Whether you’re starting a new LLC or updating the registered agent for your existing business, it’s important to choose the best South Carolina registered agent for your needs.

This article will help you to choose the registered agent that best fits your business, go over the basic functions of registered agents, and answer common questions about registered agents.

If you haven’t yet formed your LLC, you can get one year of registered agent services for free if you form your LLC with Northwest Registered Agent ($29 + state fees). (This is a great deal!).

Best South Carolina Registered Agent Service

When choosing a registered agent service, you want someone who understands the importance of staying compliant and being diligent about legal processes and paperwork. That’s why Northwest Registered Agent is our #1 registered agent service choice for South Carolina businesses.

We recommend Northwest Registered Agent, which offers everything that you need to form your LLC along with Registered Agent services. The company boasts over 20 years of operations helping small businesses start or grow.

Northwest has a 100% Error-Free Guarantee with outstanding customer support, exceptional services, and high prices to match. If data privacy and access to customer support are top on your list, the extra costs of working with Northwest Registered Agent may be well worth it for you and your business.

What Does a South Carolina Registered Agent Do?

A registered agent does a few things for a company. Their main task is to be present when or if the company needs to receive tax or legal paperwork. These would be documents that can’t be sent to a mailbox or delivered to a front desk; rather, documents that must be handed directly to the person who represents the company.

A simple example would be a service of process, which is the delivery of legal documents in a lawsuit. These service documents must be delivered directly to the company’s representative – the registered agent – to ensure they are received.

This may seem like a small task, but the caveat that makes this a critical position is that the registered agent is required to be at the documented location to receive these papers during all “regular business hours.” This is the main reason that most people choose to use a registered agent service rather than operating as their own agent.

Other forms that your registered agent may receive on your behalf are:

• Tax forms
• Legal documents
• Official government correspondence
• Service of process

Another function of a registered agent is to file official documents with the state in which the LLC or corporation is established. In most states, businesses are required to file an annual report once per year to keep the business in “good standing” with the state.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in South Carolina?

The short answer is yes, you can be your own registered agent.

Whether or not that’s the best plan for you or your company is another question entirely. If you are looking to spend the absolute, bare minimum amount of money on your business, then being your own registered agent may not be a terrible choice. Still, even in that scenario, we don’t recommend it.

Benefits of Using a Registered Agent Service

There are only a few realistic options when it comes to whom you file as your registered agent:

• Yourself
• An attorney
• A registered agent service

As mentioned above, being your own agent has pitfalls and isn’t recommended. What’s more, an attorney in this position would be quite expensive and is generally only a viable option if you had them form your business for you.

So, that leaves you with the option of using a service. Here are the biggest benefits of using a professional registered agent service:

Privacy

When you form an LLC or corporation, your formation data goes into a state database which is open and searchable to the public. The information in this database can include:

• Business name
• Formation date
• Registered agent name
• Registered agent address

While you can’t stop the state from publishing this information, you can retain the privacy of your name and your address by using a registered agent service. Since this information is public, marketing companies use these databases to gather information to market their products and services to business owners. Your mailbox will thank you for keeping your business address private.

Another major privacy benefit is having legal documents delivered to your agent and not you personally. If, for some reason, someone brings a lawsuit against your company, would you rather have your agent call you with these documents or have them served to you in front of your customers, clients, or employees?

Easy Compliance

Along with privacy, another of the main benefits of using a registered agent service is that they will help to keep your business in “good standing” with the state.

Some states require LLCs and corporations to file annual reports or other timely documents. While these generally aren’t difficult tasks, they are often easily forgotten or lost in the day-to-day work that your business hands you.

Your registered agent will send you reminders that this work needs to be completed, and some will even provide you with the proper documents to make your work even easier.

How Do I Elect an Agent for Service of Process in South Carolina?

South Carolina requires all businesses operating within the state to have an agent for service of process. “Agent for service of process” is the state’s term for registered agents, as they receive service of process if a business is sued. They may receive tax and other official documents as well.

You’ll select an agent for service of process when you file Articles of Organization when you form your South Carolina LLC. You can choose a commercial registered agent service, yourself, or another individual. If you select an individual to be your LLC’s agent, they must have a physical address in South Carolina. Their name and address will be needed when filing.

If you’d prefer to have someone else take care of setting up your LLC’s agent for service of process, an LLC formation service can take care of all this. You can instead fill out and file the documents yourself if you prefer.

Once you decide to appoint an agent for service of process for your LLC, you will need to do the following:

1. File your Articles of Organization by registering an account with the South Carolina Business Entities Online, which is maintained by the South Carolina Secretary of State. Go to the “Domestic LLC” option and begin filling out your LLC’s details. The first section asks for the business’s name. The second section is for “Agent Information,” and requires the agent’s name and physical address. Complete the rest of the form, and submit it along with payment for the $110 new South Carolina LLC filing fee.
2. To file by mail, download the Articles of Organization (Limited Liability Company – Domestic). You’ll need to provide the agent’s information in Article 3. The signature shows that they consent to be your LLC’s agent for service of process. Mail the completed form to the South Carolina Secretary of State – Corporate Filings and include a check payment for the $110 filing fee.

How Do I Change My LLC’s Agent for Service of Process in South Carolina?

If you decide to change your registered agent, there is one way that you can update your previous registered agent to a new one in South Carolina.

File Notice of Change

South Carolina uses the same general Notice of Change form for changing a designated office, agent for service of process, or agent address.

To file online, search for your business by name, and then log into your Business Entities Online account. You’ll see an option to “Add Filing,” and this will give you the option of filing a Notice of Change. If your new agent is not present during the online filing process, they must upload a signature of consent. Submit the completed form online and pay the $10 change of agent for service of process, which you can do by credit card.

If you want to file by mail, download the Notice of Change and complete all sections. Section 4 requests the new agent’s address, name, and signature (to show consent). Mail two copies of the form to the South Carolina Secretary of State – Corporate Filings and include a check payment for the$10 change fee.

If you choose to use or switch to a registered agent service, they should complete and file the changes for you. For more information about our recommended Registered Agent service for your LLC, check out our Northwest Registered Agent review.

South Carolina Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address

South Carolina Secretary of State
Attn: Corporate Filings
1205 Pendleton St., Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201

Physical Address

Edgar Brown Building
1205 Pendleton St., Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201

Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm

Phone: (803) 734-2158

Email: Business Filings Contact Us Form