To form an LLC in South Carolina, you file Articles of Organization (Form F0006) with the Secretary of State and pay a $110 fee, either online through the Business Entities Online portal or by mail to the Columbia office. The document has to contain seven specific items required by state law, and the LLC exists as a legal entity the moment the office files it.1South Carolina Secretary of State. Downloadable Paper Forms – Business Entities Online
What Has to Be in the Document
South Carolina’s Uniform Limited Liability Company Act requires seven pieces of information in every Articles of Organization filing:2Justia. South Carolina Code Title 33 Chapter 44 – Uniform Limited Liability Company Act Of 1996
- The company name, which must follow the naming rules in the next section.
- The initial designated office address in South Carolina. This does not have to be a place of business.
- The name and street address of the registered agent, the person or entity authorized to accept legal papers for the LLC. A P.O. box will not satisfy this.3South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 33 Chapter 44 – Section 33-44-108
- The name and address of each organizer. An organizer is whoever is filing the document and does not have to become a member.
- Whether the LLC will exist for a fixed term or indefinitely. Indefinite duration makes it an “at-will” company under the statute; a fixed term has to state its length.
- Whether the LLC will be member-managed (owners share decision-making) or manager-managed (designated managers run operations). If it will be manager-managed, the articles must list each initial manager’s name and address.
- Whether any members will be personally liable for company debts. This is unusual, and most LLCs decline. If any member accepts personal liability, the election has to appear in the articles and the member has to consent in writing.4South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 33-44-303 – Liability of Members to Third Parties
At least one organizer has to sign. The filing itself is treated as conclusive proof that formation conditions were met, so the details have to be right.5South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 33-44-202 – Organization The LLC exists the moment the state files the document, but you can specify a delayed effective date up to 90 days out if you want to align formation with a tax year or a launch date. A delayed date without a stated time takes effect at the close of business that day.6South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 33-1-230 – Effective Time and Date of Filing
You can add optional provisions (things you might otherwise put in an operating agreement) as long as they don’t conflict with non-waivable parts of the statute. Most filers keep the articles minimal and handle operating details separately.
LLC Name Requirements
Your name has to include a designator identifying the entity as an LLC. South Carolina accepts “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” or the abbreviations “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “LC,” or “L.C.” You can also abbreviate “Limited” as “Ltd.” and “Company” as “Co.”7South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 33 Chapter 44 – Section 33-44-105
The name also has to be distinguishable from any corporation, limited partnership, or LLC already on file. Search the Secretary of State’s business entity database before you file to confirm availability. If you want to lock in a name before filing, you can reserve it for 120 days for $25. The reservation cannot be renewed.8South Carolina Secretary of State. Downloadable Paper Forms – Reserve or Register a Business Name
Filing Online vs. by Mail
Both methods cost $110. Online is faster.
Online
The Business Entities Online system lets you enter the information directly and pay by credit card, with a confirmation screen before submission. Online filings generally process in one to two business days.
By Mail
Send two signed copies of Form F0006 with a check or money order for $110 made out to the South Carolina Secretary of State. The address is 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia, SC 29201. Mailed filings are handled in the order received and can take several business days to a week or more depending on office volume.
Once the office approves the filing, you receive a file-stamped copy — online filers by email, mail filers by post. That stamped document is your proof the LLC exists, and the entity’s information becomes searchable on the state’s business database.
What to Do After the LLC Is Formed
Approval is a milestone, not the end of the setup. Several follow-ups are either legally required or practically necessary before the business can operate.
Get an EIN
Apply to the IRS for an Employer Identification Number after the state confirms formation, not before, to avoid mismatches in IRS records. Even a single-member LLC that could technically use the owner’s Social Security number will need an EIN to open a business bank account or to satisfy South Carolina tax rules.9Internal Revenue Service. Single Member Limited Liability Companies The IRS online application issues the number immediately at no cost.10Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number
Draft an Operating Agreement
South Carolina does not require a written operating agreement. The statute says members “may” enter into one and it “need not be in writing.”11South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 33-44-103 – Effect of Operating Agreement Skip it and any dispute over profit splits, voting, or exits gets resolved by the state’s default rules, which probably don’t match what the owners actually agreed. Multi-member LLCs feel this most, but single-member LLCs benefit too because a written agreement reinforces the separation between owner and entity.
Register With the Department of Revenue
Businesses operating in or maintaining a location in South Carolina register with the Department of Revenue using Form SCDOR-111. You need your EIN first.12South Carolina Department of Revenue. Apply for a Business Tax Account This sets up the accounts for sales tax collection, employee withholding, and any other state tax obligations that apply.
Annual Reports
Most South Carolina LLCs do not file an annual report with the Secretary of State. The exception is an LLC that elects to be taxed as a C-Corporation or S-Corporation, which triggers additional filing requirements with the Department of Revenue tied to that tax status.
Local Business Licenses
South Carolina cities and counties generally require a local business license for any business operating in their jurisdiction. Fees vary by municipality and are usually based on gross income. Check with the city or county business license office where you operate; this obligation runs independently of the state filing.
Changing the Articles Later
If you need to change the name, registered agent, management structure, or any other information in the original articles, file Amended Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. The fee is $110, the same as the original.13South Carolina Secretary of State. Downloadable Paper Forms – Making Amendments to an Existing Business A Restated Articles filing that reorganizes without substantive changes costs $10. Mailed amendments, like the original, require two copies sent to the Columbia office.