How Much Does It Cost to Form a South Carolina LLC?
South Carolina is priced in the middle of the national range for LLC filing fees. But the state filing fee is only part of the picture. This page breaks down every cost you'll encounter — formation, ongoing compliance, and optional services — so there are no surprises.
State Filing Fee
The South Carolina Secretary of State charges $110 to file your Articles of Organization. This is a one-time fee paid when you form the LLC.
Annual / Recurring State Fees
South Carolina does not require an annual report from LLCs. This is one of a handful of states with no recurring state filing obligation for standard LLCs.
South Carolina tax note: No annual report required for standard LLCs (taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities). Only LLCs electing corporate tax treatment file Form CL-1 ($25 one-time initial report). No franchise tax for LLCs.
Registered Agent Cost
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Get StartedEvery South Carolina LLC is required to maintain a registered agent. Registered agent service is $99 the first year, $119/year at renewal — a separate service from LLC formation.
Expedited Processing
If you need your LLC formed faster, the South Carolina Secretary of State offers expedited processing for $25. This typically reduces the turnaround from 5-10 business days to 24 hours.
Full Cost Table
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Formation service fee | $199 | Paid to us for preparing and filing your Articles of Organization |
| State filing fee | $110 | One-time, paid to the South Carolina Secretary of State |
| Annual report | $0 | Not required in this state |
| Registered Agent service | $99 first year, $119/year renewal | Separate from formation |
| Expedited processing | $25 | Optional — reduces turnaround to 24 hours |
First-Year Cost Summary
Ready to get started?
Get StartedIf you form through us, plan on $309 to get filed — $199 for our formation service plus the $110 South Carolina filing fee. Tack on registered agent service and it's $408 for year one ($309 + $99). Nothing else is bundled in.
Ongoing Annual Costs
After year one, your ongoing costs are: $119/year if you keep our registered agent service (renewal rate) — South Carolina has no state annual report to budget for.
How We Compare
Many LLC formation services charge similar-priced services but then tack on upsells: compliance packages, rush fees, unnecessary add-ons. Our fee is straightforward — Our service covers filing you need to get your South Carolina LLC filed and operational.