- South Carolina LLC fees at a glance
- What your articles of organization must state
- The insight most people miss: the operating agreement wins inside, the articles win outside
- Who can see your members
- Missed a fee or a tax filing? The clock is short
- Changing your agent or office later
- How to start an LLC in South Carolina, step by step
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To form a South Carolina LLC, you file articles of organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State and pay one hundred ten dollars ($110), as of October 2026, set in section 33-44-1204 of the state code. The articles must list your company's name, designated office, agent for service of process and each organizer.
South Carolina writes its LLC fees straight into the statute, so they're the same online or on paper. The articles ask for more than some states do, and the reinstatement rules are tighter than for corporations. Here's what the law and the Secretary of State's FAQ say.
South Carolina LLC fees at a glance
These are the Secretary of State's fees under section 33-44-1204, as of October 2026:
| Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Articles of organization | $110 |
| Amendment or restatement of the articles | $110 |
| Certificate of authority for a foreign LLC | $110 |
| Name reservation | $25 |
| Change of designated office or agent | $10 |
| Articles of termination | $10 |
| Reinstatement after administrative dissolution | $25 |
| Certificate of existence | $10 |
The Secretary of State also warns about mailings that ask for hundreds of dollars for documents you can get directly, such as a certificate of existence, which costs $10 as of October 2026.
What your articles of organization must state
Section 33-44-203 lists seven items. Your articles must set out:
- The name of the company.
- The address of the initial designated office.
- The name and street address of the initial agent for service of process.
- The name and address of each organizer.
- Whether it's a term company and, if so, the term.
- Whether it's manager-managed and, if so, the name and address of each initial manager.
- Whether one or more members will be liable for the company's debts under section 33-44-303(c).
Item 7 is the one to read slowly. Answer it wrongly and you've told the world a member has agreed to be personally liable for company debts, which is the opposite of why most people form an LLC.
The insight most people miss: the operating agreement wins inside, the articles win outside
Section 33-44-203 settles what happens if your articles and operating agreement disagree. The operating agreement controls between managers, members and their transferees. The articles control for outsiders who reasonably rely on them. So a lender reading your articles is entitled to trust them, even if your private agreement says something else. Keep the two documents consistent.
Who can see your members
The Secretary of State's FAQ says business entities aren't required to disclose the names of members, directors or officers to its office. If your LLC is manager-managed, though, the articles list each initial manager's name and address, so a manager-managed LLC is less private than a member-managed one.
Missed a fee or a tax filing? The clock is short
Under section 33-44-809, the Secretary of State may start dissolving an LLC administratively if it doesn't pay a fee, tax or penalty within sixty days of the due date. The company then gets sixty days after being served notice to fix it or show the ground doesn't exist.
A dissolved LLC can only wind up its affairs. The FAQ adds the detail that matters most: corporations can reinstate at any time, but LLCs must apply for reinstatement within two years of the dissolution. If the dissolution came from a missing tax return, you'll need a Certificate of Tax Compliance from the Department of Revenue to go with the application.
Changing your agent or office later
Moving office or switching agent isn't a full amendment. Section 33-44-1204 sets a separate statement of change of designated office or agent, or both, at $10, as of October 2026. Amending or restating the articles themselves costs $110 again, so it pays to get the articles right the first time and use the cheaper statement for routine changes.
The statute also notes that administrative dissolution doesn't end your agent's authority to accept legal papers. Even a dissolved LLC can still be served, so keep the agent and address current until the company is formally wound up with articles of termination, which cost $10, as of October 2026.
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How to start an LLC in South Carolina, step by step
- Check your name and, if you need to hold it, reserve it for $25, as of October 2026.
- Choose an agent with a South Carolina street address and a designated office address.
- Decide whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed.
- Complete the articles, answering all seven items, and file them with the $110 fee.
- Get an EIN for your business from the IRS.
- If you'll hire, check the South Carolina minimum wage first.
Already have an LLC elsewhere? You'd register it as a foreign LLC with a certificate of authority instead, which also costs $110, as of October 2026.
My verdict
South Carolina is fair value: $110 to form, as of October 2026, with members kept off the Secretary of State's records. Spend your attention on item 7 of the articles and on paying anything you owe within sixty days, because an LLC that slips past the two-year reinstatement window can't come back the way a corporation can.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in South Carolina?
The articles of organization cost $110, as of October 2026, under section 33-44-1204 of the South Carolina Code.
What must South Carolina articles of organization include?
The name, initial designated office, agent's name and street address, each organizer, whether it's a term company, whether it's manager-managed, and whether any member is liable for company debts.
Does South Carolina list LLC members publicly?
The Secretary of State's FAQ says entities aren't required to disclose members' names to its office. A manager-managed LLC lists its initial managers in the articles.
What's the time limit to reinstate a South Carolina LLC?
Two years from the date of the administrative dissolution, according to the Secretary of State's FAQ. Reinstatement costs $25, as of October 2026.
Why would South Carolina dissolve my LLC?
Under section 33-44-809, if the company doesn't pay a fee, tax or penalty within sixty days of the due date.
How much does it cost to change my South Carolina registered agent?
A statement of change of designated office or agent costs $10, as of October 2026, under section 33-44-1204.
Does a sole proprietor file with the South Carolina Secretary of State?
No. The Secretary of State says sole proprietorships and general partnerships don't file with its office.
