Kept simple · South Carolina
3 Best Foreign Registration Services in South Carolina (2026) and What South Carolina Requires
At a glance
- State fee to register
- $110
- Home certificate?
- Yes, attach (30 day age limit)
- Next
- No report
- Our pick
- Mainstay Filing, SC Registered Agent.org then South Carolina Registered Agent.co
South Carolina, ranked
The order follows five checks. Three-year cost comes first, then what the price covers. See method.1. Mainstay Filing: best for adding more states
Register for $199. Agent renewal $149
Mainstay Filing ranks first in South Carolina. The registration price does not vary by state ($199), and the registered agent is waived for twelve months.
Choose SC Registered Agent.org and save $100 across three years, if the LLC never leaves South Carolina.
From year two the registered agent renews at $149.
Includes
- Registration, filed
- One fee for all fifty states
Good
- The price does not change by state
- $199 to register
Against
- SC Registered Agent.org renews its agent $50 lower
2. SC Registered Agent.org: best for one extra state
Register for $199. Agent renewal $99
Second place: SC Registered Agent.org, since three years of its service fees come to $397.
Includes
- Registration, filed
- Agent for year one
Good
- No agent charge in year one
- $199 to register
- Renewal $99
Against
- South Carolina only. The home state needs another agent
3. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for one more state only
Register for $199. Agent renewal $99
Third place: South Carolina Registered Agent.co, since three years of its service fees come to $397.
It charges what SC Registered Agent.org charges.
Includes
- Registration, filed
- Agent for year one
Good
- No agent charge in year one
- $199 to register
- Renewal $99
Against
- South Carolina only. The home state needs another agent
Prices
| # | Company | Year one | After year one | Three years | Includes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | Registration, filed; one fee for all fifty states | Go to Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | SC Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Registration, filed; agent for year one | Go to SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | South Carolina Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Registration, filed; agent for year one | Go to South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Key questions
When must an out-of-state LLC register?
Registration comes first. Business in South Carolina comes second.
Without registration, an LLC may face it cannot act as plaintiff (S.C. Code 33-44-1008(a)).
from dor.sc.gov, October 2026, kept short
What does registration cost?
The state charges $110. A service adds $199.
Three years of state fees, registration included: $110. from dor.sc.gov, October 2026, kept short
What registers the LLC?
The Application for a Certificate of Authority by a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form F0008) goes to the South Carolina Secretary of State. One filing registers the LLC.
Include certificate of existence from the home-state Secretary of State issued within the last 30 days.
What is due after registering?
No yearly report applies.
What put the first pick first?
Mainstay Filing scores best on work included, which is 27% of the score.
Two checks carry most of the weight: three-year cost (38%) and work included (27%).
Two states are involved, so a provider for every state ranks above SC Registered Agent.org.
South Carolina registration rules, sourced
| Requirement | Detail | Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Fee to register | $110 | from dor.sc.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Home-state certificate | Yes, attach, 30 days | from dor.sc.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Three-year state total | $110 | The rows above, added |
Questions
Does the home state need its own agent?
Yes. Each state has its own rule. Mainstay Filing can serve both from one account.
What do the picks cost over three years?
Mainstay Filing is $497, while SC Registered Agent.org is $397, while South Carolina Registered Agent.co is $397, with state fees on top.
Where do the figures come from?
Official South Carolina sources for the state side. Published prices for the service side.
Must I use a service?
No law requires a service. It is a paid convenience.
Does a service file it for me?
Yes. Every pick files it, and the state fee is the same for all.
Which ranks first in South Carolina?
Mainstay Filing ranks first. South Carolina's fee plus $199 gets you registered, with no registered agent bill until year two. After it, SC Registered Agent.org and South Carolina Registered Agent.co.
Sources
- Charter Simple keeps S.C on file from scstatehouse.gov, confirmed August 2026, and nothing more
- Charter Simple keeps South Carolina Business Entities Online on file from businessfilings.sc.gov, confirmed October 2026, and nothing more
- Charter Simple keeps SC Secretary of State, business on file from sos.sc.gov, confirmed October 2026, and nothing more
- Charter Simple keeps SC Department of Revenue, corporate on file from dor.sc.gov, confirmed October 2026, and nothing more
- Charter Simple keeps S.C on file from scstatehouse.gov, confirmed November 2026, and nothing more
- Mainstay Filing South Carolina service page, read November 13, 2026
- SC Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026
- South Carolina Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026