Foreign registration charge
$110
According to dor.sc.gov, as of October 2026
Foreign LLC guide · South Carolina
Registering an Out-of-State LLC in South Carolina (2026): Fees and the 3 Best Services
South Carolina, 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199), SC Registered Agent.org ($199) and South Carolina Registered Agent.co ($199) come out on top for registering a foreign LLC, in that sequence. A foreign LLC pays $110 to register in South Carolina. Three-year state fees rank 9th of 50.
What South Carolina charges
9th
of 50 by what a foreign LLC pays the state
A low number means a small state bill. Every state compared
Report, per cycle
None
The state does not ask
Home-state certificate
30 days
Must have been issued after this point
State charges, years one to three
$110
Register once, then file two reports
Our South Carolina recommendations
The methodology explains the order. Three-year service fees count 34%, the filings a price covers count 26%, and renewal price, fit with South Carolina rules and fee labeling make up the rest.
1. Mainstay Filing: best for a company spreading out
$199 plus the $110 state fee, then $149 yearly
We put Mainstay Filing first: the South Carolina registration is filed for $199 beyond the state's charge, with the first agent year included.
Compared with SC Registered Agent.org, the three-year service bill is $100 higher, and more of the required filings are handled.
Once the first year is over, the agent costs $149 per year.
What the price buys
- Your registration is prepared and filed
- Same service fee in every state
In its favor
- Works for your next state too
- $199 on top of South Carolina's own fee
Against it
- $50 more each year for the agent
2. SC Registered Agent.org: best for a thrifty South Carolina filing
$199 plus the $110 state fee, then $99 yearly
SC Registered Agent.org comes next: $199 over the state fee to register, then $99 yearly.
What the price buys
- Registration paperwork taken care of
- A year of agent service
In its favor
- The agent renews at $99
- First-year agent duty is on the house
- $199 above the state fee
Against it
- A different agent has to cover the home state
3. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for a smaller agent renewal
$199 plus the $110 state fee, then $99 yearly
South Carolina Registered Agent.co comes after that: $199 over the state fee to register, then $99 yearly.
Price for price, it equals SC Registered Agent.org.
What the price buys
- Registration paperwork taken care of
- A year of agent service
In its favor
- First-year agent duty is on the house
- $199 above the state fee
- The agent renews at $99
Against it
- A different agent has to cover the home state
The 3 picks at a glance
| No. | Service | First-year fee | From year two | Service charges, three years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | SC Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | South Carolina Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
We took these prices from the companies' sites on November 12, 2026. Every row needs South Carolina's $110 registration fee added.
Foreign LLC calculator
The registration fee is $110; the service's prices are added to it.
South Carolina next to the states ranked around it
| Place | State | Three-year foreign LLC fees |
|---|---|---|
| 5th | New Mexico | $100 |
| 8th | Missouri | $105 |
| 9th | South Carolina | $110 |
| 10th | Nebraska | $125 |
| 11th | Iowa | $130 |
For the other states, go to Foreign LLC fees by state.
How a foreign LLC registers in South Carolina (2026)
An LLC formed in another state files the Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form F0008) with the South Carolina Secretary of State and pays $110. Include certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, dated within 30 days.
South Carolina requires no recurring report from foreign LLCs.
Checklist
- Certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State, dated within 30 days.
- The exact legal name and formation date from the home state.
- A registered agent in South Carolina, which every pick below supplies.
- Funds to cover the $110 state charge.
Penalties for skipping registration in South Carolina
The state's courts turn away a suit from an unregistered foreign LLC (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). Contracts it has already signed still stand (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).
Why the list reads this way
Paperwork the price takes on decided first place in South Carolina. It counts for 26% of the score; the remaining criteria are three-year service charge, year-two price, match to the state's calendar, fee labeling.
A foreign LLC already has a home state, so one provider covering both states scored best.
Frequently asked questions
What fee does a foreign LLC pay to register with South Carolina?
$110 as the official fee. The services here charge $199 extra.
Which form does South Carolina use to register a foreign LLC?
Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form F0008), submitted to the South Carolina Secretary of State.
Does the home state have to issue a certificate?
Yes. certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State; it has to be dated within 30 days of the filing.
Does a foreign LLC owe anything every year?
No. South Carolina requires no yearly report from foreign LLCs.
What are the consequences of operating there without registering?
The state's courts turn away a suit from an unregistered foreign LLC (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)). Contracts it has already signed still stand (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(b)).
Does South Carolina require a registered agent of a foreign LLC?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Who should register my foreign LLC?
Mainstay Filing, because a $199 service fee in whichever state you choose, plus a free first year of agent service. Behind it come SC Registered Agent.org and South Carolina Registered Agent.co.
Sources for this chapter
- S.C: scstatehouse.gov, with the page last opened August 2026.
- South Carolina Business Entities Online: businessfilings.sc.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- SC Secretary of State, business entity FAQs: sos.sc.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- SC Department of Revenue, corporate FAQs: dor.sc.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- S.C: scstatehouse.gov, with the page last opened November 2026.
- New Mexico Secretary of State, Business Services: sos.nm.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- SOS Enterprise online filing portal: enterprise.sos.nm.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Business Online Filing Help: api.realfile.rtsclients.com, with the page last opened October 2026.
- NMSA 1978, Chapter 53: nmonesource.com, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Taxation and Revenue Department, who must register: tax.newmexico.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations: sos.mo.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Form LLC 4, foreign LLC registration: sos.mo.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Business filing fee schedule: sos.mo.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- RSMo 347.153, registration of foreign LLCs: revisor.mo.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- RSMo 347.163, transacting business and penalties: revisor.mo.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Missouri Department of Revenue, business registration: dor.mo.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Nebraska Secretary of State, forms and fee information: sos.nebraska.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Application for Certificate of Authority, foreign LLC: sos.nebraska.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Neb: nebraskalegislature.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Neb: nebraskalegislature.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Nebraska Secretary of State, annual and biennial reporting: sos.nebraska.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Iowa Secretary of State, business entity forms and: sos.iowa.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- LLC Foreign Registration Statement, Form 635_0010: sos.iowa.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Iowa Code 489.902, registration requirement: legis.iowa.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Iowa Code 489.905, activities that do not count: legis.iowa.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Iowa Code 489.212, biennial report: legis.iowa.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Iowa Secretary of State, certificate of existence: sos.iowa.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Mainstay Filing lists its South Carolina service page; we copied it November 12, 2026
- SC Registered Agent.org lists its pricing page; we copied it November 12, 2026
- South Carolina Registered Agent.co lists its pricing page; we copied it November 12, 2026