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ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.

Last Updated: October 16, 2026

Trying to find the best LLC service in South Carolina for your business? Whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur or an experienced business owner, choosing the right LLC formation service can save you time, money, and stress. In this comparison guide, we break down top providers like ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, Bizee (formerly Incfile), and Northwest Registered Agent. You’ll see how they stack up in terms of pricing, features, and customer support — plus what each service is best known for. If you’re looking for great value and reliable service, ZenBusiness is a standout option for forming an LLC in South Carolina.

Compare the Best South Carolina LLC Formation Services

LLC Service ProviderStarting Price
(Excl. State Fees)		Registered AgentMoney-Back GuaranteeBest For
ZenBusiness$0Add-on, $199/yr60 daysOverall value
Bizee (Incfile)$01st year free, then $149/yr✘Basic formation
LegalZoom$0Add-on, $249/yr60 daysLegal support
Northwest Registered Agent$391st year free, then $125/yr✘Personalized support

✨ZenBusiness✨

Excellent LLC Services in South Carolina

If you’re looking for an overall, excellent LLC formation service in South Carolina, go with us at ZenBusiness. We’ve already formed 950,000+ businesses since 2015!

Pros

✔ Free LLC formation (only pay South Carolina state fees)
✔ 60-day money-back guarantee
✔ 32986+ reviews with a 4.8 average rating
✔ Award-winning customer support
✔ Extended customer service hours, including Saturdays and Sundays
✔ Socially conscious company (Public Benefit Corporation)

Cons

✘ Registered agent service costs extra after the first year
✘ Some advanced features require higher-tier plans

+Velo® – Form your South Carolina LLC and keep it in good standing with Velo

Every ZenBusiness plan includes Velo, your AI guide for what comes after formation. Velo tracks your South Carolina filing deadlines, sends alerts before they’re due, and helps you stay on top of what your business needs – from compliance to everyday questions. Access your dashboard from the ZenBusiness mobile app.

If you want socially conscious South Carolina LLC formation services with a service discount, choose ZenBusiness.

Bizee (Incfile)

Another LLC service is Bizee (formerly known as Infile), with a basic formation service that would only require you to pay South Carolina’s state filing fee. Bizee is a well-known choice, with more than one million businesses formed since they opened in 2004. They also have a variety of features to suit a business owner’s needs.

Pros

✔ Free LLC formation (only pay South Carolina state fees)
✔ Includes one year of registered agent service ($149/yr afterward)
✔ Large customer base with around 26,200 reviews (as of October 2026)
✔ Phone and email support

Cons

✘ Lots of upsells can increase overall costs
✘ Customer support can be slow during peak times
✘ No weekend phone support available

Keep in Mind: Even though their South Carolina LLC formation service is free, you’re going to deal with more upsells and potentially higher overall prices as a result.

Want to learn more? See our Bizee review.

LegalZoom

LegalZoom is the most well-known service in this industry, handling millions of LLC formations since 2001. They handle huge volumes of entity formations in South Carolina and offer legal services beyond formations.

Pros

✔ Established brand with 4 million+ businesses formed
✔ Extended customer service hours, including Saturdays
✔ Offers legal services beyond South Carolina LLC formation

Cons

✘ Aggressive upsells during the ordering process
✘ Registered agent service is expensive ($249/yr)
✘ Not the best value compared to other services available in South Carolina

Want to learn more? See our LegalZoom review.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent also offers a good business formation service in South Carolina, with personalized customer support as their standout feature. They’ve been forming businesses since 1998.

Pros

✔ Personalized customer support
✔ Includes one year of registered agent service ($125/yr afterward)
✔ Industry experience since 1998

Cons

✘ Higher starting price than competitors who offer free South Carolina LLC formation
✘ No published customer service hours and no chat support
✘ Limited brand recognition compared to larger competitors

Want to learn more? See our Northwest Registered Agent review.

Not sure which option is right for you?

Take a closer look at the package details to find the best fit for your business.

South Carolina LLC Fast Facts

  • LLC Formation Speed: Filing your Articles of Organization online takes approximately 1 to 2 business days for processing, while filing by mail takes approximately 4 weeks. South Carolina doesn’t offer expedited filings.
  • Cost to File an SC LLC: $125, plus the service’s fee if you use one
  • How to File Your Articles of Organization: Online or by mail (you must include two copies in your packet if filing by mail)
  • State General Business License: Not required, but some local municipalities require it; industry and other licenses may also apply
  • PLLCs: Not an option in SC

South Carolina Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address:
1205 Pendleton Street
Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201		Physical Address:
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201
Telephone:
(803) 734-2170		Website:
https://sos.sc.gov/

The Total Cost of Forming and Maintaining an LLC in South Carolina

In addition to the costs of a business formation service or hiring an attorney (which are optional, as we’ve discussed), there are other required and optional expenses when forming and maintaining a South Carolina business. You can’t form an LLC in South Carolina without filing the Articles of Organization, the document that officially registers your business within the state. It costs $125 to submit.

Unlike a lot of states, South Carolina does not require a traditional annual report. Corporations will file an income report in conjunction with their corporate income tax return. LLCs are exempt from the requirement (unless they opt to be taxed as a C corporation). Read more about South Carolina LLC costs.

FAQs Related to the Best LLC Services in South Carolina

  • We invite you to take a look at our guide to forming a limited liability company in South Carolina. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in this state step by step, helping ensure that you don’t miss any crucial elements.

  • One of the most important steps in forming a South Carolina LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the Secretary of State’s business name search to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in South Carolina, check out our South Carolina business search page.

  • You can download the Articles of Organization on the South Carolina Secretary of State’s website.

  • In South Carolina, an LLC’s ongoing maintenance requirements are very minimal, as this state does not require LLCs to file an annual report.

  • Chances are, you’ll require at least one license or permit to operate your LLC in compliance with South Carolina state law. For more information about business licenses and more in this state, click here for the state’s Licenses, Permits, and Registration webpage.

  • Filing your Articles of Organization online takes approximately 1 to 2 business days for processing, while filing by mail takes about 4 weeks. South Carolina doesn’t offer expedited filings.

  • If you want more details about what these companies can offer in this state, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our guide to the best South Carolina registered agent services.

  • Unfortunately, not all businesses last forever. If the time comes when you need to close your LLC’s doors, you’ll need to do so in a manner consistent with the state’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to South Carolina LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.

  • If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in South Carolina. Instead, you’ll need to foreign-qualify the business in this state. This process is somewhat similar to LLC formation, but there are some crucial differences as well. Take a look at our guide to foreign qualifications in South Carolina for more information.

South Carolina Business Resources

Top LLC Formation Services in All 50 States

We've broken down the best LLC formation services in all 50 states. Select your state for more information.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. For specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

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Written by ZenBusiness Editorial Team

The ZenBusiness Editorial Team has more than 20 years of combined small business publishing experience and has helped over 950,000 entrepreneurs launch and grow their companies. The team’s writers and business formation experts are dedicated to providing accurate, practical, and trustworthy guidance so business owners can make confident decisions.

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