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Biz Formation Report

Rankings of registered agents, LLC formation and foreign registration services in all 50 states.

Foreign registration report · South Carolina

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in South Carolina (2026)

By the Biz Formation Report editorial team

Biz Formation Report ranks foreign registration services in South Carolina for 2026 as Mainstay Filing ($199), SC Registered Agent.org ($199) and South Carolina Registered Agent.co ($199), in that order. Mainstay Filing earns the top grade: $199 plus the state's fee, with the registered agent free for year one and one price in every state.

No.1

Top pick on this page

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies registered in several states

Score9.3out of 10
$199 plus the state fee ($309 due at checkout), then $149 a year for the agent from year two

Top grade, Mainstay Filing: the South Carolina registration is filed for $199, and the registered agent is free in year one, then $149 a year.

The agent is free in year one, then costs $149 a year, whatever state the company registers in.

Over three years Mainstay costs $100 more than SC Registered Agent.org; our grading treats the broader coverage as worth that.

What you get

  • The foreign registration, done for you
  • Legal papers served on the company scanned free, the same business day

Good

  • $199 service fee plus the state's fee
  • One price across all fifty states
  • Served papers scanned within the same business day, free

Weak spots

  • The agent renews at $149, $50 more than SC Registered Agent.org
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Mainstay Filing review
No.2

Best for a South Carolina-only company

2. SC Registered Agent.org: best for companies adding South Carolina alone

Score9.1out of 10
$199 service fee and the state fee on top; the agent is $99 annually from year two

Second grade, SC Registered Agent.org: $199 plus the state fee, one year of registered agent service included, then $99 a year for the agent.

The plan seats the company at an in-state street address and posts scans of papers served there to your online account.

What you get

  • South Carolina registration filed for you
  • Registered agent service for year one

Good

  • Year-one registered agent service is covered
  • $199 for registration, plus the state fee
  • Then $99 per year for the agent

Weak spots

  • Serves South Carolina only; the home state still needs its own agent
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the SC Registered Agent.org review
No.3

Best local option

3. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for registering in South Carolina only

Score8.8out of 10
$199 service fee and the state fee on top; the agent is $99 annually from year two

Third grade, South Carolina Registered Agent.co: $199 plus the state fee, one year of registered agent service included, then $99 a year for the agent.

The plan seats the company at an in-state street address and posts scans of papers served there to your online account.

The two state services, SC Registered Agent.org and South Carolina Registered Agent.co, match on price and features, and the order between them is a narrow call.

What you get

  • South Carolina registration filed for you
  • The first year as your registered agent

Good

  • A $199 registration price, state fee extra
  • First-year registered agent service is part of the price
  • Agent renewal of $99

Weak spots

  • Serves South Carolina only; the home state still needs its own agent
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the South Carolina Registered Agent.co review

Summary of the 3 grades

RankProviderGradeService feeYear twoBest fitSite
1Mainstay Filing9.3$199$149/yrCompanies with a presence in several statesVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2SC Registered Agent.org9.1$199$99/yrThe lowest agent renewal we rank hereVisit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3South Carolina Registered Agent.co8.8$199$99/yrThe lowest agent renewal we rank hereVisit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Each grade out of 10 comes from Biz Formation Report's editors and the weighted criteria on How we rank; no customer ratings are involved.

South Carolina foreign registration service prices, 2026: year one, renewal and three-year outlay

ProviderYear 1Year 2Year 3Three-year outlayYear-one agent covered
Mainstay Filing$199$149$149$497Not stated
SC Registered Agent.org$199$99$99$397Included
South Carolina Registered Agent.co$199$99$99$397Included

All prices were taken from the companies' own websites on November 12, 2026. South Carolina's $110 registration fee is payable on top of each row and is not part of these totals.

The basis for the order

Biz Formation Report grades three-year bill and what the money buys at 32% each, leaving 36% for renewal handling, local rules match and pricing openness. In South Carolina, what the money buys settled the order.

Foreign registration always involves two states, and one provider with one price in both graded best on coverage, ahead of SC Registered Agent.org.

Every criterion and weight is listed on How we rank.

South Carolina foreign LLC registration: fee, document and filing office

To register, the outside company submits the Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form F0008) to the South Carolina Secretary of State, with a state fee of $110. South Carolina also wants certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, dated within 30 days of the filing.

South Carolina requires no yearly report from foreign LLCs.

Documents to have on hand

  • Certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, dated within 30 days of filing.
  • The legal name as recorded in the home state, and the date of formation.
  • An in-state registered agent; any provider in this report can serve.
  • Payment of the $110 state fee with the filing.

The cost of skipping South Carolina registration

An unregistered foreign LLC has no right to sue in South Carolina courts until it registers (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). Its contracts remain enforceable (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).

South Carolina foreign registration service: common questions

Must an LLC from another state register with South Carolina?

Yes, as soon as it transacts business there. Until then it has no standing to bring a lawsuit in the state's courts.

How much does South Carolina foreign registration cost?

$110 goes to the state and $199 to the service.

Which form handles foreign registration with South Carolina?

The state names the form in the facts above; it is sent to the South Carolina Secretary of State.

Does South Carolina demand proof of good standing from the home state?

Yes. The filing needs certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, issued no more than 30 days ago.

Is a registered agent still needed after foreign registration?

Yes. A registered agent with a street address in the state has to remain on file.

What is the best foreign registration service for South Carolina?

Mainstay Filing: $199 added to the state fee in any state, with a year of registered agent service included.

More from us

Source notes

  1. S.C. Code § 33-44-202 and § 33-44-203 (verified August 2026)
  2. South Carolina Business Entities Online (verified October 2026)
  3. SC Secretary of State, business entity FAQs (verified October 2026)
  4. SC Department of Revenue, corporate FAQs (verified October 2026)
  5. S.C. Code Title 33, Chapter 44, Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (verified November 2026)
  6. Pulled November 12, 2026: Mainstay Filing, South Carolina service page
  7. Pulled November 12, 2026: SC Registered Agent.org, pricing and service pages
  8. Pulled November 12, 2026: South Carolina Registered Agent.co, pricing and service pages