The 5 Best Registered Agents in South Carolina (2026)

Full transcript

0:00 The short answer

Dan The 5 best registered agents in South Carolina in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest Registered Agent, SC Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and South Carolina Registered Agent.co.

Maya This is The Business Formation Podcast. South Carolina. What stands out?

Dan A change of agent is $10, and the agent has to sign its consent. Also, a standard South Carolina LLC files no annual report, so there's no yearly reminder to lean on.

0:36 What South Carolina requires

Maya What does the law require?

Dan Section 33-44-108 says an LLC must designate and continuously maintain an office and an agent for service of process, with the agent's street address.

Maya Who can be the agent?

Dan An individual who lives in South Carolina. Or a domestic corporation, another LLC, or a foreign company authorized to do business in the state.

Maya Can my LLC be its own agent?

Dan The statute says "another" LLC, which rules out the company itself.

Maya I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan.

Dan Thanks, Maya. Now the five.

1:15 Mainstay Filing

Maya Who's first?

Dan Mainstay Filing, $149 a year. It renews at the same $149.

Maya What's the value?

Dan Its South Carolina address sits on the public record in place of yours. Served papers are scanned and uploaded the same business day, at no fee. And three government mailings a year are scanned free.

Maya What about changing over?

Dan Mainstay files the change. The $10 state fee goes through at cost.

Maya The honest catch?

Dan If lowest flat price is the goal, two agents here charge $99.

1:51 Northwest Registered Agent

Maya Second?

Dan Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. The page says the price is unchanged in 20 years. Up to 10 business-mail scans a year are free.

Maya Catch?

Dan Signing up auto-enrolls you in its annual report filing service, $100 plus state fees per filing, until you cancel.

Maya Does South Carolina need that?

Dan A standard LLC doesn't file an annual report there. So check what that auto-enrollment is actually filing for you.

2:21 SC Registered Agent.org

Maya Third?

Dan SC Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, still $99 at renewal. The registered office, same-day scanning of court papers, and reminders before state deadlines.

Maya To switch?

Dan Only the $10 state fee.

Maya Any catch?

Dan Formation filing is a separate service.

Maya Compared with Mainstay?

Dan $50 a year less. Across three years, $150.

2:49 Bizee

Maya Four?

Dan Bizee, formerly Incfile. The registered agent is free the first year with any formation package, then $149 a year.

Maya What's the fine print?

Dan The free year needs a formation order. The renewal is automatic.

Maya What if I'm already formed?

Dan No free year. You start at $149, which is $298 for two.

3:14 South Carolina Registered Agent.co

Maya And five?

Dan South Carolina Registered Agent.co, a flat $99 a year. The agent address on your filings, scanned legal mail, and reminders ahead of state deadlines.

Maya Same as number three?

Dan Same price, same catch. Formation filing is a separate service.

3:33 Naming the agent at formation

Maya Where's the agent named?

Dan In the Articles of Organization, Form F0006. Item 3 takes the agent's name, signature, and South Carolina street address.

Maya What does that cost?

Dan $110.

Maya The agent signs the formation form?

Dan Yes. There's a signature line for the agent, which is different from states with no consent step.

Maya So I can't name someone without asking.

Dan Not on that form, no.

4:00 Changing the agent

Maya How do I change it?

Dan Form F0080, the notice of change of designated office, agent for service of process, or address of agent. The fee is $10.

Maya How do I file it?

Dan In duplicate on paper, or online. The state says online filing gives faster processing.

Maya Who signs?

Dan A manager, member, organizer, fiduciary or attorney-in-fact.

Maya And the agent?

Dan Item 4b has the new agent's consent: "I hereby consent to the appointment as registered agent." They sign under it.

Maya When is it effective?

Dan When the Secretary of State endorses it for filing, unless you choose a delayed date.

Maya And a foreign LLC?

Dan It uses Form F0086 instead.

4:46 If the agent resigns

Maya What if the agent wants out?

Dan It delivers a statement of resignation to the Secretary of State, on Form F0065. The fee is $10, and it's filed in three copies.

Maya What does the state do with it?

Dan It mails a copy to the designated office and another to the LLC at its principal office.

Maya When does it end?

Dan The agency is terminated on the 31st day after the statement is filed.

Maya So I have a month.

Dan A month to file Form F0080 and name someone new.

5:18 When there's no agent

Maya And if a lawsuit arrives with no agent?

Dan If the LLC fails to appoint or maintain an agent, or the agent can't be found at its address, the Secretary of State becomes the company's agent.

Maya How does the paper reach me?

Dan Duplicate copies are left with the state, which forwards one by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the LLC's designated office.

Maya When is service complete?

Dan At the earliest of receipt, the date on the return receipt, or five days after it's mailed.

Maya What does it cost?

Dan A $10 fee each time process is served on the Secretary of State.

5:56 Good standing without an annual report

Maya What keeps a South Carolina LLC in good standing, then?

Dan The state dissolves an LLC administratively only if it doesn't pay a fee, tax or penalty within 60 days after it's due.

Maya Is losing an agent a ground by itself?

Dan Not in the statute. But you still must keep one, and the state can be your agent by default.

Maya Does any South Carolina LLC file an annual report?

Dan One taxed as a corporation files a form within 60 days, and an annual report with its corporate tax return.

Maya And everyone else?

Dan A standard LLC is not subject to the annual report or the license fee, according to the Department of Revenue.

6:37 Doing it yourself

Maya Can I serve as my own agent in South Carolina?

Dan If you're an individual who lives there, yes. The LLC can't be its own agent, but you can.

Maya What's the tradeoff?

Dan Your street address is on the record. And every summons arrives there.

Maya Is there an office-hours rule?

Dan Not in the Act. It requires a street address, and that's all it says.

Maya What does the agent do?

Dan It's the company's agent for any process, notice or demand required or permitted by law.

7:09 Before you switch

Maya Is there an order of steps for switching?

Dan Yes. Get the new agent's yes, then file Form F0080 with the agent's signature on item 4b. Wait until the state endorses it. Then end things with the old agent.

Maya Why wait for the endorsement?

Dan The change is effective when the Secretary of State endorses it, so until then the old agent is still the one on record.

Maya And the office?

Dan The same form changes the designated office or the agent's address, so one filing can cover all three.

7:45 Picking one

Maya How should a Charleston or Greenville owner choose?

Dan Three questions. Does the price stay put, is there a real South Carolina street address, and who files the change and gets the signature.

Maya And your pick?

Dan Mainstay Filing. Our pick for South Carolina, at $149 a year.

8:07 The five in a row

Maya All five, once more?

Dan One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal. Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. Three, SC Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. Five, South Carolina Registered Agent.co: $99 flat.

Maya The links are in the show notes. Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.