[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.