3 Best LLC Services in South Carolina (2026), Step by Step
For LLC formation services in South Carolina, we recommend Mainstay Filing ($199), SC Registered Agent.org ($199) and South Carolina Registered Agent.co ($199) in 2026, ranked from first to last. The costs split into $110 for the state and $397 to $597 for three years of service.
Written by the Simple Filing Guide editorial team
Start here
Cost to file
$110, a single payment
Every year after
No recurring filing
Registered agent
Required
Our ranking
Mainstay Filing, SC Registered Agent.org then South Carolina Registered Agent.co
Recommended in South Carolina
Ranked best first using the checks described on the method page.
#1Top pick
1. Mainstay Filing: best for agent and formation in one price
$199 yearly ($309 at signup, state fee included)
Mainstay Filing takes the top spot, since $199 a year forms the LLC and sets up a registered agent, and the EIN application is part of it.
The $200 gap to SC Registered Agent.org across three years buys coverage beyond South Carolina.
Checklist: what is included
Formation paperwork submitted
Registered agent year-round
EIN taken care of
Official fee at cost
What works
Stays at $199 at renewal
EIN application included in the price
$199 a year with no add-ons needed
Gaps
From year two you pay $100 more than at SC Registered Agent.org
These are service fees only, taken from each company's prices on November 13, 2026. State fees stay the same with every pick.
The key questions
How much should I budget to form an LLC here?
On your own it is $110. With a service, it is $199 more.
Counting the recurring report, the state's own fees reach $110 by year three. scstatehouse.gov, last confirmed October 2026 for this guide
What exactly do I submit?
One document does it: the Articles of Organization, sent to the South Carolina Secretary of State.
Governing law: S.C. Code § 33-44-202. scstatehouse.gov, last confirmed October 2026 for this guide
Does this state require a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A South Carolina resident, a South Carolina corporation, another LLC, or a corporation or company from another state authorized to do business in South Carolina.
Last row = filing fee + report in year two + report in year three + minimum tax, if any. Variable costs are described in the text, not added.
More questions
Does the price cover the EIN?
Mainstay Filing includes the EIN application. The others charge extra: SC Registered Agent.org $99; South Carolina Registered Agent.co $99.
How do the three-year costs compare?
Mainstay Filing $597; SC Registered Agent.org $397; South Carolina Registered Agent.co $397 for the services alone.
Where do these figures come from?
Official South Carolina documents supply the state fees, and the companies' own pricing pages supply the service fees. Both carry dates on this page.
Do I have to use a service?
No. A service charges for labor and the agent role, not for anything the state demands.
What does the LLC owe the state yearly?
South Carolina wants no report, so skip that step.
What is the best LLC service for South Carolina?
Mainstay Filing, because the yearly $199 pays for the filing and the registered agent, with the EIN application covered too. Then SC Registered Agent.org and South Carolina Registered Agent.co.