South Carolina: the quick briefing
9th
among 50 states for foreign LLC state fees
Fee the state takes at registration
$110
Report you must file again
None
No recurring report for foreign LLCs
Paper from the home state
30 days
How old it can be
What the state collects in 3 years
$110
Three years of state fees for a foreign LLC
South Carolina: the services we would choose
We ordered the list with five criteria, and three-year fees and coverage count most (the
method page covers the rest).
Our #1
1. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in several states
Their fee $199; later years $149
Mainstay Filing earns the top spot because its fee is $199 in any state, and the first year of agent service costs you nothing.
Plan on spending $100 more than at South Carolina Registered Agent.co over three years, in exchange for fewer filings left for you to do.
From the second year, agent service costs you $149 a year.
What your money gets you
- Prepares your registration and files it
- The price is the same in every state
What works
- $199 above the state fee
- The same price in every state
What to weigh
- A higher agent renewal ($149)
Local option
2. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for a low-cost South Carolina filing
Their fee $199; later years $99
South Carolina Registered Agent.co takes second place because $199 above the state fee gets you registered; after that it is $99 a year.
What your money gets you
- Prepares your registration filing
- A year of agent service
What works
- $199 and the state fee
- Then $99 a year
- The first agent year is free
What to weigh
- No help beyond this state
Local option
3. SC Registered Agent.org: best for another option in South Carolina
Their fee $199; later years $99
SC Registered Agent.org takes third place because $199 above the state fee gets you registered; after that it is $99 a year.
On price it is exactly level with South Carolina Registered Agent.co.
What your money gets you
- Prepares your registration filing
- A year of agent service
What works
- The first agent year is free
- Then $99 a year
- $199 and the state fee
What to weigh
- No help beyond this state
Prices side by side
Every price here was taken from the company's website on November 13, 2026. The $110 state fee is not part of any row.
Foreign LLC cost calculator
The registration fee is $110, and provider fees are added on top.
How South Carolina compares with the states near it in the ranking
South Carolina foreign registration: the fee, the form and the office
The Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form F0008) plus $110 is what the South Carolina Secretary of State wants from an LLC formed in another state. Your application must come with certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, issued in the past 30 days.
You will not file a recurring report as a foreign LLC here.
Before you file
- Certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, not older than 30 days.
- The legal name of your LLC and the day it was formed.
- Somebody to serve as a registered agent in the state, and each of our picks offers this.
- Enough to cover the $110 official fee.
What happens if you skip registration in South Carolina
If your LLC could ever need to sue there, register first (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). The state does not void your contracts (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).
Why Mainstay Filing comes first
Mainstay Filing wins on upkeep the price covers, which counts 26%, and South Carolina Registered Agent.co is next.
With two states involved, the provider that works in each moved ahead of South Carolina Registered Agent.co.
Quick answers
How much will it cost to register my out-of-state LLC with South Carolina?
$110 in state fees. The providers here charge $199 more.
Which form do I use to register an out-of-state LLC with South Carolina?
Use the Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form F0008) and send it to the South Carolina Secretary of State.
Does the state want a certificate from my home state?
Yes, you need certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, dated within 30 days of your filing.
Will my foreign LLC have to file anything every year?
No. South Carolina does not ask foreign LLCs for a yearly report.
What happens if my LLC does business there without registering?
If your LLC could ever need to sue there, register first (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). The state does not void your contracts (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).
Must I appoint a registered agent when registering in South Carolina?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which service should I choose to register a foreign LLC?
Go with Mainstay Filing: $199 plus South Carolina's state fee, then $149 a year for the agent from year 2. After that: South Carolina Registered Agent.co and SC Registered Agent.org.
Where this briefing comes from
- Everything in this briefing about S.C rests on scstatehouse.gov, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about South Carolina Business Entities Online rests on businessfilings.sc.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about SC Secretary of State, business entity FAQs rests on sos.sc.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about SC Department of Revenue, corporate FAQs rests on dor.sc.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about S.C rests on scstatehouse.gov, which we confirmed in November 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about New Mexico Secretary of State, Business Services rests on sos.nm.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about SOS Enterprise online filing portal rests on enterprise.sos.nm.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Business Online Filing Help rests on api.realfile.rtsclients.com, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about NMSA 1978, Chapter 53 rests on nmonesource.com, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Taxation and Revenue Department, who must register rests on tax.newmexico.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations rests on sos.mo.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Form LLC 4, foreign LLC registration rests on sos.mo.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Business filing fee schedule rests on sos.mo.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about RSMo 347.153, registration of foreign LLCs rests on revisor.mo.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about RSMo 347.163, transacting business and penalties rests on revisor.mo.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Missouri Department of Revenue, business registration rests on dor.mo.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Nebraska Secretary of State, forms and fee information rests on sos.nebraska.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Application for Certificate of Authority, foreign LLC rests on sos.nebraska.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Neb rests on nebraskalegislature.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Neb rests on nebraskalegislature.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Nebraska Secretary of State, annual and biennial reporting rests on sos.nebraska.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Iowa Secretary of State, business entity forms and rests on sos.iowa.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about LLC Foreign Registration Statement, Form 635_0010 rests on sos.iowa.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Iowa Code 489.902, registration requirement rests on legis.iowa.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Iowa Code 489.905, activities that do not count rests on legis.iowa.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Iowa Code 489.212, biennial report rests on legis.iowa.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Iowa Secretary of State, certificate of existence rests on sos.iowa.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- South Carolina service page for Mainstay Filing was confirmed on the company site on November 13, 2026
- Pricing page for South Carolina Registered Agent.co was confirmed on the company site on November 13, 2026
- Pricing page for SC Registered Agent.org was confirmed on the company site on November 13, 2026