How to Form an LLC in South Carolina

It’s easy to form an LLC in South Carolina online yourself. Just follow these steps:

Name Your LLC
Choose a Registered Agent
File the SC Articles of Organization
Create an LLC Operating Agreement
Get an EIN

Need help forming a South Carolina LLC? Use a professional service like ZenBusiness to start a South Carolina LLC.

Starting a South Carolina LLC is Easy

You can start a South Carolina LLC online by filing the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. The cost to create an LLC in South Carolina is $110.

Follow our How to Form an LLC in South Carolina guide below to get started.

To learn how to form an LLC in any state, visit our How to Form an LLC guide.

Step 1: Create A Name For Your South Carolina LLC

Before you register your LLC, you'll need to come up with a name. Your business name needs to be catchy for branding purposes and legitimate for legal purposes.

We go into depth on this topic in our LLC naming guide. We’ll go over the basics below.

Naming Your LLC

First, brainstorm some possibilities. Use our LLC name generator to get the ideas flowing.

Next, make sure your name meets South Carolina guidelines:

it contains the words limited liability company, limited company, or the abbreviation LLC or L.L.C.
it doesn't contain restricted words or phrases (these often include words like bank, attorney, and university) without approval
it must be distinguishable from any other entity or trade name registered in South Carolina
full list of naming guidelines in Section 33-44-105 of SC LLC statute

Next, do a South Carolina LLC name search with the Secretary of State to find out if your name is available in South Carolina.

If your business name is available and meets guidelines, you’ll be able to register it when you file your SC Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State.

Is the URL available? Before you commit 100% to a name, check to see if there’s a good web domain available.

We recommend buying your domain right away because even if launching a business website isn’t on your radar right now, it will be soon.

Find a Domain Now

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Once you register a domain name for your LLC, consider setting up a business phone system to establish credibility and enhance your customer service. Nextiva provides a plethora of useful features and a quick, easy setup. Try Nextiva.

Step 2: Appoint A Registered Agent

When you file your Articles of Organization, you'll need to list a registered agent, known as a resident agent in South Carolina.

A registered agent's job is to accept legal documents like service of process and tax notices for your LLC.

Your registered agent can be a person or a registered agent service. You can act as your own registered agent, but many business owners choose to use a registered agent service.

Here are a few things to think about before you decide to act as your own registered agent:

You’ll need to be available during normal (9 am - 5 pm) business hours at the address you provide
If you run your business from home, you’ll have to make your personal address public
You could be served with a lawsuit in front of your family or coworkers

Recommended: Northwest Registered Agent offers a free year of registered agent service when you form your LLC ($39 plus state fees).

Step 3: File Your South Carolina LLC Articles of Organization

It’s time to officially form your LLC by filing your South Carolina Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State.

You can file online with the Secretary of State or fill out a hard copy of Articles of Organization and mail it in. The filing fee is $110.

Recommended: Now is a good time to decide if your LLC will be member-managed vs manager-managed.

You'll need to know the following information to complete each Article:

Entity Name and Address
Registered Agent Name and Registered Office Address
Organizers
Governing Authority Type (LLC Management Structure)
Member Debt Liability
LLC Duration and Effective Date

For more detailed help with completing the form, visit our South Carolina Articles of Organization guide.

Mail Your Articles of Organization:

Send the form and payment (payable to the Secretary of State) to:

South Carolina Secretary of State's Office
Attn: Corporate Fillings
1205 Pendleton Street
Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201

How long does it take to get an LLC approved? LLC processing time is 24 hours if filed online and 5 to 7 business days if filed by mail.

Step 4: Create A South Carolina LLC Operating Agreement

Creating a South Carolina LLC operating agreement is the only way to legally lock down your LLC’s management and ownership structure. Having this document in place will give you something to return to if a dispute or lawsuit arises.

Even single-member LLCs benefit from having an operating agreement.

Your operating agreement should outline the following:

Each member’s responsibilities
How new members will be admitted
How existing members may transfer or terminate their membership
How profits and dividends will be distributed

You can add as many provisions as you want, as long as they don't conflict with South Carolina business law. Take a look at our What is an Operating Agreement guide to learn more.

Download a template or create a custom Free Operating Agreement using our tool.

Step 5: Get an EIN

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is like a Social Security number (SSN) for your company. The IRS and the state of South Carolina will use this number to track your business activity.

Your EIN will come in handy when it’s time to:

Open a business bank account
File Federal and State taxes
Hire employees

The best way to get an EIN for your LLC in South Carolina is by using the free online application on the IRS website.

Read our Get an EIN guide for instructions.

Steps After Forming an LLC

After forming your LLC, it's important to:

Open a business bank account. A business bank account helps separate personal expenses and company expenses, which is required to maintain your LLC's corporate veil. A corporate veil protects your personal assets from creditors in potential lawsuits against your LLC or Business.

Learn more by reading this guide to Banking for Entrepreneurs. For a multi-member LLC, you'll also want to set up capital accounts for members. We also recommend checking out our review of the best business bank accounts.
Get a business credit card. A business credit card will help separate personal and business expenses while building your company’s credit history. A strong credit history will be useful for raising capital in the form of small business loans.
Hire a business accountant. A business accountant will help you save on taxes and avoid penalties and fines. An accountant makes bookkeeping and payroll easier. Find out how much you could be saving with a consultation with a business accountant.
Get business insurance. Business insurance helps manage risk. The most common forms of business insurance are general liability, professional liability, and workers’ compensation.

Find out the real cost of getting insurance for your business. Get a free quote or call 855-602-1925.

Keep Your Company Compliant

Research South Carolina business licenses and permits. For help, visit our How to Get a Business License in South Carolina guide. There are also business license services that will help with this.
Understand South Carolina state tax requirements. Visit our South Carolina Sales Tax guide to learn more about seller’s permits and South Carolina sales tax.
Understand federal tax requirements. Most LLCs will need to report their income to the IRS each year using Form 1065 Partnership Return (multi-member LLCs) or Form 1040 Schedule C (single-member LLCs).

How you pay yourself will affect your federal taxes. Visit our guide to learn more about how to pay yourself from your LLC.

More LLC Resources

South Carolina Foreign LLCs: Forming a foreign LLC allows your company to operate as one entity in multiple states. Download the South Carolina foreign LLC form to get started.
South Carolina Certificate of Good Standing: A certificate of good standing verifies that your LLC was legally formed. To order, follow our South Carolina certificate of good standing guide.
Dissolving a South Carolina LLC: If you are ready to dissolve your LLC, follow the steps in our South Carolina LLC Dissolution Guide.
LLC Legal Forms: TRUiC offers a number of free LLC legal forms including operating agreements, LLC resolutions, and hiring documents.