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Kept simple · South Carolina

3 Best Registered Agents in South Carolina (2026): Simply Ranked

In South Carolina for 2026, registered agents rank South Carolina Registered Agent.co ($99 a year), SC Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and Mainstay Filing ($149 a year). Agents start at $99 to $149 for the first year. Three years come to $297 to $447.
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At a glance

Required?
Required: yes
Title in law
Registered agent
Typical price
$99 to $149 a year
Our pick
South Carolina Registered Agent.co, SC Registered Agent.org then Mainstay Filing

Ranked in South Carolina

Why this order? The checks are explained here.
1 First

1. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for one-state companies

Year one $99. Later years $99

First place: South Carolina Registered Agent.co, since an LLC that stays in South Carolina pays $99 a year and $99 on renewal.

It costs less than Mainstay Filing over three years. Cost carries the most weight.

Includes

  • In-state address
  • Scans of legal papers

Good

  • $99 a year, flat at renewal
  • A lower yearly bill than the national pick

Against

  • A second state needs a second agent
2 South Carolina only

2. SC Registered Agent.org: best for keeping it local

Year one $99. Later years $99

SC Registered Agent.org ranks second. An LLC that stays in South Carolina pays $99 a year and $99 on renewal.

It charges what South Carolina Registered Agent.co charges.

Includes

  • In-state address
  • Scans of legal papers

Good

  • A lower yearly bill than the national pick
  • $99 a year, flat at renewal

Against

  • A second state needs a second agent
3 All fifty states

3. Mainstay Filing: best for a company that may grow

Year one $149. Later years $149

Third place: Mainstay Filing, since $149 annually buys the same agent service in all fifty states.

The $150 three-year gap to South Carolina Registered Agent.co explains the lower place.

Includes

  • An in-state street address
  • Free scans of three government mailings a year
  • Serves LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits

Good

  • One price in all fifty states
  • Annual price $149, renewal price $149

Against

  • $50 a year above South Carolina Registered Agent.co
  • You still file reports

Prices

#NameYear oneAfter year oneThree yearsCovers
1 South Carolina Registered Agent.co $99$99/yr$297In-state address; scans of legal papers View South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 SC Registered Agent.org $99$99/yr$297In-state address; scans of legal papers View SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Mainstay Filing $149$149/yr$447An in-state street address; free scans of three government mailings a year; Serves LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits View Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read November 13, 2026. Three years means year one and two renewals.

Key questions

Must the LLC name a registered agent?

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

Law: S.C. Code § 33-44-108. scstatehouse.gov as of October 2026, our only source here

Who qualifies?

A South Carolina resident, a South Carolina corporation, another LLC, or a corporation or company from another state authorized to do business in South Carolina.

Meet the rule and the role costs nothing.

What does an agent cost?

$99 to $149 a year with the services we rank. $297 to $447 over three years.

Whichever agent you name, the state's fees stay the same.

Why does the state want one?

It receives lawsuits and official state mail for the LLC at an address in South Carolina.

Ask how fast the agent tells you when something arrives. Service of process, defined

What else is due each year?

No yearly report. No report fee.

What put the first pick first?

On three-year cost (38%), South Carolina Registered Agent.co leads.

Two checks carry most of the weight: three-year cost (38%) and work included (27%).

Side by side, South Carolina Registered Agent.co saves $150, finishing at $297 for three years.

Method

South Carolina: registered agents

ItemRule or amountSource
LLC filing fee$110scstatehouse.gov as of October 2026, our only source here
Registered agentRequired: yesscstatehouse.gov as of October 2026, our only source here
State fees, three years$110The rows above, added
The last row adds the filing fee, the reports in years two and three, and any minimum tax. A cost with no fixed amount, such as a newspaper notice, is left out.

Questions

Can I be my own agent?

Yes, when your address and status fit the rule. Many owners still hire a service for privacy.

What address does an agent need?

The address has to be a street address in South Carolina for the agent, stated in the articles. P.O. boxes are not accepted.

What do the picks cost over three years?

South Carolina Registered Agent.co is $297, while SC Registered Agent.org is $297, while Mainstay Filing is $447

Where do the figures come from?

Every state fee links to its official page. Every service price comes from the company's own site.

Does the law require one?

Not required. The state takes filings from owners.

Which registered agent should I use in South Carolina?

South Carolina Registered Agent.co, because the local price is $99 a year, $99 at renewal, for one state. Then SC Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing.

References

  1. Entry for S.C: read at scstatehouse.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
  2. South Carolina Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026
  3. SC Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026
  4. Mainstay Filing South Carolina service page, read November 13, 2026