How to Start an LLC in South Carolina: Fees, Filings and Annual Requirements
Forming an LLC in South Carolina: the state filing fee, how to file, name rules, registered agent, annual report, state taxes, DBA and sales tax permit — from the official state sources.
Quick answers for South Carolina
- LLC filing fee
- By statute, the Secretary of State's fee for filing articles of organization of a limited liability company is one hundred ten dollars. S.C. Code § 33-44-1204(a)(1)
- How to file
- An LLC is organized by filing articles of organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State. The Secretary of State's Business Entities page offers online filing and search through its Business Filings system (businessfilings.sc.gov). S.C. Secretary of State, Business Entities; FAQs about Business Entities
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Forming the LLC
| LLC filing fee | By statute, the Secretary of State's fee for filing articles of organization of a limited liability company is one hundred ten dollars. Source: S.C. Code § 33-44-1204(a)(1) |
|---|---|
| How to file | An LLC is organized by filing articles of organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State. The Secretary of State's Business Entities page offers online filing and search through its Business Filings system (businessfilings.sc.gov). The articles must include the name and/or address of the registered agent located in South Carolina. The pages reviewed did not state processing times. |
| Name rules and reservation | The name must contain "limited liability company" or "limited company" or the abbreviation "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C.", or "LC"; "Limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "company" "Co." The Secretary of State will not accept a name identical to one already in its database. You do not need to reserve a name if you are ready to organize, but a name may be reserved for a nonrenewable one hundred twenty-day period; the reservation fee is twenty-five dollars. |
| Registered agent | An LLC must designate and continuously maintain in South Carolina an office (which need not be a place of business) and an agent with a street address for service of process. The agent must be an individual South Carolina resident, a domestic corporation, another LLC, or a foreign corporation or company authorized to do business in South Carolina. A statement of change of designated office or agent costs ten dollars. |
| Operating agreement | All members of an LLC may enter into an operating agreement, which need not be in writing, to regulate the company's affairs; where the agreement is silent, the LLC statute governs. No requirement to file it with the Secretary of State was found. Source: S.C. Code § 33-44-103(a) |
Keeping the LLC in good standing
| Sales tax permit | Every person who does business in South Carolina as a retailer must get a Retail License from the South Carolina Department of Revenue before making taxable retail sales, applying through MyDORWAY. The fee is $50 (non-refundable). The license does not expire, but a separate Retail License is needed for each business location. |
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| DBA / assumed name | The Secretary of State's Office does not register DBA or trade names. A foreign LLC whose legal name is not available in South Carolina must file a fictitious name form with its application for a certificate of authority. Business licenses are issued at the county or city level. |
Out-of-state LLCs and closing
| Registering an out-of-state LLC | An out-of-state LLC transacting business in South Carolina must apply for a Certificate of Authority from the Secretary of State, with a certificate of existence from its home state dated not more than 30 days earlier. By statute, the application fee is one hundred ten dollars. |
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| Closing an LLC | After dissolution and winding up, an LLC ends its existence by filing articles of termination with the Secretary of State; the filing fee is ten dollars. A foreign LLC applies for a certificate of cancellation (ten dollars). |
Where to get help in South Carolina
Starting an LLC & Small Business FAQ
How much does it cost to form an LLC in South Carolina?
By statute, the Secretary of State's fee for filing articles of organization of a limited liability company is one hundred ten dollars.
How do you form an LLC in South Carolina?
An LLC is organized by filing articles of organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State. The Secretary of State's Business Entities page offers online filing and search through its Business Filings system (businessfilings.sc.gov). The articles must include the name and/or address of the registered agent located in South Carolina.
What are the LLC name requirements in South Carolina?
The name must contain "limited liability company" or "limited company" or the abbreviation "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C.", or "LC"; "Limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "company" "Co." The Secretary of State will not accept a name identical to one already in its database. You do not need to reserve a name if you are ready to organize, but a name may be reserved for a nonrenewable one hundred twenty-day period; the reservation fee is twenty-five dollars.
Do you need a registered agent for an LLC in South Carolina?
An LLC must designate and continuously maintain in South Carolina an office (which need not be a place of business) and an agent with a street address for service of process. The agent must be an individual South Carolina resident, a domestic corporation, another LLC, or a foreign corporation or company authorized to do business in South Carolina. A statement of change of designated office or agent costs ten dollars.
Is an operating agreement required in South Carolina?
All members of an LLC may enter into an operating agreement, which need not be in writing, to regulate the company's affairs; where the agreement is silent, the LLC statute governs. No requirement to file it with the Secretary of State was found.
How do you register a DBA in South Carolina?
The Secretary of State's Office does not register DBA or trade names. A foreign LLC whose legal name is not available in South Carolina must file a fictitious name form with its application for a certificate of authority.
How do you get a sales tax permit in South Carolina?
Every person who does business in South Carolina as a retailer must get a Retail License from the South Carolina Department of Revenue before making taxable retail sales, applying through MyDORWAY. The fee is $50 (non-refundable). The license does not expire, but a separate Retail License is needed for each business location.
How do you register a foreign LLC in South Carolina?
An out-of-state LLC transacting business in South Carolina must apply for a Certificate of Authority from the Secretary of State, with a certificate of existence from its home state dated not more than 30 days earlier. By statute, the application fee is one hundred ten dollars.
How do you dissolve an LLC in South Carolina?
After dissolution and winding up, an LLC ends its existence by filing articles of termination with the Secretary of State; the filing fee is ten dollars. A foreign LLC applies for a certificate of cancellation (ten dollars).
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.