South Carolina business formation and filing fees
Compare the costs of creating an LLC or corporation in South Carolina, or registering a company formed elsewhere. The filing office is South Carolina Secretary of State, Business Filings Division.
Starting a company in South Carolina
Domestic LLC filing fee
South Carolina domestic LLC Articles of Organization use the Business Entities Online filing system and the statutory fee schedule; the reviewed accessible official pages did not expose a single 2026 total in their text extract. File the correct form, compliant name, organizer, registered agent/office, and required fee.
Domestic corporation filing fee
South Carolina domestic corporation formation requires Articles of Incorporation, registered agent/office, incorporator and share information, and the statutory filing fee. The accessible 2026 official page did not expose one complete total; corporate franchise tax or license charges may also be required.
Registering a company formed elsewhere
For state registration, “foreign” can mean a company formed in another U.S. state. These fees are separate from creating a new South Carolina entity.
Foreign LLC qualification
A foreign LLC qualifies by filing the applicable application through Business Entities Online, supplying home-jurisdiction existence evidence, a South Carolina registered agent/office, and the current statutory fee. Exact fee and certificate requirements vary with the entity form and should be confirmed at filing.
Foreign corporation qualification
A foreign corporation files an application for authority with certified or otherwise acceptable home-state evidence, South Carolina agent/office information, and the current statutory fee. Franchise-tax, license, and Department of Revenue obligations are separate from the Secretary of State filing.
South Carolina processing times
Business Entities Online permits electronic filing and search, while PDF forms are also available. The Secretary of State does not state one universal approval time in the reviewed page; complete compliant online filings are generally the fastest and remain subject to review.
Expedited filing options
The reviewed South Carolina Business Entities pages did not establish a universal 2026 same-day, 24-hour, or two-hour formation tier. Confirm whether a particular document or delivery method has a rush option and its statutory surcharge before submitting.
Choose your next South Carolina guide
Business entity search →
Find an existing business and understand its public record.
Annual reports →
Check recurring deadlines, report fees, and reinstatement rules.
Good standing →
Order a certificate, certified copy, or apostille.
Registered agent →
Check agent qualifications, changes, and resignations.