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Biz Formation Report

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

LLC formation report · South Carolina

3 Best LLC Services in South Carolina (2026)

By the Biz Formation Report editorial team

Biz Formation Report ranks LLC 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 a year pays for the South Carolina filing and your registered agent, with the EIN application added at no extra cost, and renews at $199.

No.1

Best here

1. Mainstay Filing: best for one flat yearly price

Score9.5out of 10
$199 a year plus the state fee, $309 due at checkout

Top grade, Mainstay Filing: one yearly price of $199 handles the formation and the registered agent, renewing at $199.

South Carolina has no yearly LLC report, so past year one the renewal is paying for the registered agent alone (the first-year bundle had also covered the EIN application).

Over three years Mainstay costs $200 more than SC Registered Agent.org; our grading treats the broader coverage as worth that.

What you get

  • Formation prepared and filed on your behalf
  • Your registered agent for twelve months
  • The EIN application

Good

  • A single $199 yearly price
  • Includes the EIN application
  • Renewal is $199 with no add-ons
  • South Carolina's state fee is passed through at cost

Weak spots

  • Its agent renews at $100 a year more than SC Registered Agent.org's
  • In South Carolina, with no yearly report, the bundle offers less
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Mainstay Filing review
No.2

Best value here

2. SC Registered Agent.org: best for a South Carolina LLC that expects to stay put

Score9.3out of 10
$199 for formation, then $99 a year for the agent, plus the state fee

Second grade, SC Registered Agent.org: $199 for formation on top of the state fee, 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

  • The formation filing
  • A first year of registered agent service

Good

  • The first year as your registered agent is included
  • $99 annually to keep the agent
  • Formation costs $199 before the state fee

Weak spots

  • 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

Low renewal

3. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for local South Carolina formation

Score9.1out of 10
$199 for formation, then $99 a year for the agent, plus the state fee

Third grade, South Carolina Registered Agent.co: $199 for formation on top of the state fee, 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.

Prices and features do not separate SC Registered Agent.org from South Carolina Registered Agent.co; either works.

What you get

  • The formation filing
  • Year-one registered agent service

Good

  • Agent renewal of $99
  • $199 service fee, state fee added
  • Year-one registered agent service is covered

Weak spots

  • 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 Filing9.5$199$199/yrFormation and agent on one invoiceVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2SC Registered Agent.org9.3$199$99/yrA South Carolina-only LLC keeping costs downVisit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3South Carolina Registered Agent.co9.1$199$99/yrA South Carolina-only LLC keeping costs downVisit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The grades are editorial: Biz Formation Report assigns every mark out of 10 using the criteria on How we rank, not customer ratings.

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

ProviderYear 1Year 2Year 3Three-year outlayEIN application
Mainstay Filing$199$199$199$597Included
SC Registered Agent.org$199$99$99$397$99 add-on
South Carolina Registered Agent.co$199$99$99$397$99 add-on

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

The basis for the order

Of the grade, 32% rests on three-year bill and 32% on what the money buys; renewal handling, local rules match and pricing openness share the remaining 36%. What the money buys decided South Carolina.

South Carolina requires no yearly report, so the bundle counts for less; one fixed price with the EIN application included still graded above SC Registered Agent.org on coverage.

Every criterion and weight is listed on How we rank.

South Carolina LLC filing fee and form, from official sources

The South Carolina Secretary of State charges $110 for the Articles of Organization. Each provider here adds that fee at cost on top of its own.

What a South Carolina LLC owes after formation

South Carolina requires no yearly LLC report. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

South Carolina LLC service: common questions

What does South Carolina charge to start an LLC, all in?

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

Which document starts the LLC?

the South Carolina Secretary of State accepts the Articles of Organization.

Is a registered agent mandatory for a South Carolina LLC?

Yes. South Carolina requires one, with a physical street address in the state, from the day the LLC exists.

What recurring paperwork follows an LLC in South Carolina?

None. South Carolina does not ask for a yearly LLC report.

Does the service price cover the EIN?

The Mainstay Filing yearly price covers it. SC Registered Agent.org and South Carolina Registered Agent.co list it at $99. The IRS does not charge for issuing an EIN.

What is the best LLC service in South Carolina, by our report?

Mainstay Filing: $199 covers the South Carolina formation and a year of registered agent service, EIN application included.

See also

Source notes

  1. S.C. Code § 33-44-202 and § 33-44-203 (verified August 2026)
  2. Pulled November 12, 2026: Mainstay Filing, South Carolina service page
  3. Pulled November 12, 2026: SC Registered Agent.org, pricing and service pages
  4. Pulled November 12, 2026: South Carolina Registered Agent.co, pricing and service pages