LLC service ratings · South Carolina
3 Best LLC Services in South Carolina (2026)
1. Mainstay Filing: best for one all-in yearly line
$199 a year plus the state fee, $309 due at checkout
Mainstay Filing is rated first: the formation and the registered agent share one $199 yearly amount, $199 on renewal.
With no yearly LLC report in South Carolina, the renewal line after year one is the registered agent alone (the first-year bundle also carried the EIN application).
On three-year sums Mainstay is $200 above SC Registered Agent.org; the wider coverage justifies that gap in the rating.
What you get
- The formation, prepared and filed for you
- A registered agent all year
- EIN application
Pros
- South Carolina's fee goes through at cost
- One $199 yearly line
- EIN application is in the package
- $199 on renewal with no extras
Trade-offs
- Agent renews $100 a year above SC Registered Agent.org
- South Carolina has no yearly report, so the bundle adds less
2. SC Registered Agent.org: best for a South Carolina LLC that will not expand
$199 to form, $99 a year for the agent, state fee extra
SC Registered Agent.org is rated second: $199 to form, state fee on top, then $99 a year for the agent.
The plan lists an in-state street address as the registered office and scans papers served there into your account.
What you get
- Formation prepared and filed
- Registered agent service for year one
Pros
- Formation line of $199, plus the state's fee
- Registered agent service for year one is included
- Then $99 yearly for the agent
Trade-offs
- EIN application billed at $99
3. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for staying local in South Carolina
$199 to form, $99 a year for the agent, state fee extra
South Carolina Registered Agent.co is rated third: $199 to form, state fee on top, then $99 a year for the agent.
The plan lists an in-state street address as the registered office and scans papers served there into your account.
Nothing in the published amounts or features separates SC Registered Agent.org from South Carolina Registered Agent.co; take either.
What you get
- Formation prepared and filed
- A year of registered agent service at the start
Pros
- $99 per year to keep the agent
- Includes year one as your registered agent
- $199 service fee and the filing fee
Trade-offs
- EIN application billed at $99
The 3 ratings summarized
| Line | Service | Rating | Service fee | Year two | Best for | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | 9.4 | $199 | $199/yr | Formation and agent on one line | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | SC Registered Agent.org | 9.0 | $199 | $99/yr | A South Carolina-only LLC counting every dollar | Visit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | South Carolina Registered Agent.co | 8.7 | $199 | $99/yr | A South Carolina-only LLC counting every dollar | Visit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
South Carolina LLC service amounts for 2026: year one, renewal and three-year sum
| Service | Year one | Year two | Year three | Three-year sum | EIN application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199 | $199 | $597 | Included |
| SC Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 | $99 add-on |
| South Carolina Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 | $99 add-on |
Reasoning behind the order
Weights: 27% cost over years one to three, 27% inclusions per price, 46% shared by renewal price and terms, fit with state rules and price clarity. Inclusions per price decided South Carolina.
South Carolina has no yearly report to file, so the bundle is worth less, yet one fixed amount with the EIN application included still rated above SC Registered Agent.org on coverage.
Each criterion and its weight is listed on How we rank.
South Carolina LLC formation: official amount and form
Filing the Articles of Organization costs $110, paid to the South Carolina Secretary of State. Each service here passes that amount through at cost, added to its own.
Ongoing items for a South Carolina LLC
South Carolina sets no yearly LLC report. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
South Carolina LLC service: your questions
What are the total costs to form an LLC in South Carolina?
$110 to the state plus $199 to the service.
What is the formation document called?
It is the Articles of Organization, lodged with the South Carolina Secretary of State.
Is a registered agent a requirement for a South Carolina LLC?
Yes. South Carolina wants a registered agent on file at all times, with a physical street address in the state.
Which filings recur each year for a South Carolina LLC?
No line items: South Carolina has no yearly LLC report.
Is the EIN application a separate charge?
Mainstay Filing includes it in the yearly price. SC Registered Agent.org and South Carolina Registered Agent.co charge $99 separately. At the IRS the EIN itself costs nothing.
Which LLC service holds the top rating in South Carolina?
Mainstay Filing, as $199 covers the South Carolina formation and a year as registered agent, EIN application included.
Source lines
- S.C. Code § 33-44-202 and § 33-44-203 (ledger date August 2026)
- Mainstay Filing, South Carolina service page: amounts read November 12, 2026
- SC Registered Agent.org, pricing and service pages: amounts read November 12, 2026
- South Carolina Registered Agent.co, pricing and service pages: amounts read November 12, 2026