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<v Dan>The 5 best registered agents in South Carolina in 2026 are Mainstay

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<v Dan>Filing, Northwest Registered Agent, SC Registered Agent.org,

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<v Dan>Bizee, and South Carolina Registered Agent.co.

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<v Maya>This is The Business Formation Podcast.

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<v Maya>South Carolina. What stands out?

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<v Dan>A change of agent is $10, and the agent has to sign its consent.

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<v Dan>Also, a standard South Carolina LLC files no annual report, so there's no yearly

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<v Dan>reminder to lean on.

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<v Maya>What does the law require?

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<v Dan>Section 33-44-108 says an LLC must designate and continuously maintain

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<v Dan>an office and an agent for service of process, with the agent's street address.

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<v Maya>Who can be the agent?

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<v Dan>An individual who lives in South Carolina.

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<v Dan>Or a domestic corporation, another LLC, or a foreign company authorized to do

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<v Dan>business in the state.

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<v Maya>Can my LLC be its own agent?

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

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

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<v Dan>Thanks, Maya. Now the five.

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<v Maya>Who's first?

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

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<v Maya>What's the value?

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<v Dan>Its South Carolina address sits on the public record in place of yours.

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<v Dan>Served papers are scanned and uploaded the same business day, at no fee.

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<v Dan>And three government mailings a year are scanned free.

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<v Maya>What about changing over?

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

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<v Maya>The honest catch?

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

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<v Maya>Second?

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<v Dan>Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year.

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<v Dan>The page says the price is unchanged in 20 years.

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<v Dan>Up to 10 business-mail scans a year are free.

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<v Maya>Catch?

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<v Dan>Signing up auto-enrolls you in its annual report filing service, $100 plus state

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<v Dan>fees per filing, until you cancel.

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<v Maya>Does South Carolina need that?

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<v Dan>A standard LLC doesn't file an annual report there.

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<v Dan>So check what that auto-enrollment is actually filing for you.

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<v Maya>Third?

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<v Dan>SC Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, still $99 at renewal.

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<v Dan>The registered office, same-day scanning of court papers, and reminders before state

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<v Dan>deadlines.

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<v Maya>To switch?

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<v Dan>Only the $10 state fee.

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<v Maya>Any catch?

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<v Dan>Formation filing is a separate service.

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<v Maya>Compared with Mainstay?

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

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<v Maya>Four?

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<v Dan>Bizee, formerly Incfile. The registered agent is free the first year with any

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<v Dan>formation package, then $149 a year.

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<v Maya>What's the fine print?

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<v Dan>The free year needs a formation order.

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<v Dan>The renewal is automatic.

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<v Maya>What if I'm already formed?

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

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<v Maya>And five?

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<v Dan>South Carolina Registered Agent.co, a flat $99 a year.

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<v Dan>The agent address on your filings, scanned legal mail, and reminders ahead of state

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<v Dan>deadlines.

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<v Maya>Same as number three?

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

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<v Maya>Where's the agent named?

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<v Dan>In the Articles of Organization, Form F0006.

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<v Dan>Item 3 takes the agent's name, signature, and South Carolina street address.

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<v Maya>What does that cost?

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<v Dan>$110.

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<v Maya>The agent signs the formation form?

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

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<v Dan>consent step.

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<v Maya>So I can't name someone without asking.

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<v Dan>Not on that form, no.

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<v Maya>How do I change it?

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<v Dan>Form F0080, the notice of change of designated office, agent for service of process,

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<v Dan>or address of agent. The fee is $10.

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<v Maya>How do I file it?

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<v Dan>In duplicate on paper, or online.

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<v Dan>The state says online filing gives faster processing.

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<v Maya>Who signs?

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

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<v Maya>And the agent?

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<v Dan>Item 4b has the new agent's consent: "I hereby consent to the appointment as

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<v Dan>registered agent." They sign under it.

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<v Maya>When is it effective?

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<v Dan>When the Secretary of State endorses it for filing, unless you choose a delayed

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<v Dan>date.

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<v Maya>And a foreign LLC?

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<v Dan>It uses Form F0086 instead.

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<v Maya>What if the agent wants out?

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<v Dan>It delivers a statement of resignation to the Secretary of State, on Form F0065.

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<v Dan>The fee is $10, and it's filed in three copies.

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<v Maya>What does the state do with it?

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<v Dan>It mails a copy to the designated office and another to the LLC at its principal

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<v Dan>office.

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<v Maya>When does it end?

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

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<v Maya>So I have a month.

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

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<v Maya>And if a lawsuit arrives with no agent?

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<v Dan>If the LLC fails to appoint or maintain an agent, or the agent can't be found at its

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<v Dan>address, the Secretary of State becomes the company's agent.

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<v Maya>How does the paper reach me?

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<v Dan>Duplicate copies are left with the state, which forwards one by registered or

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<v Dan>certified mail, return receipt requested, to the LLC's designated office.

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<v Maya>When is service complete?

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<v Dan>At the earliest of receipt, the date on the return receipt, or five days after it's

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<v Dan>mailed.

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<v Maya>What does it cost?

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

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

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<v Dan>The state dissolves an LLC administratively only if it doesn't pay a fee, tax or

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<v Dan>penalty within 60 days after it's due.

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<v Maya>Is losing an agent a ground by itself?

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

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<v Dan>default.

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<v Maya>Does any South Carolina LLC file an annual report?

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<v Dan>One taxed as a corporation files a form within 60 days, and an annual report with

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<v Dan>its corporate tax return.

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<v Maya>And everyone else?

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<v Dan>A standard LLC is not subject to the annual report or the license fee, according to

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<v Dan>the Department of Revenue.

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

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<v Dan>If you're an individual who lives there, yes.

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<v Dan>The LLC can't be its own agent, but you can.

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<v Maya>What's the tradeoff?

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<v Dan>Your street address is on the record.

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<v Dan>And every summons arrives there.

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<v Maya>Is there an office-hours rule?

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

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<v Maya>What does the agent do?

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<v Dan>It's the company's agent for any process, notice or demand required or permitted by

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<v Dan>law.

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<v Maya>Is there an order of steps for switching?

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<v Dan>Yes. Get the new agent's yes, then file Form F0080 with the agent's signature

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<v Dan>on item 4b. Wait until the state endorses it.

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<v Dan>Then end things with the old agent.

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<v Maya>Why wait for the endorsement?

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<v Dan>The change is effective when the Secretary of State endorses it, so until then the

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<v Dan>old agent is still the one on record.

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<v Maya>And the office?

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<v Dan>The same form changes the designated office or the agent's address, so one filing

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<v Dan>can cover all three.

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<v Maya>How should a Charleston or Greenville owner choose?

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<v Dan>Three questions. Does the price stay put, is there a real South Carolina street

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<v Dan>address, and who files the change and gets the signature.

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<v Maya>And your pick?

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

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<v Maya>All five, once more?

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<v Dan>One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal.

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<v Dan>Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel.

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<v Dan>Three, SC Registered Agent.org: $99 flat.

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<v Dan>Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then

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<v Dan>$149. Five, South Carolina Registered Agent.co:

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<v Dan>$99 flat.

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<v Maya>The links are in the show notes.

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<v Maya>Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.