Business formation
Form your business in South Carolina
Start your LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, or Nonprofit in South Carolina with a guided, step-by-step workflow tailored to your entity type - and know the state filing fee before you begin.
Forming an LLC in South Carolina costs $110 in state filing fees, which is above the national median: 29 of the 51 U.S. jurisdictions charge less, and the national median is $100. A corporation files for $135 and a nonprofit for $25. Below: the fee table, what else you pay in year one, and the questions founders ask before filing here.
South Carolina state filing fees
These are the one-time fees paid to the South Carolina Secretary of State to file your formation document. They are separate from any EazeAccounts service or package fee.
| Entity type | State filing fee |
|---|---|
| LLCArticles of Organization - flexible, pass-through, simple to run. | $110 |
| Corporation (C-Corp / S-Corp)Articles of Incorporation - shares, board, officers. S-Corp is a federal tax election on the same state filing. | $135 |
| NonprofitNonprofit Articles of Incorporation - mission-driven; optional 501(c)(3). | $25 |
Estimated state filing fees, separate from EazeAccounts service fees. Some states set a minimum that can rise with authorized shares, and expedited or online filing may differ. Fees last verified May 2026; confirm the current amount with the South Carolina Secretary of State before filing.
What an LLC costs every year in South Carolina
Annual report
$0
South Carolina does not require an annual report from LLCs taxed as partnerships or sole proprietorships An LLC that elects corporate tax treatment files an annual report with its corporate return to the Department of Revenue, with a minimum $25 license fee.
State tax on the LLC
South Carolina charges no franchise tax on an LLC taxed as a partnership or disregarded entity. An LLC taxed as a corporation pays the corporate license fee, 0.1 percent of capital stock and paid-in surplus plus $15 with a $25 minimum, each year with its return. County and city business licences are separate from state registration.
How long South Carolina takes
Online filings are generally returned within 24 to 48 business hours, and in-person filings the same day. No paid expedite is published.
What is different about South Carolina
- • A standard LLC files nothing recurring with the Secretary of State after formation, which makes South Carolina one of the cheapest states to keep an LLC.
- • Since September 2026 the Secretary of State's online filing system requires identity verification at login.
- • An administratively dissolved LLC must apply for reinstatement within two years of the dissolution.
Guide reviewed September 2026 against the South Carolina Secretary of State and the tax authority. Confirm current figures before filing.
What else you pay in year one
- Registered agent. Free if you serve as your own agent at a South Carolina street address; a service charges an annual fee if you would rather keep your address off the public record.
- EIN. Free from the IRS. Anyone charging for an EIN alone is charging for the form.
- Annual report or franchise tax. Most states ask for a yearly report and some charge a fee or tax with it; the amount and deadline are set by South Carolina. Check the Secretary of State page before you file so the first renewal is not a surprise.
- Licences and permits. City and county rules depend on what the business does, not on the entity type.
Not sure whether an LLC or a corporation fits? The entity cost calculator compares the two over three years, and the guide to LLC vs C-Corp covers the tax and investor side.
Questions founders ask about South Carolina
- Does South Carolina require an annual report for LLCs?
- No, not for an LLC taxed as a partnership or disregarded entity. An LLC that elects corporate tax treatment files an annual report with its corporate tax return to the Department of Revenue.
- How much does it cost to form an LLC in South Carolina?
- The Articles of Organization filing fee is $110. Online filing may add a small processing fee; check the total at checkout.
- Can a dissolved South Carolina LLC be reinstated?
- Yes, if the application is filed within two years of the administrative dissolution. If the dissolution was for a missing tax filing, the Department of Revenue must clear it first.
- How much does it cost to start an LLC in South Carolina?
- The South Carolina state filing fee for an LLC is $110, paid once when you file the formation document. That is above the national median: 29 of 51 jurisdictions charge less, and the national median is $100. Registered agent service, expedited processing and any EazeAccounts package are separate.
- Do I need a registered agent in South Carolina?
- Yes. Every state requires an LLC or corporation to name a registered agent with a physical street address in South Carolina who is available during business hours to receive legal and official mail. You can be your own agent if you live in the state, or use a service.
- What is the difference between the state fee and the EazeAccounts fee?
- The state fee goes to the South Carolina Secretary of State and is the same whoever files for you. The EazeAccounts formation package covers preparing and filing the documents, the EIN, the operating agreement or bylaws, and setting your books up from day one. You always see both amounts before you pay.
- Is the state filing fee refundable if my filing is rejected?
- Generally no. States keep the fee even when a filing is rejected for a name conflict or a missing detail, which is why the name check and document review happen before anything is submitted.
Next step
Comparing states? Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, or see filing fees in every state.
Ready to form in South Carolina? Begin the step-by-step formation workflow.