Filed with
South Carolina Secretary of State
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Not required
- 01
Choose a name for your South Carolina LLC
South Carolina LLC name checker →The name 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."). It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the South Carolina register.
Check it against South Carolina's naming rules with our name checker before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every South Carolina LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in South Carolina, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
South Carolina Secretary of State →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the South Carolina Secretary of State, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
South Carolina operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
South Carolina business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether South Carolina requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for South Carolina sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your South Carolina LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →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.
Worth knowing in South Carolina
- 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.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State and pay the state fee, act as your South Carolina registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
Nearby states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in South Carolina?
Choose an available 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, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in South Carolina?
South Carolina charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our South Carolina LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a South Carolina LLC have to file an annual report?
South Carolina does not require LLCs to file an annual report.
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the South Carolina Secretary of State that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in South Carolina, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in South Carolina?
Yes, if you have a physical address in South Carolina and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
