South Carolina Foreign LLCs (2026): Registration Fees and the 3 Best Services
Almanac pick for foreign LLC registration in South Carolina, 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199), South Carolina Registered Agent.co ($199) and SC Registered Agent.org ($199), ranked first to last. A foreign LLC pays South Carolina $110 up front; 9th of 50 over three years.
$110Registration plus the next two years of reports
The services we would hire in South Carolina
Order from the five weighted criteria on the methodology page: three-year service fees at 32%, filings covered at 28%, then renewal price, fit with South Carolina rules and clarity of fees.
1. Mainstay Filing: best for the same price in any state
Where we would begin$199 plus state fee; agent $149/yr from year two
Mainstay Filing opens the list: it files the South Carolina registration at $199 beyond the state's fee, with year one of agent service thrown in.
The premium over South Carolina Registered Agent.co is $100 across three years, and more of the state's paperwork gets handled for it.
The free agent year ends and $149 a year begins, wherever the company registers.
In the price
The registration filing, handled for you
Fifty-state coverage
Strengths
$199 on top of South Carolina's fee
One fee anywhere
Weak points
South Carolina Registered Agent.co's agent renews $50 lower
Out-of-state LLCs use the Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form F0008) and register with the South Carolina Secretary of State ($110). It requires certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, no older than 30 days.
A foreign LLC in South Carolina has no report to file each year.
Checklist before filing
Certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, no older than 30 days.
The registered name and formation date from home.
A registered agent with a South Carolina street address (each service above can serve).
A way to pay the $110 registration fee.
Risks of working unregistered
The state's courts will not take a suit it files before registering (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). Contracts already signed still hold (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).
Why Mainstay Filing is listed first
The deciding criterion in South Carolina was requirements covered, weighted 28%.
A foreign LLC already lives in another state, so a provider covering both states scored best.
South Carolina FAQ
What does a foreign LLC pay to register in South Carolina?
$110 as the official fee. A service adds $199.
What is the foreign registration form in South Carolina?
Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form F0008), filed with the South Carolina Secretary of State.
Is a certificate from the home state required?
Yes, certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, dated within 30 days of the filing.
What does a foreign LLC owe each year?
Nothing repeats: South Carolina has no yearly report for foreign LLCs.
What happens if the LLC operates there unregistered?
The state's courts will not take a suit it files before registering (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). Contracts already signed still hold (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).
Does a foreign LLC need a registered agent in South Carolina?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Who should handle the registration?
Mainstay Filing, South Carolina Registered Agent.co and SC Registered Agent.org, in the order shown.