South Carolina LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | South Carolina amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $110 |
| Annual report | None, unless the LLC is taxed as a corporation |
| When it is due | Not applicable for most LLCs |
| State tax on the LLC | None, unless the LLC is taxed as a corporation |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $110 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $0 |
| Registered agent | Required. Free if you act as your own; commercial services charge a yearly fee |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 |
Fees verified October 2026 against the South Carolina Secretary of State and other official South Carolina sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in South Carolina?
The South Carolina Secretary of State charges $110 to file Articles of Organization for an LLC. The same $110 applies to a foreign LLC’s certificate of authority and to amended articles.
A name reservation costs $25 and holds the name for 120 days. It is optional and cannot be renewed.
Our walkthrough on how to file articles of organization in South Carolina covers the form field by field.
How much does a South Carolina LLC cost every year?
South Carolina requires no annual report from an LLC taxed as a partnership or a disregarded entity. After the $110 formation fee, such an LLC owes nothing to the Secretary of State each year.
An LLC that elects to be taxed as a corporation is different. It files Form CL-1 with the Department of Revenue within 60 days of starting business, with a $25 minimum license fee, and then files annual corporate returns that carry the license fee.
Like Arizona, New Mexico, Missouri and Ohio, South Carolina asks for no annual report from an ordinary LLC, which makes it one of the cheapest states to keep one.
What does a South Carolina LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees a South Carolina LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts South Carolina charges. The second column adds the BusinessAnywhere registered agent service, which is free for the first year and $147 a year after that.
| Year | State fees only | With a registered agent service |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $110 | $110 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $147 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $147 |
| Three-year total | $110 | $404 |
Does South Carolina charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
South Carolina charges no franchise tax or minimum tax on an LLC taxed as a partnership or a disregarded entity. Profit passes through to the members.
An LLC taxed as a corporation pays a license fee of 0.1% of capital stock and paid-in surplus plus $15, with a $25 minimum, and 5% corporate income tax. Members of a pass-through LLC pay South Carolina individual income tax, which for 2026 runs at 1.99% on income under $30,000 and 5.21% above it.
How much does a registered agent cost in South Carolina?
Every South Carolina LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in South Carolina. Acting as your own agent costs nothing, but your address goes on the public record and you must be available at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services charge a yearly fee for the same role.
The BusinessAnywhere registered agent service is free for the first year and $147 a year after that, with every document scanned to your online dashboard the day it arrives.
Our South Carolina registered agent guide explains the state rules in full.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does a South Carolina LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. A South Carolina LLC needs one to hire employees, to open a business bank account and whenever it has more than one member. US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply through the IRS online EIN application and receive the number at the end of the session.
Founders outside the United States cannot use the online tool. They apply by phone, fax or post with IRS Form SS-4, and do not need an SSN to do it. The BusinessAnywhere EIN application service handles that process for $97. Our guide on how to obtain an EIN for your LLC covers both routes.
What other South Carolina LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the South Carolina state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $25 | Non-renewable 120 days. |
| Certificate of good standing | $10 | Certificate of Existence or Authority. |
| Amending the articles | $110 | Amended Articles of Organization (Section 33-44-204(a)). |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | Not registered by state | The SOS does not register DBA or trade names. |
| Changing registered agent | $10 | Notice of Change of Designated Office, Agent or Address of Registered Agent (Form F0080). |
| Foreign LLC registration | $110 | Application for a Certificate of Authority to Transact Business (Section 33-44-1002). |
| Reinstatement after dissolution | $25 | Application for Reinstatement after administrative dissolution, filed within two years; a DOR Certificate of Tax Compliance is required if dissolved for a missed tax return. |
An operating agreement carries no state fee in South Carolina, and South Carolina does not collect it, but every LLC should have one to set out ownership and decision rights. BusinessAnywhere sells an operating agreement template for $97.
What happens if you miss a South Carolina LLC deadline?
With no annual report, most South Carolina LLCs have no state filing deadline to miss. The risk lies elsewhere: an LLC that fails to pay a required fee, tax or penalty, or to keep a registered agent, can be dissolved by administrative action.
A dissolved LLC has two years to apply for reinstatement, which costs $25. An LLC dissolved for a missed tax return also needs a Certificate of Tax Compliance from the Department of Revenue.
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in South Carolina sets out the steps.
How does South Carolina compare with other states?
South Carolina is cheap to form and free to keep. Its $110 formation fee sits just above the $100 national median, and with no annual report it costs less each year than North Carolina’s $200 report or Georgia’s $60 registration.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $110 | $0 | $110 to form, no annual report for most LLCs |
| North Carolina LLC cost | $125 | $200 | $125 to form, $200 annual report |
| Georgia LLC cost | $110 | $60 | $110 to form, $60 annual registration |
| Tennessee LLC cost | $300 | $400 | $300 minimum to form and report, $100 minimum franchise tax |
| Wyoming LLC cost | $100 | $60 | $60 minimum license tax, no income tax |
| Delaware LLC cost | $110 | $400 | $400 flat annual tax due 1 June |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form a South Carolina LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your South Carolina LLC for $0 plus the $110 state fee. The filing comes with a free first year of registered agent service, so your first-year cost is the state fee and nothing else.
- Formation: $0 service fee plus the South Carolina filing fee.
- Registered agent: free for the first year, then $147 a year.
- EIN application: $97, with no SSN required for non-US founders.
- Compliance reminders: every South Carolina deadline on this page tracked in your dashboard.
- Virtual mailbox: a US street address with mail scanning, from $20 a month.
Start with our LLC formation service, or read the full guide on how to start an LLC in South Carolina first.
South Carolina LLC cost FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in South Carolina?
A South Carolina LLC costs $110 to form. Most LLCs pay nothing to the state after that, because South Carolina requires no annual report unless the LLC is taxed as a corporation.
Does a South Carolina LLC have to file an annual report?
No, unless it elects to be taxed as a corporation. An LLC taxed as a corporation files Form CL-1 and annual corporate returns with the Department of Revenue.
Does South Carolina tax LLCs?
Not at the entity level for LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities. Members pay South Carolina individual income tax on their share of profit.
How much does it cost to reinstate a South Carolina LLC?
$25, and the application must be filed within two years of administrative dissolution.
Can I register a DBA for a South Carolina LLC with the state?
No. The South Carolina Secretary of State does not register DBA or trade names.
How much does a South Carolina LLC cost over three years?
At the minimum, $110 in state fees, all paid at formation. With a commercial registered agent from year two at $147 a year, the three-year total is $404.
Sources
- South Carolina Secretary of State, business filing forms and fees
- South Carolina Secretary of State, business entity FAQs
- South Carolina Department of Revenue, corporate FAQs
- South Carolina Department of Revenue, individual income tax
- Official South Carolina source: Name reservation fee
- Official South Carolina source: Certificate of good standing fee
- Official South Carolina source: Amending the articles fee
- Official South Carolina source: Changing registered agent fee
- Official South Carolina source: Reinstatement after dissolution fee
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the South Carolina Secretary of State before you file.
