How to Start an LLC in South Carolina

Written by: Kevelyn Rodriguez

Last updated:

How to Start an LLC in South Carolina

If you’re interested in starting a business in South Carolina, one of the first steps you’ll want to take is register your limited liability company (LLC).

A South Carolina LLC will separate and protect your personal assets – that’s what the “limited liability” in a limited liability company means. It will also legitimize your business in the eyes of your potential customers.

This article will walk you through all the steps on how to start an LLC in South Carolina in order to make sure your business gets started on the right foot. Be sure to bookmark this page, as the process may take you a few days from start to finish.

Have a Professional Handle your Filing

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See how they compare to other formation companies in our Best LLC Services review.

Steps to Form a South Carolina LLC

Forming an LLC in South Carolina on your own doesn’t have to be difficult. Just follow these simple steps below and your new business will be up and running in no time!

How to Form a South Carolina LLC – Quick Version

  1. Choose a name for your LLC (and get the domain name)
  2. Assign a registered agent (learn about South Carolina registered agents)
  3. File Your LLC Articles of Organization (South Carolina Business Entities Online system – $110 filing fee)
  4. Create Your South Carolina LLC Operating Agreement (here’s a free template)
  5. Get an EIN (IRS EIN Assistant)
  6. File a BOI Report

Or, skip the work and use a trusted LLC formation service. Our pick is Northwest Registered Agent ($29 + state fees).

Step 1. Choose a Name for your South Carolina LLC

The first step to forming a South Carolina LLC is to choose a name for your business. Deciding on the perfect name for your new business is one of the most crucial parts of starting a company. Choosing a name that’s easy to remember and stands out in search engine results will help you get more customers, which means more revenue, which leads to more growth!

When choosing a name, there are a few searches that you need to complete before you settle on the final option:

  1. South Carolina LLC Name SearchSearch here – This is the database of all “taxable entities” in South Carolina. Essentially, your name must be unique to all existing entities in the state.
  2. Domain Name SearchSearch here – You’ll want to ensure that your business’s name is available as a URL so that you can keep up your branding online. In many cases, the .com name may be taken. If this is the case, you can try adding “modifiers” to your name or use a different TLD (.co, .net, .biz, etc…) until you find an available domain name. Don’t skip this step. Even if you aren’t ready to start a website today, it’s important to register your domain name so that no one else snaps it up in the meantime.

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3. Social Media Search – Depending on your business, you may want or need to have a strong presence on the different social media platforms. Even if you don’t think you’re going to use them, it’s still wise to search Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and any other socials to see if your handle is available.

South Carolina LLC Naming Rules

The South Carolina Secretary of State has a few rules when it comes to naming LLCs:

  • You must use an LLC designator (ie. “LLC” “L.L.C.”, or “Limited Liability Company”, etc…) in your LLC’s name.
  • You cannot use a designator that could confuse your LLC with another business type (ie. “Corp”, “Inc”, “Non-Profit”, etc…).
  • To use a term like “bank”, “university”, “law center” or other assuming words in your name, you must obtain approval from the proper authorities. This generally requires that your business hold the correct charters or have members with certain licenses before applying.
  • Your name can’t be so similar to another business name that it could confuse customers.

To see the actual statutes and regulations governing the South Carolina Limited Liability Company naming process, see this South Carolina SOS FAQ page.

Common Issue

The most common reason that LLC applications are denied is an issue with the name. If you follow the rules outlined above, you should be in the clear, but if you aren’t 100% sure then you may want to work with an LLC formation service to ensure you get it done right the first time. Our recommended LLC provider, Northwest Registered Agent is only $29 + state fees.

It’s worth noting that you should be fairly certain that the name you select is the name you are going to stick with. Changing an LLC’s name isn’t impossible, but there are a lot of headaches and fees associated with the process.

If down the road, you do decide that your LLC’s name no longer serves the branding of your business, a simple solution would be to create an assumed name (also known as a DBA). An assumed name allows you to keep your LLC name the same and operate under a trade name different from the LLC’s.

To learn more about naming businesses, check out our guide: Naming An LLC.

Once you’ve decided on a name that follows all of the guidelines above, move on to the next step.

Step 2. Assign a Registered Agent in South Carolina

The South Carolina Secretary of State requires all LLCs to appoint a registered agent.

A registered agent is a person or entity that is assigned to receive tax forms, legal documents, official notices, and any other documents or correspondence from the government on your business’s behalf. This person can be yourself, a friend or family member, another member of your business, or a hired registered agent service.

In order to act as a registered agent, the person or entity must:

  • Have a physical street address in South Carolina (not a P.O. Box)
  • Be available at all normal business hours to accept service of process (official documents)

The registered agent will be assigned on the Articles of Organization when filed.

Recommended Registered Agent Service

Northwest Registered Agent offers their South Carolina registered agent service free for one year when you form your LLC ($29 + state fees) with them.

4.7 out of 5 starsNorthwest Registered Agent ($29 + state fees)

Should You Be Your Own Registered Agent?

A common question is whether or not you should “be your own registered agent”. Taking this position for your business is absolutely possible, but there are some downsides that you should think about before making this decision.

The first and most important downside in acting as your own agent is that you lose any anonymity that your LLC would have provided you. Since your LLC formation is a public record, this means that your name, address, and any other contact information will be available for anyone to see. This generally results in lots of junk mail, solicitations, and possibly even unwanted visitors at your home address.

The second issue is a bit less common but just as important for some folks. If you don’t have a physical address in South Carolina, then you won’t be able to file for an LLC. This affects non-residents or those trying to form a foreign llc.

Fortunately, using a registered agent service solves all of these issues at a very low cost. These service providers hold a physical office in each state and make the process simple for small businesses.

Want to learn more about registered agents? Check out these articles for a deeper dive into their services:

Step 3. File Your South Carolina LLC Articles of Organization

After choosing your registered agent, the next step is to file the LLC Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State. This is the document that actually forms your LLC as a separate legal entity.

With your application, you’ll need to pay the South Carolina LLC Filing Fee: $110.

The simplest way to file this document is online with the South Carolina Business Entities Online system. You’ll need to create an account using the name of your business, an active email address, and a credit card that you’ll use to complete your purchase. The system isn’t extremely user-friendly, but everything you’ll need is there.

If you don’t want to use the online system, you can also apply by mail. If you choose this option, you’ll need to download the South Carolina LLC Articles of Organization Form and fill two copies out completely and accurately. Mail both copies of the form and a check or money order (not cash) for the $110 fee to:

South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office
Attn: Corporate Filings
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201

Step 4. Create Your South Carolina LLC Operating Agreement

Once you’ve filed your Articles of Organization, your next task is to complete your South Carolina LLC Operating Agreement.

A Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement is a governing document that lays out the inner workings of your business’s structure. Think of this document as something similar to a prenup, except a lot simpler and less expensive. It will protect the interests of all parties involved in the case of any sort of trouble in the future.

There are six articles in a standard Operating Agreement:

  1. Organization – Lays out the members and business structure of the company (ie. single-member, multi-member, series LLC, limited partnership, etc…)
  2. Management and Voting – Goes over how the management operates and votes about changes in the LLC
  3. Capital Contributions – Discusses initial and subsequent capital contributions made by members
  4. Distributions – Explains how the profits and losses will be distributed among members
  5. Membership Changes – Outlines how members are added and removed from the company
  6. Dissolution – Describes how the affairs of the LLC will be wound up in the event of dissolution

In South Carolina, you don’t need to file your operating agreement with the state, but this doesn’t mean that you should skip this step. If you don’t have this document in place and something happens to you or another member, it’s possible that the state could step in to settle any disputes. It’s better to have everything lined up at the beginning, rather than wait until it’s too late.

If your business needs a South Carolina Sales Tax License to operate, you will be required to submit your operating agreement in that application. More about tax licenses later.

Free South Carolina LLC Operating Agreement Template

Our friends over at TRUiC offer a free South Carolina LLC Operating Agreement PDF for download. It’s robust enough to handle the needs of most single-member LLCs. If you have a multi-member LLC, manager-managed LLC, or other, more complicated setup, they offer a fill-in-the-blank Operating Agreement for all other uses. It’s also free of charge.

Step 5. Get an EIN (Employer Identification Number)

The last formation step for your business is to get an EIN (Employee Identification Number). An EIN is essentially like a social security number for your LLC. The IRS issues EINs and will use it to keep track of your business’s tax reporting.

The main reasons that you’ll need an EIN are:

  • Opening a business bank account and/or credit card
  • Hiring employees
  • Tax purposes
  • Further separates your personal identity from your business

To get your EIN, head to the IRS EIN Assistant and fill out the form. One of the requirements to obtain an EIN for your business is that you’ll need to enter either your personal Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you don’t have either of these, then you’ll need to jump through a few more hoops to get your EIN.

Check out TRUiC’s article on getting an EIN as a foreign person for more information.

Step 6: File a BOI Report

Starting January 2024, the vast majority of LLC owners will be required to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report with the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

Existing LLCs will be able to file anytime between January 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025, while new LLCs will have up to 90 days to do this (30 days for LLCs formed after the start of 2025).

Keep in mind that failure to file your LLC’s BOI report on time can result in exorbitantly high fines (i.e., $500 per day) or even jail time (up to two years).

Note: Not every LLC owner is required to file a BOI report. For example, companies with more than 20 full-time employees, accounting firms, and banks are exempt. For a full list of filing exemptions, you can have a look at FinCEN’s website.

Steps After Forming Your South Carolina LLC

First off, congratulations on forming your LLC! Taking this first big step shows that you are serious about your new business and shows its legitimacy to the rest of the world!

Now that your LLC is formed and you have a separate legal business entity, you’ll need to take care of a few more things before you start selling.

Open a Business Bank Account

The main job of an LLC is to separate the business’s assets from you, the business owner’s personal assets. This separation is called the corporate veil. Essentially, it ensures that if your business is ever sued or has any other financial debts that your personal assets are sheltered from these liabilities. This is where the “limited liability” in LLC comes from.

The easiest way to break your corporate veil is to mix your personal bank account with your business’s. This mixing of funds is called commingling. This opens your personal bank account up to undue exposure and completely breaks the asset protection that your LLC was meant to provide.

The good news is that avoiding this danger is extremely simple. Open a business bank account using your EIN number, transfer any initial funds (keep a record of this transfer), and do your best to never cross personal and business funds in the future.

If you ever need to take money out of the business or invest more of your personal funds in just be sure to keep records of these transactions. This includes the transfers you make when paying yourself a “salary”.

Build Your Business Website

No matter what type of business you operate, you need a website in order for your customers to take you seriously. Almost all businesses transactions today start with an online search, so if you aren’t there to be found then your customers will find your competition. It’s that simple.

Luckily, it’s gotten a lot simpler to build and maintain a website on your own without any prior experience or knowledge of data science or code. Drag-and-drop website builders have improved to the point that anyone can get their business online with about a day’s work.

Our Recommended Website Builder

We recommend the GoDaddy Website Builder for all small businesses. It’s flexible enough to handle most types of small businesses and simple enough to actually use. Its AI-powered generation process will help you to get your site up and running in about 5 minutes. Seriously. After that you can change the text and images to match your business and that’s it; you have a fully functioning website.

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Get the Proper Licenses, Permits, and Insurance

When starting a business, there are often several licenses and permits required before transactions can begin. Which licenses you need will depend greatly on the type of business you plan to operate and the location.

South Carolina Business Licenses and Permits

Finding the specific licenses and permits your business needs to operate will start with a few simple searches. To get started, you’ll need to quickly search the websites of:

Once you’ve identified the different location-based permits, you’ll need to acquire any licenses required by your industry. This includes licenses like the South Carolina real estate license, the South Carolina insurance license, the South Carolina liquor license, and so on.

South Carolina Business Insurance

Once you’re up and running, it’s important to have the proper insurance policies in place for your South Carolina business. Some coverages will be required by the state if you have employees, while others will be required by landlords. Others still are “optional” but widely accepted due to their protective nature.

A few of the most common business insurance policies are:

  • General Liability Insurance – Protects against claims of bodily injury, personal injury, or property damage. This coverage is generally required to rent office or warehouse space and to bid on certain jobs.
  • Professional Liability Insurance – Protects against claims of inaccurate or negligent work. This coverage is most common in the “professional” space where businesses offer services or advice to other businesses or consumers.
  • Workers’ Compensation Insurance – Protects your employees from on-the-job injuries or illnesses. South Carolina requires workers’ compensation coverage for businesses that have four or more employees.

How Much is Business Insurance?

94% of businesses have a requirement for business insurance. Policies range in price, and the only way to understand the true cost for your business is to get a personalized quote.

Get Your Free Quote

Register Your LLC for a South Carolina State Tax Permit

Certain businesses will need to apply for a South Carolina State Sales Tax Permit. Not all businesses are required to register for sales tax, but if your South Carolina-based business engages in any of the following, then you will need to apply:

  • If your business sells or leases personal property (tangible items)
  • If your business offers taxable services

To apply, visit the South Carolina Department of Revenue’s website and fill out the required forms.

South Carolina Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address

SC Secretary of State’s Office
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201

Physical Address

Edgar Brown Building
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Contact Information

EmailContact us Form
Phone: (803) 734-2158

South Carolina LLC FAQ

How much does it cost to start an LLC in South Carolina?

The cost to form a South Carolina LLC is $110, plus additional costs when using an LLC formation service. We recommend Northwest Registered Agent to help you throughout the LLC formation process.

How long does it take to get an LLC in South Carolina?

The general filing time for South Carolina LLCs is 1 business day.

Can I start a South Carolina LLC for free?

No. When filing an LLC in South Carolina there is a $110 filing fee for all applicants.

What taxes do LLCs pay in South Carolina?

While there is no state income tax or personal income tax in South Carolina, there are several other Taxes that your LLC may encounter. We recommend speaking with a licensed tax professional to ensure you are filing and paying the proper taxes.

What is the cheapest way to get an LLC in South Carolina?

The cheapest way to get an LLC in South Carolina is to follow the steps above and file yourself. There is an LLC filing fee of $110, but this is required whether you file on your own or use an LLC filing service.

Can I be my own registered agent in South Carolina?

Yes. See above for more information.

Do South Carolina LLCs expire?

LLCs in South Carolina don’t “expire.” Therefore, it does not require filing an annual report. We recommend working with a professional registered agent service who will inform you of upcoming reports and even help you file them.

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