form to the Secretary of State's office.
The form requires your LLC's name (which must include a designator like "LLC," "L.L.C.," "Limited Liability Company," or "Ltd. Co."), the name and South Carolina street address of your registered agent, the name and address of each organizer, and whether the LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed.
South Carolina's naming rules catch people off guard more often than the fee does — double-check that your chosen name isn't already in use before you file.
- LLC name with a required designator (LLC, L.L.C., Limited Liability Company, Ltd. Co., LC, or L.C.)
- Name and South Carolina street address of your registered agent
- Name and address of each organizer
- Management structure: member-managed or manager-managed
Online vs. mail filing: fees and processing times
The base Articles of Organization filing fee is $110 regardless of how you file. Online filings through the Business Entities Online system add a $15 electronic records access fee, bringing the online total to $125. Mail filings use the same $110 base fee with no extra charge.
Online filings are generally processed in about 24–48 hours. Mail filings take longer — the exact turnaround depends on the Secretary of State's current volume. If speed matters, filing online is the better path.
- Online filing: $125 total ($110 base + $15 electronic records access fee) — approximately 24–48 hours processing
- Mail filing: $110 total — processing time varies; longer than online
Name reservation
If you're not ready to file your Articles of Organization but want to lock in your LLC name, South Carolina lets you reserve it first. File an Application to Reserve a Limited Liability Company Name with the Secretary of State and pay a $25 fee. Submit 2 copies of the application — an original and a duplicate — by mail to the Secretary of State, Attn: Corporate Filings, 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia, SC 29201.
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Every LLC needs an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. It's the tax ID your business uses to open a bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. You can apply for an EIN at no cost directly through the IRS website — it's free and the number is issued immediately when you apply online.
You can use your Social Security number instead if you're a single-member LLC with no employees. But an EIN keeps your personal number off business documents and is worth getting regardless.
Annual report requirements
South Carolina does not require LLCs to file an annual report with the Secretary of State. This is one of the things that makes South Carolina a relatively low-maintenance state for LLC owners once you're formed. There's no recurring Secretary of State filing fee to track each year.
Note that the Form CL-1 Initial Annual Report of Corporations applies to corporations filing with the South Carolina Department of Revenue — it does not apply to LLCs. If your LLC has elected S Corporation or C Corporation tax status, talk to a tax professional about what filings apply to your situation.
Foreign LLC registration
If your LLC was formed in another state but you want to do business in South Carolina, you need to register as a foreign LLC by filing an Application for Certificate of Authority with the South Carolina Secretary of State. The paper form is available through the Secretary of State's downloadable forms page.
Foreign LLC registration is separate from forming a new domestic LLC. If you're starting a new business and plan to operate primarily in South Carolina, forming a domestic South Carolina LLC is the more straightforward path.
FAQ
It depends on how you file. The base Articles of Organization filing fee is $110. If you file online through the Business Entities Online system, the state adds a $15 electronic records access fee, bringing the total to $125. Mail filings cost $110 with no extra fee. Name reservation is an optional additional $25 if you want to hold your name before filing.
$110 by mail, or $125 online. The $110 base fee applies to both filing methods. Online filings through the South Carolina Secretary of State's Business Entities Online system add a $15 electronic records access fee. These fees are set by the South Carolina Secretary of State and are current as of 2026.
No. South Carolina does not require LLCs to file an annual report with the Secretary of State. There's no annual renewal fee at the state level for LLCs. This is different from many other states. You still need to keep your registered agent information current and meet any applicable tax filing requirements — a tax professional can help you figure out what applies to your business.
It depends on your business type and location. South Carolina doesn't issue a single statewide business license for LLCs, but many counties and municipalities require a local business license. Some industries — things like contractors, healthcare providers, and food service businesses — also require state-level professional or occupational licenses. Check with your local government and any relevant state licensing boards for your specific requirements.
We charge you the state fee at cost and pay it directly to the South Carolina Secretary of State on your behalf when we file your Articles of Organization. The state fee is separate from Bizee's formation package price. You pay $0 for our formation service — the state fee is the only required cost we pass through.
Yes. You can file your South Carolina Articles of Organization directly through the Secretary of State's Business Entities Online system or by mailing the paper form. The process is straightforward if you have your LLC name, registered agent information, and organizer details ready. Many business owners choose to have a formation platform handle the filing to avoid errors and save time.
The mistakes that come up most often: choosing a name that's already taken or missing a required designator like "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company," listing a registered agent without a physical South Carolina street address, and not getting an EIN before trying to open a business bank account. Checking name availability through the Secretary of State's system before you file saves you from having to refile and pay the fee again.
