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South Carolina corporation cost

Official fees for forming and keeping a corporation in South Carolina, from South Carolina Secretary of State.

1 yearat least $160
3 yearsat least $210
5 yearsat least $260

Formation plus recurring state fees and taxes. Excludes registered agent costs. Adjust in the calculator.

South Carolina corporation cost at a glance

Forming a corporation in South Carolina costs $135 in state filing fees. After that, South Carolina charges a report fee of at least $25 a year. Over five years the state's own charges come to at least $260, the 24th lowest of the 51 states with full corporation figures here (the median is $285). Registered agent service and local licenses are extra.

Line by line

ItemAmountOfficial source
Formation filing fee
Articles of incorporation fee; the CL-1 initial annual report fee is a separate required line.
$110businessfilings.sc.gov
Annual or biennial report fee
Annual report filed with the Department of Revenue with a minimum $25 license fee; the fee rises with capital.
$25 minimumdor.sc.gov
Foreign registration (another state's corporation)
Total payment: $110 filing plus the $25 CL-1 initial annual report fee.
$135businessfilings.sc.gov
Required filing with formation
CL-1 initial annual report and license fee
$25businessfilings.sc.gov

What to know

How to form a corporation in South Carolina

  1. Check the name. Search the South Carolina Secretary of State business records to confirm the name is free. State filing page.
  2. File the articles of incorporation. The South Carolina Secretary of State charges $110 to form a corporation.
  3. Name a registered agent. The agent needs a physical address in South Carolina. You can serve as your own.
  4. Get an EIN. The IRS issues it free on its own website.
  5. Stay in good standing. South Carolina charges a report fee of at least $25 a year. See What to know above for the details that are easy to miss.

Other business types in South Carolina

An LLC costs $110 to start, with no annual report fee. A nonprofit corporation costs $300 to start including the IRS Form 1023-EZ fee, with no annual report fee. Compare them in the calculator.

Registering an out-of-state corporation in South Carolina

A corporation formed in another state registers in South Carolina as a foreign corporation. The South Carolina Secretary of State charges $135 for the registration.

Common questions

How much does it cost to start a corporation in South Carolina?

The state filing fee is $135, and South Carolina then charges a report fee of at least $25 a year.

What does a corporation in South Carolina cost over five years?

at least $260 in state fees and taxes, counting formation and every recurring charge.

How much does it cost to register a foreign corporation in South Carolina?

$135, paid to the South Carolina Secretary of State.

Compare with nearby states in cost

See every state ranked

Guides

What you'll need to start a corporation in South Carolina

  1. 1

    File your Articles of Incorporation

    $135

    The document that creates your corporation with the state of South Carolina.

    Do it yourself

    File with South Carolina Secretary of State. You pay only the state fee.

    Have it done

    • Tailor Brands$0 + state feestate filing (Articles of Incorporation), processing in 14 business days. Registered agent $199/yr; EIN $99; Essential $199/yr and Elite $249/yr plans add faster filing and compliance
    • ZenBusiness$0 + state feestate filing (Articles of Incorporation), name check. Registered agent $99 first year, then $199/yr; EIN +$99
    • Zenind$0 + state feestate filing, name check, filing within 7 days. Registered agent and address +$99/yr; bylaws and certificates $99 unless on Standard or Premium
    • Registered Agents Inc$100 + state feestate filing, registered agent (1 yr), online account. Registered agent $200/yr after year 1
    • LegalZoomfrom $149 + state feestate filing (Articles of Incorporation), name search, tax consultation. Registered agent optional, price not stated on page

    Lowest listed price first, from each company’s own pricing page.

  2. 2

    Name a registered agent

    $0 yourself, or $99 to $200 a year

    A person or company with a street address in South Carolina who receives legal and state mail for the corporation.

    Do it yourself

    Be your own agent if you have a street address in South Carolina.

    Have it done

    • ZenBusiness$99/yrregistered agent (first year). Renews at $199/yr
    • Zenind$99/yrregistered address, mail scanning and forwarding. $99 per year
    • Registered Agents Inc$200/yrannual report filing. $200 per year

    Lowest listed price first, from each company’s own pricing page.

  3. 3

    Get an EIN (tax ID)

    Free

    The federal number banks and the IRS use for your corporation.

    Do it yourself

    Apply on IRS.gov. The IRS states you can get one "in minutes for free".

  4. 4

    File the annual report

    $25 minimum a year

    The recurring filing that keeps the corporation in good standing.

  5. 5

    Open a business bank account

    $0 a month

    Keeps business money separate from personal money. Banks ask for your EIN.

    Options

    • Bluevine$0/mono minimum balance, no overdraft fees. Opening deposit: no minimum balance requirement
    • Mercury$0/mono minimum balance, no account opening fee. Opening deposit: none stated
    • Relay$0/mono minimum balance. Grow $30/month; opening deposit none (no minimum balance)

    Lowest listed price first, from each company’s own pricing page.

  6. 6

    Optional: elect S corporation status

    Filed with the IRS

    The IRS describes Form 2553 this way: a corporation or other entity eligible to be treated as a corporation files it to make an election under section 1362(a) to be an S corporation.

    Do it yourself

    IRS Form 2553.

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