Start a Free LLC in South Carolina

How to Form a South Carolina LLC in 5 Steps

First, you'll pick a name that no other business is using in the state. Then you appoint a registered agent who stays available during normal business hours and receives your state paperwork. Next, you file your formation paperwork with the state, which formally creates your LLC. After this step, you draft your operating agreement in writing to set the LLC's internal rules. The next step includes getting an EIN and opening a business bank account. Finally, check whether your city, county, or industry requires any business licenses or permits before you begin operating.

If you don’t want to handle these filings on your own, you don’t have to. Swyft Filings is a business formation company; we prepare and file your Articles of Organization with the state for free. You only pay the state fee. In our premium LLC formation packages, we offer added perks like free business attorney consultation, EIN filing, and a custom operating agreement. Our services also include DBA filing, annual report filing, and compliance alerts. Let us walk you through the steps of South Carolina LLC formation in detail.

Step 1: Pick a Name for Your South Carolina LLC

Your LLC's name goes on your Articles of Organization, your operating agreement, and every piece of business paperwork you file afterward, so it's worth getting right before you file anything. Swyft's business name generator can help you come up with a few options if you're stuck.

South Carolina has these important naming rules to follow:

• Your name must include a legal designator such as "LLC," "L.L.C.," or "Limited Liability Company."
• Your name can't use restricted words (like "Bank" or "Insurance") without extra approval, and it can't include words that suggest you're a government agency.
• Your name must be distinguishable from any other business name already registered or reserved with the South Carolina Secretary of State.

Once you have a name in mind, check that it's actually available. You can search existing South Carolina business names through the Business Name Search portal. To learn this process step by step, check our South Carolina business entity search guide.

Step 2: Appoint a South Carolina Registered Agent

Every South Carolina LLC needs a registered agent, meaning a person or company that agrees to accept legal documents and official state mail on your LLC's behalf. Your agent must be at least 18 years old, have a physical street address in South Carolina (a P.O. box doesn't count), and be available at that address during normal business hours.

South Carolina doesn't provide a separate consent form for registered agents. Instead, your agent's signature goes directly on the Articles of Organization when you file, so they're confirming the appointment as part of your paperwork rather than signing something extra.

You can choose anyone (a friend, parent, or sibling) as a registered agent if you meet those requirements, or you can use a South Carolina registered agent service to keep your home address off the public record and make sure nothing important gets missed.

Step 3: File Your South Carolina Articles of Organization

You'll form your LLC by filing Form F0006, Articles of Organization, with the South Carolina Secretary of State. The fee is $110 if you file by mail or $125 if you file online (that's the $110 base fee plus a $15 online filing charge).

South Carolina gives you two ways to file:

• Online: File through the Secretary of State's Business Filings Online portal. You'll create an account, enter your LLC's information, pay by card, and typically get approved faster than by mail.
• By mail: Download and complete Form F0006, then mail it with a check or money order to the South Carolina Secretary of State's office.

To file, you'll need to have ready:

• Your LLC's name
• Your registered agent's name and South Carolina address
• Your principal office address
• The names of at least one organizer (the person filing the paperwork)
• Whether your LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed

One thing worth knowing: South Carolina's Articles of Organization don't require you to list your LLC's individual members by name, which gives owners more privacy than some other states.

Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement

Once your LLC is filed, put your ownership and operating rules in writing. South Carolina doesn't require you to submit this document to the state, but you should still have one on file to maintain clear records and define internal rules.

Main terms to add in a South Carolina LLC operating agreement:

• Start with the general business information about your business. This includes business information such as the business address, member details, and LLC term.

• Specify LLC structure (member-based or manager-based) and outline the specific voting rights of members.

• Write the names and addresses of the members, their specific roles, and what percentage of ownership each member holds.

• State the current tax status of your LLC and mention the process to change the tax status in the future. Specify who has authority to make those decisions.

• List a clause on how membership gets transferred to a new member and how a member leaves.

• Include operating agreement amendment procedures.

• Provide clear instructions on business dissolution and how any remaining assets will be distributed.

You don't have to start from scratch. You can either choose a free operating agreement template or have Swyft draft a custom operating agreement tailored to your business. For the complete walkthrough, see the South Carolina operating agreement guide.

Step 5: Get an EIN

The Internal Revenue Service issues a nine-digit number, called an EIN, to businesses that need it for federal tax purposes. This includes hiring employees, opening a bank account, and filing taxes in the U.S. You can apply for an EIN directly on the IRS website and get it for free in minutes. The application requires the following details:

• SSN or ITIN of the business owner
• Business name or any DBA names
• Mailing address
• Entity details
• Reason for applying

If you don’t have a Social Security Number, you can apply for an EIN through Form SS-4.

What Are the Post-Formation Requirements for an LLC in South Carolina

File Your South Carolina LLC Annual Report

Most South Carolina LLCs don't have to file an annual report at all. Standard LLCs taxed as sole props or partnerships are exempt from this requirement. The only exception is an LLC that elects to be taxed as a corporation, which then has to file an annual report each year along with its South Carolina income tax return. If you're not sure which category your LLC falls into, it's worth checking before you assume you're off the fee obligation.

Open a Business Bank Account for Your LLC in South Carolina

Once you have your EIN, you can open a business bank account in your LLC's name. Most banks ask for:

• Your approved Articles of Organization (the state-stamped copy)
• Your EIN confirmation letter from the IRS
• A copy of your operating agreement, if the bank requests one
• Government-issued photo ID for each owner opening the account
• Your LLC's business address and phone number

To open the account:

1. Choose a bank. Compare monthly fees, minimum balance requirements, and whether you want branches nearby or an online-only bank.
2. Bring your documents. Many banks let you start the application online, but some require you to finish in person or upload signed paperwork.
3. Fund the account. Many banks require a minimum opening deposit, so check before you go.
4. Keep it separate. Run all business income and expenses through this account only, and avoid paying personal bills from it.

Apply for a Business License in South Carolina

South Carolina doesn't issue one statewide general business license. Instead, most cities and counties require their own local business license before you can legally operate, and requirements vary by location.

For example, the City of Charleston requires a Business License and Certificate of Occupancy application for any business with a physical location in city limits, along with a floor plan and your EIN.

The City of Columbia bases its license fee on your projected gross income for the year, and licenses there expire every April 30, so you'll need to renew annually.

Requirements like these vary from one city or county to the next, so check with the specific city or county where your LLC operates before you start doing business. You can also allow us to help you with business license research in South Carolina. See Swyft's South Carolina business license guide for a full breakdown.

How Much Does an LLC Cost in South Carolina?

DIY vs. Swyft Filings: South Carolina LLC Formation Differences

Starting an LLC in South Carolina yourself is possible, but it requires time, research, and follow-up. Here’s how forming a South Carolina LLC on your own compares with using Swyft Filings:

*Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about forming an LLC in South Carolina and is not a legal, tax, or financial advice.*