South Carolina state law requires business entities to appoint a registered agent during the formation process. Since there are myriad of registered agent services to choose from, our guide on the best South Carolina registered agent services will help you narrow it down to the best of the best.
If, however, you just want the gist of our top three recommendations, check out our summary table below.
 
Best South Carolina Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | South Carolina Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Charleston |
| Rhode Island Registered Agent | $49 a year | Charleston |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | West Columbia |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Lexington |
| Registered Agent Net | $89 a year | Not stated |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Barrington |
| MyCompanyWorks | $99 a year | Not stated |
| MyCorporation | $120 a year | Not stated |
In addition to providing you with individual recommendations, we have included a guide on how to register your North Carolina business, as well as a detailed FAQ section which you can find at the end of our article.Â
Let’s start by defining the exact role of a registered agent.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent can be an individual or a company that’s responsible for receiving the documents sent to your business and forwarding them back to you. In other words, they act as your agent of service.
Does South Carolina Require a Registered Agent Service?
Yes, businesses in South Carolina are required by law to appoint and maintain a registered agent.
Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent Service
Still not sold on the idea of hiring a registered agent? Knowing all the benefits that come with it might change your mind.
- A registered agent will help you stay compliant and avoid any fines from the state;
- You won’t have to operate under normal working hours;
- You will have more freedom in terms of travelling;
- You can use the registered agent’s address instead of your own, giving you more privacy;
- You can expand your business across multiple jurisdictions.
Now that you know all the essentials, let’s proceed with our top recommendations.
1. IncFile
IncFile cover all the basics you need to stay in good standing with the South Carolina Secretary of State. They’ve helped over 800,000 businesses over the years and are an excellent option for a South Carolina registered agent, especially if you want to hire both formation services and a registered agent service. As your registered agent, they will provide:
- Access to said correspondence on your personal dashboard
- All your important correspondence in due time
- Automatic mail forwarding
- Tailored email and text notifications
Customers love how user-friendly their interface is.
If you use their formation services, you’ll get your first year of registered agent services for free. Otherwise, their fee is $119 a year.
Their other services include:
- Trademarking
- Virtual address
- Tax consultations
- Amendment
- EIN Number
- Foreign qualification
- Certificate of good standing
- Business licenses and permits
2. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is among the most popular registered agent services across the United States. Rated as #1 on Forbes and Investopedia, they provide a comprehensive service package, which includes:
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Mail forwarding
- Fast turnaround
- Document scanning
- Email notifications
Another reason to opt for ZenBusiness is their $5K Grant Program, through which they help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.
Additionally, customers appreciate that their website is intuitive and easy to use, and the setup process only takes a few minutes.
The starting fee for using the services of ZenBusiness is $199 a year. You also have the option to upgrade the registered agent service and unlock access to two free filing changes a year, annual support alerts, and submitted documents on your behalf.
Other services provided by ZenBusiness include:
- Incorporation
- LLC formation
- Banking and finances
- Operating agreement
- EIN Number
- Annual reports
- Taxes and accounting
- Business license reports
- Worry-free compliance
- Domain name and website
3. Northwest
Our next recommendation for a South Carolina registered agent is Northwest. Known for offering an efficient service for a relatively affordable price, Northwest is a popular name in the industry. Their registered agent services include the following perks:
- Document storage
- Pre-filled state forms
- Compliance alerts
- Mail forwarding
- Scanned documents
- Annual report remindersÂ
Comprised of a team of dedicated experts called Corporate Guides, their knowledgeable customer support team ensures that any problem you may encounter is quickly resolved.
Moreover, they will protect your personal information with their Privacy by Default practice and ensure that your personal data never gets sold.
Their yearly fee is $125 if you hire them for 1 to 4 states. If your business expands in five or more states, you can access their multi-year discount, making the yearly fee only $100.
Their South Carolina office is located in Charleston.
Northwest also offer:
- Foreign qualification
- Trademarking
- Mail forwarding
- Virtual office
- Phone service
- Payment processing
- Annual report filings
4. South Carolina Registered Agent
If staying within a budget is your main priority, then consider hiring South Carolina Registered Agent. Costing only $49 annually, your business will remain compliant with the help of the following features:
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Annual report reminders
- Online document storage
- Email notifications
In addition to being affordable, their pricing is also transparent – there are no hidden fees or auto-renewals.
Their South Carolina office is located in Charleston.
South Carolina Registered Agent also provide:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Filing services
5. LegalZoom
LegalZoom is one of the best premium South Carolina registered agent services. Offering a plethora of legal services that any business would benefit from, they’ve helped over 2 million businesses throughout the years. Their registered agent services include:
- Annual report reminders
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Mail alerts
- $1M in identity theft protection
Every client also gets access to their Compliance Calendar, which, just as its name suggests, will help you remain compliant with the South Carolina state laws by helping you keep track of all your deadlines.
Furthermore, they offer to change your registered agent free of charge, in case you’re not satisfied with your current agent.
Since they offer up to $1M in identity theft insurance, they’re a great option for larger businesses.
Their yearly fee is slightly more expensive than our other recommendations and will set you back $299 a year. If you purchase their business formation package, the first year will cost you only $249.
Their other services include:
- Annual reports
- Copyright
- Trademarking
- Residential lease
- Power of attorney
- Taxation
- EIN Number
- Business registration
- Foreign qualification
- Business formation
- Incorporation
6. CSC Global
CSC Global is a comprehensive registered agent service that, while being slightly pricier, offers a long list of perks, such as:
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
- Same-day document scans
- Access to SOC-2 facilities
- Electronic delivery of documents
- Annual compliance reminders
Just like LegalZoom, they’re an exceptional option for larger businesses, due to their dedication to protecting the personal data of their clients, enabled by their SOC-2 technology.
A year of registered agent services with CSC Global will cost you $381.
Their South Carolina office is located in West Columbia.
CSC Global also offer:
- Corporate filings
- Digital brand services
- Real estate and erecording
- Entity management
- UCC
- Legal management
7. InCorp
InCorp is an efficient yet affordable A+ rated registered agent service that has helped over 250,000 worldwide clients. We recommend InCorp for anyone who doesn’t want to spend over $150 on a registered agent, or wants to take advantage of a multi-year deal. Their registered agent package includes:
- Legal notifications
- Mail forwarding
- Access to their Entity Management System
- Annual report filings
Additionally, InCorp are dedicated to protecting their clients’ personal information, facilitated by their EntityWatch technology.
Their registered agent service costs $129 per year. If you purchase their multi-year service, you can pay as low as $87 a year.
Their South Carolina office is located in Lexington.
You can also hire InCorp for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Articles of amendment
- Foreign qualification
- Trademarking
- EIN Number
- DBA Filing
- UCC search
- Copyright
- Apostille service
8. Registered Agent Net
Another efficient registered agent service within a similar price range as InCorp is Registered Agent Net. Costing only $89 a year, they provide the following perks:
- Access to their Compliance Calendar and Compliance Entity Manager
- Two-year price guarantee
- Same-day document delivery
With the help of their compliance tools, you will be able to keep track of all your renewals and business information seamlessly.
Moreover, before any due date, you will receive an email notification to remind you and prevent you from getting fined.
9. Harbor Compliance
With over 35,000 satisfied customers, Harbor Compliance is another popular registered agent name on our list. Their registered agent services include:
- Pre-filled state forms
- Customizable notifications
- Annual report reminders
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
Customers love how swift their processing speed is. You’ll never have to worry about missing a due date and getting fined.
Their yearly fee is $99, but you can access an additional 10% discount if you use their registered agent services for multiple years.
Their South Carolina office is located in Charleston.
In addition to registered agent services, they also offer:
- Amendments
- Business licenses
- Registration
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
10. MyCompanyWorks
Looking for an effective registered agent service that will keep you compliant at an affordable price? Then consider MyCompanyWorks, a company that offers a wide range of tools to their clients, including:
- Same-day processing
- Access to an online dashboard
- Compliance monitoring
- Access to The Startup Wizard
- Online order tracking
- Free E-delivery
If you’re not satisfied with what they have to offer down the line, you can get a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Plus, their service is customizable, which their clients love.
Their other services include:
- LLC formation
- Company dissolution
- Incorporation
- File a DBA
- Virtual office
- Annual reports
- Business licenses
11. MyCorporation
Last but not least, MyCorporation is a nationwide registered agent service that covers all the basics you need to stay compliant, including:
- Completed filings
- Fast document deliveryÂ
- Expert handling of any paperwork
Just like Harbor Compliance, their processing speed is extremely fast, so you’ll be able to submit all your documents on time.
Their registered agent services cost $120 for the first year, and $179 every following year.
On top of registered agent services, you can hire MyCorporation for:
- Filings
- Dissolution
- Amendment
- Copyright registration services
- Annual reports
How Do I Register a Business in South Carolina?
As promised, here are all the mandatory steps required to open a business in South Carolina.
Find the Right Name for Your Business
Your business name should represent your values and give your customers a clear idea of the types of services/goods you’re selling. There are a few rules to keep in mind when it comes to naming your business.
For starters, your business name must be unique, so no other businesses in the state can have the same name as your business. To check if this is the case, you can do a South Carolina business entity search on the South Carolina Secretary of State website.
Another rule to keep in mind is that the South Carolina state requires businesses to add a word in the business name that represents the kind of business entity they’re forming. In the case of LLCs, for instance, it’s any abbreviation of LLC (Limited Liability Company).
To ensure that no other business steals your name while you’re preparing the necessary documents, you can reserve your business name for 120 days.
Choose a Business Entity
To create the right name for your business, you need to have chosen your business entity. There are four main types to choose from:
Sole proprietorships and partnerships are low-maintenance and much easier and more affordable to form than LLCs and corporations, but they don’t give their owners limited liability, as is the case with the latter.
File Articles of Organization
If you don’t want to risk your assets and you like the idea of forming an LLC, the next step is to file articles of organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State.
This document denotes important information about your business, as well as the registered agent you’ve chosen to represent it.
The cost of filing articles of organization is $110.
File Articles of Incorporation
Similarly, you need to file articles of incorporation with the state if you form a corporation.
This document has a similar purpose to articles of organization, with added information about some aspects that can’t be found in LLCs, such as stocks.
The cost of filing articles of incorporation is $110.
Apply for the Necessary Licenses and Permits
South Carolina doesn’t require its business owners to get a general business license.
However, depending on the kind of industry you’re in, you might need to obtain additional licenses and permits for your business.
For instance, every person who is a retailer must obtain a Retail License for their business and register for employer withholding tax.
Keep in mind that some licenses vary, depending on the county or city your business operates in, so it’s best to check the Business Licenses, Permits, and Registration section on the South Carolina Secretary of State website. Additionally, you can check the websites of your specific city or county.
Get an Employee Identification Number
Last but not least, you might be required to get an EIN for your business. An EIN is like a Social Security Number for your business, and businesses that hire employees or that are taxed separately from their owners must obtain one.
You can apply for an EIN on the IRS website. The application is entirely free of charge and it takes minutes to complete. Even if it’s not required for your business, there are several benefits to getting an EIN, like making it easier to open a business bank account.
FAQs
Where Can I Do a South Carolina Business Entity Search?
You can do a South Carolina business entity search on the South Carolina Secretary of State website.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in South Carolina?
The cost of registering a business in South Carolina is $110.
Final Thoughts
We hope you found our article on the best South Carolina registered agent services helpful!
We included varied options that will suit any budget and business type. If you don’t have any specific preferences, you can’t go wrong with our top three choices: Northwest, ZenBusiness, and IncFile.
If you prefer to stick to a budget, we recommend South Carolina Registered Agent and Registered Agent Net.
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