Class 1 · South Carolina
South Carolina LLC Formation Class (2026): 7 Assignments and the 3 Best LLC Services
Read this first
Class goals
- What South Carolina charges for a new LLC and where the filing goes
- How to meet the registered agent rule
- How to stay in good standing
- Which services we recommend and why
If you want someone else to file
1. Mainstay Filing: best for one yearly fee
Mainstay Filing earns the top grade in South Carolina: $199 a year covers the filing and a registered agent, with the EIN application as a bonus.
SC Registered Agent.org is $200 cheaper over three years; this one still earns the higher grade because it does more of the work.
Covered by the tuition
- The formation filing
- Registered agent for the whole year
- EIN application included
- No markup on the state fee
Strengths
- The EIN application is in the price
- $199 a year covers filing, agent
- $199 every year
Weak spots
- After year one it costs $100 more each year
- With no report, the bundle is worth less
2. SC Registered Agent.org: best for a small first bill
Second place goes to SC Registered Agent.org, since $199 to begin, with no agent fee in year one, then $99 each year from year two.
Covered by the tuition
- The formation filing
- A year of agent service is part of the price
Strengths
- $99 a year after that
- $199 to form
- A free first agent year
Weak spots
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
3. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for LLCs that never leave South Carolina
Third place goes to South Carolina Registered Agent.co, since $199 to begin, with no agent fee in year one, then $99 each year from year two.
SC Registered Agent.org and this service cost the same.
Covered by the tuition
- The formation filing
- A year of agent service is part of the price
Strengths
- $99 a year after that
- A free first agent year
- $199 to form
Weak spots
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
3 services, side by side
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner 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 | South Carolina Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Formation in order
-
Assignment
1Settle on a name
Class starts with a look at the South Carolina register at the South Carolina Secretary of State.
Check at the same time whether the web domain is free.
-
Assignment
2Decide who will be a registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A South Carolina resident, a South Carolina corporation, another LLC, or a corporation or company from another state authorized to do business in South Carolina.
The address has to be a street address in South Carolina for the agent, stated in the articles. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
Every class favorite here can be your registered agent.
Textbook page: scstatehouse.gov (page read October 2026)
-
Assignment
3Self-filing versus a service
The state's fee is $110 either way. A service adds $199; the grade list shows which one to pick.
-
Assignment
4Complete, sign and file the Articles of Organization
Send the Articles of Organization to the South Carolina Secretary of State along with $110; the law behind it is S.C. Code § 33-44-202, and the LLC exists.
Textbook page: scstatehouse.gov (page read October 2026)
-
Assignment
5Order the LLC's federal tax ID
Approval first, IRS number second. This assignment is inside the Mainstay Filing package.
-
Assignment
6Draft the operating agreement
The operating agreement is where the South Carolina LLC's owners write down who owns what and how decisions get made. The company keeps it; the state never sees it.
-
Assignment
7Stay in good standing in South Carolina
The state wants no annual filing, yet the registered agent has to stay on record.
The bill
| Entry | Who gets paid | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The formation assignment | The state | $110 |
| Service, if you hire one | The provider | $199 in year one |
| State total across three years | The state | $110 |
Why Mainstay Filing is first
Homework the price does makes up 34% of the grade, and that is where got ahead in South Carolina.
Even with no yearly report in South Carolina, a single price for filing and agent still graded above SC Registered Agent.org.
South Carolina questions
What does it cost to file a new LLC in South Carolina?
South Carolina bills $110. Hire a service and add $199.
Which form creates the LLC?
Look for the Articles of Organization; the South Carolina Secretary of State is the office.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does South Carolina require each year?
South Carolina has no recurring LLC report.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
A service is optional. Owners can file with the $110 fee as long as they appoint a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
Mainstay Filing, because one yearly fee of $199 handles the filing and a registered agent plus the EIN application. Behind it come SC Registered Agent.org and South Carolina Registered Agent.co.
Textbook pages and extra reading
- Class notes on S.C come straight from scstatehouse.gov (reread August 2026).
- South Carolina service page from Mainstay Filing as of November 13, 2026
- pricing page from SC Registered Agent.org as of November 13, 2026
- pricing page from South Carolina Registered Agent.co as of November 13, 2026