South Carolina LLC Cost: Filing Fee, Annual Fees and 5-Year Total
Forming an LLC in South Carolina costs $110 in state filing fees and has no recurring state fee in our data. South Carolina's estimated five-year state costs of $110 are 67% below the 51-jurisdiction median of $335.
Checked against official state sources (October 2026) · Last verified: October 28–29, 2026 · Sources
What an LLC costs in South Carolina
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Formation filing fee | $110 | One time |
| Recurring state filing / report fee | $0 | No annual report filed with the Secretary of State |
| Year-one cost | $110 | Formation fee + any year-one extra |
| Estimated 5-year state costs | $110 | Formation + year-one extras + 4 years of filing / report fees; ranks 10th cheapest of 51 |
The five-year figure counts state government fees and, where one applies, the separate mandatory annual state tax shown above. It assumes a single-member LLC owned by an individual with little or no income. It excludes registered agent services, formation-service fees, publication costs, local business licenses, income-based state taxes (income, gross-receipts, B&O, sales) and any optional extras. How we calculate it.
Verified details
- Articles of Organization: $110 (S.C. Code 33-44-1204; Secretary of State form).
- South Carolina does not require LLCs to file an annual or periodic report with the Secretary of State. LLCs taxed as corporations may have separate Department of Revenue obligations.
Annual reports and upkeep
South Carolina filing cadence: None. No annual report filed with the Secretary of State. See annual reports and franchise taxes explained.
How to form an LLC in South Carolina
- Check the name. Search the South Carolina business records on the Secretary of State / filing office site to confirm your LLC name is available and includes an LLC designator.
- Pick a registered agent. Every state requires a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. You can serve as your own agent if you live in South Carolina and are reachable during business hours, or hire a commercial agent. Registered agent guide.
- File the formation document. The state filing fee is $110. Use the state's online filing portal where available; paper filing is slower.
- Write an operating agreement. Most states do not require you to file one, but banks and partners typically ask for it, and it sets ownership and decision rules. Operating agreement basics.
- Get an EIN. The IRS issues EINs for free through its online application. Beware of sites that charge for it.
- Open a business bank account and calendar the deadlines. Put the recurring filing dates in a calendar so the LLC stays in good standing.
Want someone else to handle the filing in South Carolina?
A formation service files the paperwork for a fee on top of the state fee and often includes a first year of registered agent service. It saves time, but you can file directly with the state for the state fee alone. Compare DIY and services.
See a formation service (partner link) Sponsored
Living or operating outside South Carolina?
You can form an LLC in South Carolina even if you live elsewhere, but if you actually do business in your home state you will usually also have to register the LLC there as a foreign LLC and pay that state's fees, so you may pay twice. In Texas, for example, an out-of-state LLC transacting business pays $750 to register. See forming an LLC in a state other than your own.
Compare South Carolina with similar-cost states
Head-to-head: South Carolina vs California · South Carolina vs Texas · South Carolina vs Florida · South Carolina vs New York · South Carolina vs Delaware · South Carolina vs Wyoming · South Carolina vs Nevada · South Carolina vs New Mexico
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in South Carolina?
The state filing fee is $110. Add a registered agent if you do not serve as your own, plus any local licenses.
What is the annual cost of an LLC in South Carolina?
No annual report filed with the Secretary of State. Other taxes or local fees may still apply.
Do I need a registered agent in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state. You may act as your own agent if you meet the state's requirements.
Do I need an operating agreement in South Carolina?
Most states do not make you file one, but you should have one. Check South Carolina's LLC statute and ask your bank what it requires. We do not give legal advice.
Is South Carolina cheap compared with other states?
South Carolina's estimated five-year state costs of $110 are 67% below the 51-jurisdiction median of $335.
Sources
- South Carolina official filing site: sos.sc.gov
- SC Code 33-44-1204
- SC SOS: FAQs about business entities
- SC SOS: Articles of Organization form
Fees change. Confirm the amount on the state's official page before you file.
Fee data: official state government pages and statutes (checked October 28–29, 2026); sources are linked on each state page. See our methodology. Not legal or tax advice.