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Filing Verdict

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

LLC service verdict · South Carolina

3 Best LLC Services in South Carolina (2026)

Filing Verdict's 2026 verdict on LLC services in South Carolina: Mainstay Filing ($199), South Carolina Registered Agent.co ($199) and SC Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. Mainstay Filing takes first place: $199 a year covers the South Carolina filing and your registered agent, plus the EIN application, and it renews at $199.
The Filing Verdict editorial team
Best here
Spot 1

1. Mainstay Filing: best for a single all-in yearly price

$199 each year plus the state fee ($309 due at checkout)

9.3Editorial score
out of 10

Mainstay Filing wins here: a single $199 yearly price for the formation and the registered agent, renewing at $199.

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

The three-year bill is $200 higher than South Carolina Registered Agent.co's, and the wider coverage is worth that to us.

What you get

  • The formation filing, prepared and submitted for you
  • Service as your registered agent all year
  • The EIN application

What we like

  • South Carolina's fee is passed through at cost
  • One $199 yearly price
  • $199 at renewal, nothing extra
  • The EIN application comes with it

Cons

  • From year two its agent costs $100 a year more than South Carolina Registered Agent.co's
  • With no yearly report in South Carolina, the bundle gives you less
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Our full Mainstay Filing verdict
Best local option
Spot 2

2. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for a South Carolina LLC that plans to stay local

Formation $199, then $99 a year for the agent, plus the state fee

8.9Editorial score
out of 10

Second place goes to South Carolina Registered Agent.co: $199 plus the South Carolina filing fee, with the first year of registered agent service included, then $99 a year.

The plan gives the company an in-state street address as its registered office, and papers served on the company are scanned to your online account.

What you get

  • South Carolina formation filed for you
  • Year-one registered agent service

What we like

  • Year-two agent cost of $99
  • $199 to file, state fee extra
  • First-year registered agent service comes with it

Cons

  • The EIN application is billed separately ($99)
Visit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Our full South Carolina Registered Agent.co verdict
Lower renewal than Mainstay
Spot 3

3. SC Registered Agent.org: best for a local South Carolina filing

Formation $199, then $99 a year for the agent, plus the state fee

8.7Editorial score
out of 10

Third place goes to SC Registered Agent.org: $199 plus the South Carolina filing fee, with the first year of registered agent service included, then $99 a year.

The plan gives the company an in-state street address as its registered office, and papers served on the company are scanned to your online account.

Nothing in the published prices or features divides South Carolina Registered Agent.co from SC Registered Agent.org; pick either.

What you get

  • South Carolina formation filed for you
  • A first year of registered agent service

What we like

  • $99 per year keeps the agent after year one
  • The first registered agent year is included
  • Formation at $199 before the state fee

Cons

  • The EIN application is billed separately ($99)
Visit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Our full SC Registered Agent.org verdict

The 3 verdicts at a glance

No.ServiceVerdict scoreService feeYear twoBest forVisit
1Mainstay Filing9.3$199$199/yrFormation and agent, one price Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2South Carolina Registered Agent.co8.9$199$99/yrA South Carolina-only LLC watching its budget Visit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3SC Registered Agent.org8.7$199$99/yrA South Carolina-only LLC watching its budget Visit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Scores come from Filing Verdict's editors, out of 10, using the criteria explained on How we rank; they are not customer ratings.

South Carolina LLC service prices for 2026: year one, renewals and three years

ServiceYear 1Year 2Year 3Total, 3 yearsEIN application
Mainstay Filing$199$199$199$597Included
South Carolina Registered Agent.co$199$99$99$397$99 add-on
SC Registered Agent.org$199$99$99$397$99 add-on
Prices were read from each company's own pages on November 12, 2026. South Carolina's $110 filing fee goes on top of every row and is not counted in these totals.

What settled the order

Two criteria lead Filing Verdict's method at 35% apiece: total over three years and paperwork the price handles. Renewal behavior, match to the state and up-front pricing share the other 30%, and South Carolina came down to paperwork the price handles.

South Carolina has no yearly report to file, so the bundle matters less here, but a single fixed price with the EIN application included still edged out South Carolina Registered Agent.co on coverage.

The full list of criteria and weights is on How we rank.

South Carolina LLC filing fee and form: official figures

Filing the Articles of Organization costs $110 at the South Carolina Secretary of State. Each service on this page adds that fee on top of its own price, at cost.

South Carolina LLC upkeep after the filing

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

South Carolina LLC service: questions answered

What does it cost to form an LLC in South Carolina?

The state filing fee is $110, and the service fee is $199.

Which form do I file to create the LLC?

You file the Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State.

Does a South Carolina LLC have to name a registered agent?

Yes. South Carolina requires every LLC to keep a registered agent on file, and the agent needs a street address in the state.

Which yearly filings does a South Carolina LLC owe?

None. South Carolina has no yearly LLC report.

Does the price include the EIN application?

Mainstay Filing includes it in the yearly price. South Carolina Registered Agent.co and SC Registered Agent.org bill $99 extra. The IRS charges nothing for an EIN.

Which LLC service is the best pick in South Carolina?

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

Read next

Sources and dates

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