Class session 3 · South Carolina
Foreign LLC Registration Class, South Carolina (2026): 5 Assignments and the 3 Best Services
Read this first
By the end you will know
- When the rule kicks in
- How the filing gets made
- Staying in good standing
- The services at the top of the class
If you want someone else to file
1. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for a budget registration
We start with South Carolina Registered Agent.co; $199 above the state fee, first agent year covered, and $99 a year afterward.
Its three-year bill is lower than Mainstay Filing's, which wins first place because tuition counts 30%.
Covered by the tuition
- Filing made with the state
- One year of agent service is part of the price
Strengths
- $99 a year for the agent after that
- Agent covered in year one
- A $199 service charge
Weak spots
- A single-state service
2. SC Registered Agent.org: best for South Carolina-only registrations
Second place goes to SC Registered Agent.org, since $199 above the state fee, first agent year covered, and $99 a year afterward.
On price, it is level with South Carolina Registered Agent.co.
Covered by the tuition
- Filing made with the state
- One year of agent service is part of the price
Strengths
- $99 a year for the agent after that
- A $199 service charge
- Agent covered in year one
Weak spots
- A single-state service
3. Mainstay Filing: best for companies adding a second state
Our third pick, Mainstay Filing: it files the South Carolina registration for $199 plus the state fee, and the first agent year is free.
Over three years it sits $100 behind South Carolina Registered Agent.co.
Agent service past the first year is $149 yearly.
Covered by the tuition
- Registration prepared and sent
- The same price in each state
Strengths
- One price anywhere
- $199 to register
Weak spots
- $50 more a year for the agent
The services compared
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | SC Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
The assignments
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Assignment
1Does the rule apply to you?
LLCs formed outside South Carolina file a foreign registration before transacting business here. Skipping registration has a price: Until it registers, the LLC cannot sue in South Carolina's courts (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). The agreements are not voided (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).
Textbook page: Source for this: dor.sc.gov, October 2026
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Assignment
2Request the certificate your home state issues
Enclose certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, dated within 30 days.
Request it close to the date you plan to file.
-
Assignment
3Choose the South Carolina registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a street address in South Carolina for the agent, stated in the articles. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
The services above supply one.
Textbook page: Source for this: scstatehouse.gov, October 2026
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Assignment
4Work up the Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company
the South Carolina Secretary of State is the office that wants the filing above plus $110.
Textbook page: Source for this: dor.sc.gov, October 2026
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Assignment
5What comes after
Nothing repeats for a foreign LLC here.
What this class costs
| Item | Goes to | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Filing to register | State agency | $110 |
| A filing service (optional) | Service | $199 for year one |
| State fees over years one to three | State agency | $110 |
Why South Carolina Registered Agent.co is first
Tuition across three years settled first place in South Carolina. It is worth 30% of the grade, and the rest comes from homework the price does, year-two tuition, fit with the state class and fees a student can read.
South Carolina Registered Agent.co wins the cost criterion with $397 over three years, against $100 more at Mainstay Filing.
What students ask
How much does South Carolina charge a foreign LLC to register?
$110 for the filing. Service fees: $199.
Which form do I file to register?
The Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form F0008) is the one to track down, and it goes to the South Carolina Secretary of State.
Do I need a certificate from my home state?
Yes: certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, issued within 30 days of filing.
What if the LLC does business there without registering?
Until it registers, the LLC cannot sue in South Carolina's courts (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). The agreements are not voided (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).
What is due after registering?
No recurring report for foreign LLCs in South Carolina.
Which service should handle the registration?
The grade order is South Carolina Registered Agent.co, SC Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing, and South Carolina Registered Agent.co is first since the South Carolina registration is filed for $199 with a year of agent service, and the plan renews at $99.
Textbook pages and extra reading
- Extra credit: compare what we say about S.C with scstatehouse.gov, last read August 2026.
- Extra credit: compare what we say about South Carolina Business Entities Online with businessfilings.sc.gov, last read October 2026.
- Extra credit: compare what we say about SC Secretary of State, business entity FAQs with sos.sc.gov, last read October 2026.
- Extra credit: compare what we say about SC Department of Revenue, corporate FAQs with dor.sc.gov, last read October 2026.
- Extra credit: compare what we say about S.C with scstatehouse.gov, last read November 2026.
- pricing page from South Carolina Registered Agent.co as of November 13, 2026
- pricing page from SC Registered Agent.org as of November 13, 2026
- South Carolina service page from Mainstay Filing as of November 13, 2026