South Carolina business formation
Articles of Organization, EIN, retail license, local business license: we prepare and file all of it for you, free with any monthly bookkeeping plan. You pay only the state fees.
Included with any monthly bookkeeping plan. State and local filing fees are paid directly to the state, typically around $175 plus your local business license.
Just need the filings without bookkeeping? Ask us for a flat-fee quote in the form below.
Here is the full checklist, whether you do it yourself or we do it for you. Most new owners are surprised there is more than one filing.
Filed with the South Carolina Secretary of State to legally create your LLC. Your name must be available and distinguishable, and you need a registered agent with a physical SC address. Filed online, it is usually processed in 1 to 2 business days.
$125 filed online ($110 by mail)Issued by the IRS after your LLC exists. You need it to open a bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. It is free directly from the IRS; anyone charging for just the EIN is charging for a free form.
Free from the IRSRequired before your first sale if you sell products (anything tangible, from a storefront or online to SC customers). Issued by the SC Department of Revenue through MyDORWAY, one per location, and it registers you to collect sales tax. Service-only businesses can usually skip this one.
$50 per locationMost SC cities and counties, including Greenville, require a business license from the municipality where you operate. The fee is based on your projected gross revenue and renews annually. This one is easy to miss and the penalties add up.
Varies by city or countySouth Carolina does not require you to file an operating agreement, but your bank will often ask for one, and it protects your liability shield. Then open a dedicated business bank account so your books are clean from the first transaction.
No state feeGood news on the ongoing side: South Carolina does not require an annual report for most LLCs, and federal beneficial ownership (BOI) reporting is currently not required for U.S. companies. We keep an eye on both so you do not have to.
Formation websites file your paperwork and disappear. Then you are on your own for the retail license, the local license, sales tax, payroll, and the bookkeeping that keeps it all straight.
We set up the business and then run the books. Your chart of accounts, sales tax registration, and QuickBooks are configured correctly from the first day, by the same people who will close your books every month. No handoff, nothing missed between the filing and the first sale.
That is why formation is free with a bookkeeping plan: we would rather earn the monthly relationship than sell you a one-time filing.
"Andrew was incredible!!! I loved working with him. He’s very meticulous and made my tax return easy as a new business owner! I would recommend him to anyone for their tax returns. He’s extemely personable and takes pride in his work. I was recommended him by multiple people and he truly is the best in the business. If you need local tax preparation services or the best accounting firm Andrew is your guy!!"
We will confirm exactly what your business needs, the total state fees, and get your filings moving, usually within one business day.
