Register your South Carolina LLC Online
Complete the form below in 2–3 minutes. Your LLC and EIN come at no extra cost — you only pay South Carolina’s own $125 state fee.
- Enter your desired LLC name
- Choose your state
- Receive your LLC and free EIN by email
Trusted by Thousands Nationwide
What is an LLC in South Carolina?
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a simple structure for running your business under a professional name. It separates your business from your personal name, and it's the most common way to add a partner, sell the business, or look like a real company instead of a side project.
That separation goes further than the name. If the business owes money or gets sued, your house, car, and personal bank accounts are generally off-limits — as long as you run the LLC properly. It doesn't protect you from something you personally did wrong.
A sole proprietorship skips all of that. You're doing business under your own name or a DBA, and everything stays tied to you personally.
A corporation does the same separation as an LLC, but it's built for a different job: issuing stock and bringing in outside investors. An LLC is simpler to run and cheaper to keep up if that's not you right now.
Benefits of an LLC in South Carolina
- Add partners or co-owners whenever you're ready
- Transfer ownership if you sell the business
- “South Carolina Company, LLC” shows you’re a real business
- Shows you’re registered (South Carolina Secretary of State)
- Get a matching domain like SouthCarolinaCompanyLLC.com
- Simpler upkeep than forming a corporation
What's different about a South Carolina LLC
Your $125 filing fee is really two things: $110 to file your Articles of Organization, plus a $15 fee South Carolina charges for filing online instead of by mail — both included when you file here. South Carolina doesn't publish a guaranteed turnaround for standard processing.
A standard South Carolina LLC also owes no franchise tax and no separate state fee tied to the LLC itself. South Carolina doesn't require you to publish a notice in a newspaper to form one, either, unlike a handful of other states.
Cost to start an LLC in South Carolina
$125 to the South Carolina Secretary of State — that's it. We don't charge a filing fee on top of it. A South Carolina corporation runs (Not available in this state) through the same process.
| What you get |  | Others |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (Tax ID) | Free | up to $99 |
| Registered agent | Freefirst year | up to $249per year |
| Name check | Free | usually free |
| South Carolina state filing feespaid to the state — same for everyone | $125 | $125 |
Free EIN with your South Carolina LLC
Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is what opens a business bank account and identifies your company to the IRS — it's like a Social Security Number for your LLC. It's included at no extra cost, right alongside your LLC.
LLC vs Corporation in South Carolina
An LLC is simpler and more flexible, and keeps “LLC” in your business name. A corporation is a more formal structure built for issuing stock and outside investment, and keeps “Inc” or “Corp” in the name instead. 97% of our clients choose an LLC.
What is a Sole Proprietor in South Carolina?
A sole proprietorship means you're doing business as an individual. You can file a DBA with your city or county to use a name other than your own. As an individual, you can't add a partner to the business, because everything is tied to your personal name and Social Security Number. If you later want to add partners or sell the business, you'll need to start an LLC or corporation.
File a DBA Under Your LLC
A DBA (Doing Business As) lets one LLC operate under more than one business name. South Carolina has no state-level DBA registry — the Secretary of State doesn't register them at all. You register one locally instead, typically through the business license process in the city or county where you operate.
A DBA isn't required if you're fine using your LLC's own name.
Example: South Carolina Company, LLC dba South Carolina Auto Brokers.
DBA vs LLC in South Carolina
A DBA only gives you another name to use. The LLC is the actual business entity that owns the DBA name and holds all legal rights.
Common Questions
Why start an LLC in South Carolina?
It separates the business from your own name, lets you add or remove owners as the business grows, and reads as a real, established company.
How long does it take to get an LLC in South Carolina?
Filing takes a few minutes on this page. South Carolina doesn't publish a guaranteed turnaround for standard processing.
Does a South Carolina LLC have to file an annual report?
No. Unlike most states, South Carolina doesn't require LLCs to file an annual report or pay any recurring fee to the Secretary of State — file your Articles of Organization once, and that's it, as long as you keep the default LLC tax status. A South Carolina corporation is different: it owes a License Fee and Annual Report to the Department of Revenue every year, at least $25.
Do I need an EIN for my South Carolina LLC?
Yes, for a business bank account and for the IRS to recognize your company. It's included free when you file here.
What's a registered agent, and do I need one?
A registered agent is the South Carolina address the state sends legal mail to. Every LLC needs one, and it's included free for your first year when you file here.
Do I need an operating agreement?
South Carolina doesn't require one to file, but a bank often asks for one to open your business account. You can add it when you file, or write your own later.
Still deciding on a name?
Try the free name generator — type a word you like, get real available options back, then come straight here to file.
Sources (6)
Every fact on this page was checked directly against South Carolina's own filing agency, revenue agency, and statutes — verified September 20, 2026.
- SC Secretary of State — Business filing forms & fees — the $110 LLC filing fee, the $110 + $25 CL-1 corporation total
- S.C. Code Title 33, Chapter 44 — the LLC Act: liability shield, registered agent rule, no annual-report section
- South Carolina Business One Stop — DBA — confirms no state-level DBA registry exists
- SC Department of Revenue — C Corporation — the corporation-only annual License Fee and Annual Report
- SC Department of Revenue — Form CL-1 — the $25 minimum initial corporate License Fee
- SC Secretary of State — Business Entity FAQs — confirms LLC annual reports aren't a Secretary of State requirement