South Carolina LLC Cost (2026): $125 Once, No Annual Report for Most LLCs
South Carolina is a pay-once state for most LLCs. You pay $125 to file online and then owe the Secretary of State nothing each year. The exception is worth knowing before you form: if you plan to have your LLC taxed as an S corporation or C corporation, a yearly filing with the Department of Revenue comes with that choice.
The $110 Articles and the $15 Online Fee
South Carolina LLCs are formed by filing Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State. The statutory filing fee is $110. Filing online through the state’s business filings system adds a $15 electronic records fee, so the practical online total is $125.
The articles list the LLC name, the registered agent and its South Carolina address, the organizer, and whether the LLC is managed by its members or by managers. Online filings are processed much faster than paper ones.
Northwest Registered Agent
South Carolina’s business search displays your registered agent address to anyone. $39 formation + $125 state fee, free registered agent for year one, then $125/yr.
$39 formation fee · Free registered agent for 12 months · Your address stays off public records · No data selling · No hidden fees
Form Your LLC with Northwest ($39) →Lowest 3-year cost we found: Northwest $289 vs Bizee $298 vs ZenBusiness $497 (service fees; state fees extra). Northwest also puts its address on your public filings instead of yours where the state allows.
No Annual Report, Unless You Elect Corporate Tax
A South Carolina LLC taxed the default way, as a partnership if it has several members or as a disregarded entity if it has one, does not file an annual report with the Secretary of State. There is no annual fee and no franchise tax for these LLCs. That is why the DIY column shows $0 after year one.
You do still need to keep a registered agent with a South Carolina address on file. If the agent changes, you update the Secretary of State’s record by filing a change form.
The CL-1 and the S Corp Question
Many small business owners elect S corporation tax treatment once profit is high enough to make payroll tax savings worthwhile. In South Carolina, an LLC that is taxed as a corporation (S or C) must file an Initial Annual Report of Corporations, Form CL-1, with the Department of Revenue. The fee is $25.
After that, a corporation-taxed LLC files a yearly annual report with its state income tax return, which carries its own fee and may involve license fees based on capital. If you are planning an S corp election, factor that into your cost instead of assuming South Carolina is free after year one.
Name Reservation and Local Licenses
- Name reservation: $25 holds an LLC name before you file.
- Local business licenses: most South Carolina cities and counties require a business license, with fees set locally and often tied to gross receipts. Check with your municipality.
- Income tax: by default, LLC profit passes through to the owners, who report it on their South Carolina income tax returns.
South Carolina 3-Year Cost
The table assumes default LLC taxation, with no annual report.
| Scenario | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $164 ($125 online + $39, RA free) | $125 (no annual report + $125 RA) | $125 (same) | $414 |
| ZenBusiness (Starter) | $224 ($125 + $0 + $99 RA) | $199 ($199 RA) | $199 (same) | $622 |
| DIY, self as registered agent | $125 ($110 articles + $15 online fee) | $0 (no annual report) | $0 (no annual report) | $125 |
A DIY South Carolina LLC costs $125 in state fees over three years, all paid at formation. The $289 extra with Northwest Registered Agent is registered agent service after the free first year, which keeps your personal address out of the Secretary of State’s database.
Form your South Carolina LLC for $39 + $125 state fee.
Northwest Registered Agent: $39 formation, free Year 1 registered agent, compliance reminders, and your home address kept off public records.
Form My South Carolina LLC for $39
Prefer a $0 upfront starter plan? Compare ZenBusiness (registered agent $199/yr).
When a South Carolina LLC may not be worth it yet: with no annual state fee, the cost of forming early is just the one-time $125. If there is nothing to protect yet, waiting is fine. The local business license, not the LLC, is often the bigger recurring cost, so price that first.
Why I Choose Northwest Registered Agent
After forming 3 LLCs myself and helping clients through the process, I keep coming back to Northwest Registered Agent. Here is why:
- Remarkable Customer Support: Quick, human responses every time.
- Caring & Privacy-Focused: Genuine service with full respect for your privacy.
- Lightning-Fast Formation: Often faster than promised.
- Incredible Value: $39 includes a free business address, mail scanning, and more.
- Clear & Transparent: No hidden fees or surprises.
Ready to form your business? Choose Northwest today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in South Carolina?
$110 for the Articles of Organization plus a $15 electronic records fee online, for $125 total. With Northwest Registered Agent the first-year total is $164, including a free first year of registered agent service.
Does South Carolina require an annual report for LLCs?
Not for standard LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities. LLCs taxed as corporations file with the Department of Revenue.
What is the South Carolina CL-1?
The Initial Annual Report of Corporations, a $25 filing with the Department of Revenue required for LLCs that elect to be taxed as a corporation.
Does South Carolina have a franchise tax on LLCs?
Not for LLCs taxed the default way. Profit passes through to the owners’ South Carolina income tax returns.
