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Charts of what each state charges an LLC.

Foreign LLC guide · South Carolina

South Carolina Foreign LLC Fees (2026) and the 3 Best Registration Services

In search of a foreign LLC registration in South Carolina, our 2026 ranking runs Mainstay Filing ($199), South Carolina Registered Agent.co ($199) and SC Registered Agent.org ($199). Registration fee: $110. Recurring report: none. Spot on the 50-state map: 9th.
Charted by the State Biz Facts team

South Carolina state charges, charted

9th

on the foreign registration map, of 50

The map starts at the smallest bill. All states side by side

  • Charge to register

    $110

    Taken from dor.sc.gov on October 2026

  • Recurring report

    None

    No report required

  • Proof of good standing

    30 days

    It must be dated no earlier than

  • State total, years 1 to 3

    $110

    A three-year line for foreign LLCs

Where we would file in South Carolina

The order follows five criteria described in the method: three-year provider charges (36%), filings covered (24%), renewal price, match to South Carolina rules and fee labeling.

Top of the chart

1. Mainstay Filing: best for a later third or fourth state

Service $199, year-two price $149

Mainstay Filing leads the chart because the South Carolina registration is filed for $199 above the state charge, and the first agent year costs nothing.

Set against South Carolina Registered Agent.co, the three-year provider bill is $100 larger, with more filings done for you.

After the free first year the agent is $149 per year in any state.

Price covers

  • Registration papers drawn up and filed for you
  • No price change from state to state

Upside

  • One service charge for every state
  • $199 above South Carolina's fee

Downside

  • A bigger agent renewal ($149)
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

One state only

2. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for adding only South Carolina

Service $199, year-two price $99

Just behind comes South Carolina Registered Agent.co, where registering costs $199 plus state fees, and the agent is covered in year one.

Price covers

  • Registration handled from start to filing
  • A year of agent service

Upside

  • $99 yearly from year two
  • Year-one agent duty is included
  • $199 plus the state fee

Downside

  • A separate agent is needed at home
Visit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

One state only

3. SC Registered Agent.org: best for another route for South Carolina

Service $199, year-two price $99

Just behind comes SC Registered Agent.org, where registering costs $199 plus state fees, and the agent is covered in year one.

Prices match South Carolina Registered Agent.co's exactly, so the two sit next to each other on the chart.

Price covers

  • Registration handled from start to filing
  • A year of agent service

Upside

  • Year-one agent duty is included
  • $199 plus the state fee
  • $99 yearly from year two

Downside

  • A separate agent is needed at home
Visit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Prices in a row

OrderProviderYear 1Year 2 and onProvider charges, 3 years
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2South Carolina Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3SC Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company price pages, seen November 12, 2026. The $110 state fee is not part of any row.

Foreign LLC budget

The registration fee is $110; each provider's prices go on top.
$110 to the state plus $497 to Mainstay Filing makes $607 over 3 years.

South Carolina and the states beside it on the chart

SpotStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
5thNew Mexico$100
8thMissouri$105
9thSouth Carolina$110
10thNebraska$125
11thIowa$130
To see other states, open Foreign LLC fees by state.

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) together with $110 from outside LLCs. The application is not complete without certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, at most 30 days.

A foreign LLC here has no recurring report to file.

Documents to collect

  • Certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, at most 30 days.
  • Home state record: legal name and formation date.
  • A registered agent based in the state (all our picks offer this).
  • Funds to cover the $110 official fee.

The price of not registering

State courts will not hear a suit from an LLC that has not registered (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). Agreements it has already signed remain in force (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).

How the South Carolina ranking was drawn

Mainstay Filing pulled ahead of South Carolina Registered Agent.co on requirements handled, weighted 24%.

A foreign LLC already has a home state, so a provider that covers both scored best.

Questions answered

What does South Carolina charge a foreign LLC to register?

$110 as the official fee. Hiring one adds $199.

Which form does a foreign LLC file with South Carolina?

The form is the Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form F0008), and it goes to the South Carolina Secretary of State.

Does the filing need a certificate from the home state?

Yes: certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, dated within 30 days of filing.

Does a foreign LLC have a yearly obligation?

No, South Carolina asks outside LLCs for no yearly report.

What happens if the LLC does business there without registering?

State courts will not hear a suit from an LLC that has not registered (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). Agreements it has already signed remain in force (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).

Must a foreign LLC name a registered agent for South Carolina?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Which provider should register my foreign LLC?

Start with Mainstay Filing (a $199 service charge in any state, plus a free first year of agent duty); South Carolina Registered Agent.co and SC Registered Agent.org follow.

Other maps

Where each number comes from

  1. Behind S.C: scstatehouse.gov, seen August 2026.
  2. Behind South Carolina Business Entities Online: businessfilings.sc.gov, seen October 2026.
  3. Behind SC Secretary of State, business entity FAQs: sos.sc.gov, seen October 2026.
  4. Behind SC Department of Revenue, corporate FAQs: dor.sc.gov, seen October 2026.
  5. Behind S.C: scstatehouse.gov, seen November 2026.
  6. Behind New Mexico Secretary of State, Business Services: sos.nm.gov, seen October 2026.
  7. Behind SOS Enterprise online filing portal: enterprise.sos.nm.gov, seen October 2026.
  8. Behind Business Online Filing Help: api.realfile.rtsclients.com, seen October 2026.
  9. Behind NMSA 1978, Chapter 53: nmonesource.com, seen October 2026.
  10. Behind Taxation and Revenue Department, who must register: tax.newmexico.gov, seen October 2026.
  11. Behind Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations: sos.mo.gov, seen October 2026.
  12. Behind Form LLC 4, foreign LLC registration: sos.mo.gov, seen October 2026.
  13. Behind Business filing fee schedule: sos.mo.gov, seen October 2026.
  14. Behind RSMo 347.153, registration of foreign LLCs: revisor.mo.gov, seen October 2026.
  15. Behind RSMo 347.163, transacting business and penalties: revisor.mo.gov, seen October 2026.
  16. Behind Missouri Department of Revenue, business registration: dor.mo.gov, seen October 2026.
  17. Behind Nebraska Secretary of State, forms and fee information: sos.nebraska.gov, seen October 2026.
  18. Behind Application for Certificate of Authority, foreign LLC: sos.nebraska.gov, seen October 2026.
  19. Behind Neb: nebraskalegislature.gov, seen October 2026.
  20. Behind Neb: nebraskalegislature.gov, seen October 2026.
  21. Behind Nebraska Secretary of State, annual and biennial reporting: sos.nebraska.gov, seen October 2026.
  22. Behind Iowa Secretary of State, business entity forms and: sos.iowa.gov, seen October 2026.
  23. Behind LLC Foreign Registration Statement, Form 635_0010: sos.iowa.gov, seen October 2026.
  24. Behind Iowa Code 489.902, registration requirement: legis.iowa.gov, seen October 2026.
  25. Behind Iowa Code 489.905, activities that do not count: legis.iowa.gov, seen October 2026.
  26. Behind Iowa Code 489.212, biennial report: legis.iowa.gov, seen October 2026.
  27. Behind Iowa Secretary of State, certificate of existence: sos.iowa.gov, seen October 2026.
  28. Mainstay Filing, South Carolina service page; company page seen November 12, 2026
  29. South Carolina Registered Agent.co, pricing page; company page seen November 12, 2026
  30. SC Registered Agent.org, pricing page; company page seen November 12, 2026