State registration fee
$110
dor.sc.gov (read October 2026)
Foreign LLC guide · South Carolina
South Carolina Foreign LLC Registration Fees (2026): the Official Numbers and the 3 Best Services
South Carolina Registered Agent.co ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and SC Registered Agent.org ($199) come first, second and third for registering an out-of-state LLC in South Carolina in 2026. South Carolina charges an out-of-state LLC $110 to register at the South Carolina Secretary of State and asks for no report after that. The three-year state cost is number 9th of 50.
South Carolina in figures
Recurring report
None
The state does not ask for one
Certificate from home state
30 days
Newest age allowed
State charges over 3 years
$110
The registration fee plus reports in years 2 and 3
The services we pick in South Carolina
The order comes from five criteria, and the two that weigh most are three-year fees and coverage (the method page explains the rest).
1. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for a small yearly agent price
$199 plus the state fee; agent $99 per year from year 2
South Carolina Registered Agent.co comes first because it registers you in South Carolina for $199 and includes a year of agent service; after that the agent costs $99 a year.
It beats Mainstay Filing on three-year cost, and cost is 34% of the score.
What the price takes in
- Takes care of the foreign registration filing
- A year of agent service
In its favor
- $99 a year from year 2
- A year of agent service in the price
- $199 plus the state fee
Against it
- No help outside this state
2. Mainstay Filing: best for growing beyond the home state
$199 plus the state fee; agent $149 per year from year 2
In second place sits Mainstay Filing: the provider fee is $199 in any state, and the first year of agent service costs nothing.
The three-year total here is $100 above South Carolina Registered Agent.co's, and cost is the heaviest weight in the score.
After year 1, agent service runs $149 yearly everywhere.
What the price takes in
- Files the registration for you
- One price whatever the state
In its favor
- One price everywhere
- $199 above the state fee
Against it
- South Carolina Registered Agent.co's agent renews for $50 less
3. SC Registered Agent.org: best for South Carolina registrations
$199 plus the state fee; agent $99 per year from year 2
Number 3, SC Registered Agent.org, for this reason: it registers you in South Carolina for $199 and includes a year of agent service; after that the agent costs $99 a year.
Its prices equal South Carolina Registered Agent.co's, so the two are close.
What the price takes in
- Takes care of the foreign registration filing
- A year of agent service
In its favor
- $99 a year from year 2
- A year of agent service in the price
- $199 plus the state fee
Against it
- No help outside this state
South Carolina ranking in one table
| No. | Provider | First year | Later years | Provider fees over 3 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | SC Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
We read each company's price page on November 13, 2026. Add the $110 state fee to every row.
Foreign LLC cost calculator
The registration fee is $110; provider fees are added.
South Carolina and the states around it in the ranking
| Place | State | Three-year foreign LLC fees |
|---|---|---|
| 5th | New Mexico | $100 |
| 8th | Missouri | $105 |
| 9th | South Carolina | $110 |
| 10th | Nebraska | $125 |
| 11th | Iowa | $130 |
The complete list ranks all fifty states the same way.
South Carolina foreign LLC registration fee and form (official)
The South Carolina Secretary of State takes the Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form F0008) and $110 from LLCs formed in other states. The state asks for certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, no older than 30 days.
South Carolina sets no recurring report for out-of-state LLCs.
Pre-filing checklist
- Certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, no more than 30 days.
- The home-state legal name and date of formation.
- A registered agent in the state, available from any pick on this page.
- The funds to cover the $110 registration fee.
What staying unregistered can cost
If the LLC might ever have to sue there, register first (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). The state does not void contracts (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).
Why the first pick is first
South Carolina Registered Agent.co moved ahead of Mainstay Filing on service bill, years one to three, which is weighted 34%.
South Carolina Registered Agent.co comes to $397 in provider fees over three years, $100 less than Mainstay Filing.
South Carolina questions and answers
How much does it cost a foreign LLC to register in South Carolina?
$110 to the state in fees. Our picks add $199.
Which form registers a foreign LLC in South Carolina?
The Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form F0008), which is sent to the South Carolina Secretary of State.
Does the state want a certificate from the home state?
Yes, it wants certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, dated within 30 days of the filing.
Does a foreign LLC file anything every year?
No. South Carolina asks foreign LLCs for no yearly report.
What are the consequences of working there without registering?
If the LLC might ever have to sue there, register first (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). The state does not void contracts (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).
Does a foreign LLC in South Carolina need a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which service would you choose to register a foreign LLC?
Put South Carolina Registered Agent.co first (a provider fee of $199 and an agent renewal of $99), followed by Mainstay Filing and SC Registered Agent.org.
Where these facts come from
- Check our statements on S.C against scstatehouse.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on South Carolina Business Entities Online against businessfilings.sc.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on SC Secretary of State, business entity FAQs against sos.sc.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on SC Department of Revenue, corporate FAQs against dor.sc.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on S.C against scstatehouse.gov, the official page, which we last read in November 2026.
- Check our statements on New Mexico Secretary of State, Business Services against sos.nm.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on SOS Enterprise online filing portal against enterprise.sos.nm.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Business Online Filing Help against api.realfile.rtsclients.com, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on NMSA 1978, Chapter 53 against nmonesource.com, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Taxation and Revenue Department, who must register against tax.newmexico.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations against sos.mo.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Form LLC 4, foreign LLC registration against sos.mo.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Business filing fee schedule against sos.mo.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on RSMo 347.153, registration of foreign LLCs against revisor.mo.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on RSMo 347.163, transacting business and penalties against revisor.mo.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Missouri Department of Revenue, business registration against dor.mo.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Nebraska Secretary of State, forms and fee information against sos.nebraska.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Application for Certificate of Authority, foreign LLC against sos.nebraska.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Neb against nebraskalegislature.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Neb against nebraskalegislature.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Nebraska Secretary of State, annual and biennial reporting against sos.nebraska.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Iowa Secretary of State, business entity forms and against sos.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on LLC Foreign Registration Statement, Form 635_0010 against sos.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Iowa Code 489.902, registration requirement against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Iowa Code 489.905, activities that do not count against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Iowa Code 489.212, biennial report against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Iowa Secretary of State, certificate of existence against sos.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- South Carolina Registered Agent.co lists pricing page on its own site, read November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing lists South Carolina service page on its own site, read November 13, 2026
- SC Registered Agent.org lists pricing page on its own site, read November 13, 2026