South Carolina LLC Cost: Average Fees Explained

South Carolina is one of the few states where the way you file changes the price. Paper filing is cheaper, and online filing costs a little more because it includes a records access fee. Neither route is expensive compared with many states.

The amounts here come from the sources named in each table and were checked on Oct 11, 2026. Check the South Carolina Secretary of State's website for current fees before you submit anything.

The two options produce the same LLC. The difference is the fee and the speed.

• By mail: $110
• Online: $125, which includes a records access fee noted in the source

If you are not in a hurry, mail is cheaper. If you want to see the status quickly or avoid postal delays, the online route is usually worth the difference. Most South Carolina LLCs do not appear to owe a separate yearly report fee to the Secretary of State, which keeps the long-term cost low, though your tax situation may add filings.

You do not need to reserve a name, but it can help if you are filing later.

• Name reservation by mail: $25
• Name reservation online: $32.50
• Certificate of Existence: $10
• Certificate of Compliance: $60

A Certificate of Existence or Compliance is a document that proves the LLC's standing. Banks, lenders, and other states sometimes ask for one. A certificate of authority, listed at $110, applies to LLCs formed in other states that want to operate in South Carolina.

The state's initial annual report, Form CL-1, costs $25. The source indicates it applies only if the LLC is taxed as a corporation. Many single-member and partnership-taxed LLCs will not file it. Ask a licensed CPA how your LLC will be taxed before assuming the form applies.

Retail businesses need a sales tax license. The source lists the retail license at $50, and that cost is separate from the LLC filing. The Department of Revenue handles it, so confirm the amount there.

A registered agent is required for every South Carolina LLC. You can act as your own agent if you have an in-state address, or hire a commercial agent for $50 – $300/yr according to the sources we checked.

You will see mail-based and online-based totals mixed together online.

One source reports the full range from mail to online, another reports the mail amount, and another reports the online amount. They agree once you know which filing method each assumes. Totals that run higher usually add a registered agent plan or a formation-service fee.

A simple South Carolina setup can cost little more than the filing fee if you serve as your own registered agent and do not need a sales tax license. A retail or service business that sells taxable goods should add the license. If you hire a registered agent, add that amount.

Local rules also apply. Many South Carolina cities and counties require a business license of their own, with fees that vary by location and business type. Ask the city or county where you operate.

An LLC formed in another state must obtain a Certificate of Authority before it does business in South Carolina, at $110. That amount is close to the cost of forming a new LLC here, so owners who plan to operate mainly in South Carolina often form locally instead.

The Certificate of Existence and Certificate of Compliance are easy to confuse. The first confirms that the LLC exists and is registered. The second goes further and confirms good standing. A lender or a state agency will tell you which one it wants, so request the right one rather than ordering both.

South Carolina filings are simple enough that many owners handle them alone. If you use a formation service, ask whether the quote shows the state fee separately, whether it covers the online records access fee, and what registered agent renewal costs after the first year. For tax treatment and the operating agreement, consult a licensed attorney or CPA, since formation services generally do not give that advice.