Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.
To start an LLC in South Carolina, file Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State. This costs $125 and takes 2 days for approval.
There are 5 steps to follow:
- Choose an LLC Name
- Select a Registered Agent
- File Articles of Organization
- Create an Operating Agreement
- Get an EIN
If you want to form your LLC yourself, follow our free guide below.
If you want someone to take care of it for you, we recommend hiring Northwest Registered Agent.
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(We recommend Northwest. We've reviewed all the top companies in the industry. And Northwest is our #1 pick for prices, customer support, and address privacy. Check out Northwest vs LegalZoom to learn more.)
How much does it cost to start an LLC in South Carolina?
It costs $125 to start an LLC in South Carolina. This is the filing fee for the Articles of Organization – the document that creates an LLC.
To learn more about LLC Costs, see LLC Costs in South Carolina.
How long does it take to get an LLC in South Carolina?
If you file by mail, your LLC will be approved in 3-4 business days (plus mail time).
But if you file online, your LLC will be approved in 1-2 business days.
We like the online filing since it’s much easier to complete, and the approval time is much faster. However, if you want to save $15 and don’t mind the wait, you can file by mail instead.
Please see How long does it take to get an LLC in South Carolina to check for any delays.
Here are the steps to forming an LLC in South Carolina
1. Search your LLC Name
Search your LLC Name to make sure it’s available in the state.
You need to do this because two businesses in the state can’t have the same name.
First, search your business name and compare it to existing businesses in South Carolina. You can make sure the LLC Name you want is unique from existing businesses using the state’s Business Name Search.
Second, familiarize yourself with the state’s naming rules (so your South Carolina LLC gets approved).
We’ll explain both in more detail here: South Carolina LLC Name.
2. Choose a Registered Agent
The next step is to choose your LLC’s Registered Agent.
Who can be an LLC Registered Agent?
You have 3 options for who can be the Registered Agent:
- You
- A friend or family member
- A Registered Agent Service
The Registered Agent for your LLC must have a physical street address in South Carolina. PO Boxes aren’t allowed.
And the Registered Agent’s name and address will be listed on public records.
If you don’t have an address in South Carolina, or you want more privacy, you can hire a Registered Agent Service for your LLC.
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent
Our favorite feature about Northwest is they’ll let you use their office address throughout your LLC filing. This way, you can keep your address off public records.
They’ll also scan any mail sent to your LLC and upload it to your online account.
Northwest has excellent customer service, and they’re who we trust to be our own Registered Agent.
Special offer: Hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), and you'll get a free year of Registered Agent service.
(Why is Northwest the best? Read our Northwest Registered Agent review)
3. File Articles of Organization
The South Carolina Articles of Organization costs $125 if you file online.
This is a one-time fee to create your LLC.
If you want to file this yourself, see our step-by-step guide: South Carolina Articles of Organization.
Or, you can hire a company to do it for you.
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(We recommend Northwest. We've reviewed all the top companies in the industry. And Northwest is our #1 pick for prices, customer support, and address privacy. Check out Northwest vs LegalZoom to learn more.)
4. Create an Operating Agreement
The Articles of Organization creates your LLC, and the Operating Agreement shows who owns the LLC.
Additionally, some banks require an Operating Agreement when you open an LLC bank account.
And having an Operating Agreement will be very helpful if you ever end up in court. Reason being, it helps prove that your LLC is being run properly.
That’s why we recommend that all LLCs have an Operating Agreement – including Single-Member LLCs.
Furthermore, an Operating Agreement is an “internal document“. Meaning, you don’t need to file it with the state or the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). Just keep a copy with your business records.
You can download a free template below.
Then, learn how to fill it out by watching our step-by-step South Carolina Operating Agreement video.
5. Get an EIN for your Limited Liability Company
The next step is to get a South Carolina EIN Number from the IRS for your LLC.
Note: An EIN Number is also called a Federal Tax ID Number or Federal Employer Identification Number.
- identify your LLC for tax purposes
- open a business bank account
- apply for business licenses and permits
How much does an EIN cost?
Getting an EIN Number from the IRS is completely free.
How long does it take to get an EIN?
If you apply online, it takes 15 minutes.
If you apply by mail or fax, it can take 1-3 months.
How can I get an EIN?
US Citizens/US Residents: If you have an SSN or ITIN, you can apply for an EIN online. Follow these instructions: Apply for an EIN online.
Non-US Residents: You can’t get an EIN online, but you can still get one by fax or by mail. Follow these instructions: How to get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN.
What do I do after my LLC is approved?
After your LLC is approved, there are some additional steps.
Open an LLC business bank account
You’ll want to open a business bank account for your LLC.
This makes accounting and record-keeping much easier for your business finances.
Having a separate business bank account also maintains your personal liability protection. This is because it keeps your business entity finances separate from your personal finances.
Get business licenses and permits
Good news, South Carolina doesn’t have a state-wide general business license.
However, depending on where your LLC is located, you may need a local business license or permit.
For example, if you want to start a daycare, you may need a business license from the city or county.
You can learn more on our South Carolina Business License page.
File and pay taxes
LLCs don’t pay federal income tax. Instead, the LLC Members pay the taxes for the LLC.
Said another way, the owners pay taxes for the LLC as a part of their personal tax return.
How will my LLC be taxed?
By default, an LLC is taxed by the IRS based on the number of owners your LLC has:
- A Single-Member LLC is taxed like a Sole Proprietorship.
- A Multi-Member LLC is taxed like a Partnership.
Alternatively, you can ask the IRS to tax your LLC like a C-Corporation or S-Corporation.
Besides federal taxes, there are also state and local income taxes – and sales tax. Learn more in South Carolina LLC Taxes.
South Carolina Secretary of State Contact Info
South Carolina Secretary of State (Division of Business Filings)
Website
Phone: 803-734-2158
Hours: 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday
How to Start an LLC in South Carolina FAQs
Can I start an LLC online in South Carolina?
Yes, you can file your LLC online in South Carolina. The Articles of Organization filing fee is $125.
When you start your LLC online, it will be approved in 1-2 business days
What are the benefits of an LLC?
The first benefit of an LLC is protecting your personal assets. Meaning, if your business entity is sued, your personal assets – like your home, cars, and bank accounts – are protected.
This protection applies to all LLC owners (called LLC Members). It doesn’t matter if you have a Single-Member LLC or Multi-Member LLC. All of the LLC owners are protected from the business debts and liabilities.
This type of protection wouldn’t apply if you operate as a Sole Proprietorship or Partnership. With these types of informal business structures, the owners aren’t protected in the event of a lawsuit. For that reason, Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) are a much more popular business structure.
And South Carolina state income taxes are very similar, since the South Carolina Department of Revenue honors the federal tax treatment of your LLC. Meaning, the state will tax your business entity income the same way at the state level.
To learn more, please see How are LLCs taxed.
Is South Carolina a good state to start an LLC?
Whether South Carolina is a good state to start an LLC depends on where you live – and where you’re doing business.
Meaning, if you live in or do business in South Carolina, then you should start your LLC there. While many websites talk about tax rates and advantages of certain states, none of that applies if it’s not the state where you live and do business.
For example, if you form an LLC in Delaware, but live in and conduct business in South Carolina, you’ll also need to register your Delaware LLC in South Carolina (and pay extra fees). And you’ll end up paying South Carolina taxes anyway. This ends up leading to more costs and more headaches with no advantages.
In summary, if you live in and conduct business in South Carolina, then yes, South Carolina is a good state to start a business. If you don’t live in and do business in South Carolina, then no, South Carolina isn’t a good state to start a business.
Real estate exception: If you’re purchasing real estate outside of South Carolina, you should form your LLC in the state where the property is located.
For more information, please see Best State to Form an LLC.
Do I have to file an LLC Annual Report in South Carolina?
However, if you’ve chosen to have your LLC taxed as a Corporation, you will need to file an Annual Report.
But don’t worry. Choosing to have an LLC taxed as a Corporation is rare. And the IRS will only tax your LLC that way if you file a form with them requesting it.
For more information, see: South Carolina LLC Annual Report.
What is the difference between a Domestic LLC, a Foreign LLC, and a PLLC?
The main differences between Domestic LLCs, Foreign LLCs, and Professional LLCs are where they are formed and their business purpose.
A Domestic Limited Liability Company is an LLC that is formed in its “home state”, meaning, where the business owner lives and does business.
For example, if you live in and do business in South Carolina, you would form your Domestic LLC in South Carolina.
A Foreign Limited Liability Company is an LLC that is formed in a state that isn’t its home state. In this case, the term “foreign” simply means that the LLC is foreign to its “home state”.
For example, if you live in and do business in South Carolina, you would form your Domestic LLC in South Carolina. If you later expand into Georgia, you would register your existing South Carolina LLC as a Foreign LLC in Georgia.
Said another way, LLCs are created at the state-level.
So if you want your LLC to do business in two separate states, you have to form or register an LLC in both states.
This works by forming a Domestic LLC in your home state, and a Foreign LLC in the other state.
What is a PLLC?
A Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) is a type of LLC formed for the purpose of providing “professional services”.
In this case, “professional” refers to business types that require special permissions (like a license, registration, or certification from the state) in order to do business legally.
For example, architects, attorneys, and social work counselors, doctors, and veterinarians often form their business practices as PLLCs.
You can read more about PLLCs, their availability, and their stricter requirements in: What’s a Professional LLC?
And for more information on Foreign and Domestic LLCs, please see:
References
South Carolina LLC Act
South Carolina Business One Stop
South Carolina Business One Stop: Local Business Resources
South Carolina Secretary of State: FAQs About Business Entities
Municipal Association of South Carolina: Business License Handbook
Information verified on October 27, 2026
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.