Cost summary
The South Carolina Secretary of State takes $110 at formation[2]; South Carolina sets no recurring report[3]. For ongoing state fees, no state charges less (9 others match it).
To have it handled in South Carolina, Mainstay Filing charges $199 a year plus the $110 state fee at cost[1].
- Formation fee
- $110
- Periodic report
- None
- Ongoing, per year (avg.)
- $0
- Change of agent
- $10
- Other states, ongoing fees
- Lowest (tied)
Updated October 29, 2026. Fees from official sources; prices from providers' own pages.
01South Carolina fees at a glance
| Filing | Fee | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation (Articles of Organization) | $110 | Once | [2] scstatehouse.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Change of registered agent | $10 | When filed | [2] scstatehouse.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
Fees paid to South Carolina agencies only; card and portal charges and expedite options are not included.
Add it up for a South Carolina LLC's first five calendar years and the formation fee is the one fixed number; no report fees follow.
02Regional comparison
South Carolina comes to $0 a year in ongoing state fees. Nationally the median is $30; no state charges less (9 others match it). Next door, no neighbor cost less per year.
| State | Formation | Report | Per year (avg.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $110 | None | $0 |
| Georgia | $110 | $60 / yr | $60 |
| North Carolina | $125 | $200 / yr | $200 |
Each state's figures come from its own statute or fee schedule, verified August 12, 2026. "Per year" spreads a biennial fee over two years and excludes taxes billed by revenue departments.
03Registered Agent and filing service costs
The state does not charge for naming a registered agent, but a commercial agent charges every year. Owners who live in South Carolina qualify as individuals and can take the registered agent role themselves. The company itself cannot be its own registered agent.
At Mainstay Filing, South Carolina registered agent service alone is $149 a year[1]. The $199 package covers formation, the EIN application and reminders as well. State fees are passed through at cost.
We also read 8 other services' South Carolina prices on October 20, 2026. They started at $99 and went up to $249 for year one, with renewals of $125 to $249.
04Who pays these fees
South Carolina had 93,372 employer firms and 440,037 nonemployer businesses in the Census Bureau's 2022 counts. Of the business locations that opened in South Carolina between April 2019 and March 2020, 55.9% were still open in March 2025.
05No South Carolina annual report
South Carolina does not require LLCs to file an annual or biennial report[3]. The other states in the same position: Alabama, Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico, and Ohio.
What still has to stay current is the registered agent on file. If it changes, the company files the update; the fee is $10.
06Questions
How much is the South Carolina LLC annual fee?
South Carolina has no recurring LLC report fee[3].
What happens if a South Carolina LLC misses the deadline?
There is no periodic report deadline in South Carolina. Keeping the registered agent information current is still required, and a change costs $10.
Can someone file the South Carolina reports for me?
Mainstay Filing does: $199 a year covers forming the South Carolina LLC, the registered agent and the EIN application[1]. With no South Carolina report to file, it sends reminders instead.
Is South Carolina an expensive state for an LLC?
On the $110 it charges to form an LLC, 26 states charge less and 21 charge more. For ongoing fees ($0 a year on average), no state charges less (9 others match it).
Sources
- Mainstay Filing pricing, registered agent and FAQ pages. Updated October 29, 2026.
- S.C. Code § 33-44-202 (organization) and § 33-44-203 (articles of organization); fee set by § 33-44-1204(a)(1). www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t33c044.php. Updated October 29, 2026.
- South Carolina Secretary of State for formation: None for standard LLCs. Exception: LLCs taxed as a corporation file the annual report as Schedule D of Form SC1120 or Form SC1120S with the SC Department of Revenue rules and fee. dor.sc.gov/tax-index/business-income-taxes/corporate/c-corporation. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022 and Nonemployer Statistics 2022. www.census.gov/programs-surveys/susb.html. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment Dynamics, Establishment Age and Survival, Table 7 (data through March 2025). www.bls.gov/bdm/bdmage.htm. Updated October 29, 2026.