Start a South Carolina LLC
How to start an LLC in South Carolina →
Name, registered agent, Articles of Organization and bank account, step by step.
South Carolina LLC cost →
What it costs to form and to keep, and a three-year comparison.
South Carolina LLC name check →
Check a name against South Carolina naming rules before you file.
South Carolina operating agreement →
Not required by law, but every LLC needs one. Create yours free.
Run a South Carolina LLC
South Carolina annual report rules →
South Carolina has no annual report. What it requires instead.
South Carolina registered agent →
Every South Carolina LLC needs one. Ours is included in year one.
Compliance deadline tracker →
Every federal and South Carolina deadline for your LLC.
Changing or closing it: add or remove a member, change your registered agent, move to another state, dissolve the LLC.
South Carolina LLC at a glance
Formed with
South Carolina Secretary of State
Formation document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
No annual report
Online filing
Yes
South Carolina does not require LLCs to file an annual report.
An LLC taxed as a corporation files a CL-1 Initial Annual Report with the SC Department of Revenue and is subject to the corporate license fee with its annual corporate return; LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities are not.
Must contain "limited liability company", "limited company", "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C." or "LC" ("Limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "company" may be abbreviated "Co."), and it must be distinguishable from names already on the South Carolina register.
- South Carolina LLCs file no annual report with the Secretary of State; only LLCs taxed as corporations have annual report duties, and those go to the Department of Revenue.
- The Secretary of State can administratively dissolve an LLC that does not pay a required fee, tax or penalty within 60 days after it is due; reinstatement must be sought within two years.
Forming a South Carolina LLC from outside the US?
The steps above are written for people who live in the US. If you live abroad, the bank account and tax filings work differently.
South Carolina LLC for non-residents →Sources
Nearby states
All states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in South Carolina?
Choose a name, appoint a registered agent in South Carolina, and file a Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State. Then write an operating agreement and open a business bank account. Our step-by-step guide covers each one.
How much does a South Carolina LLC cost?
South Carolina charges a one-time filing fee to form an LLC. With StartGlobal it is $399 in total, with that fee, your operating agreement and first-year registered agent included.
Does a South Carolina LLC file an annual report?
South Carolina does not require LLCs to file an annual report.
Does South Carolina tax LLCs?
An LLC taxed as a corporation files a CL-1 Initial Annual Report with the SC Department of Revenue and is subject to the corporate license fee with its annual corporate return; LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities are not.
Is an operating agreement required in South Carolina?
No, but every South Carolina LLC should have one.
