5 Best LLC Formation Services in South Carolina (Dec 2023)

Best LLC Formation Service in South Carolina

Best South Carolina LLC Services for 2023: Ready to launch a business? Starting a South Carolina LLC is your first big move.

With so many LLC formation services out there, each claiming to be the top choice, it’s easy to feel lost.

What if you had a clear, easy-to-follow guide pointing you straight to the best options?

That’s where LLCBuddy comes in. Our team has researched and vetted the top LLC services in South Carolina just for you. Dive into our list, compare features and prices, and find the perfect fit for your business. Start your South Carolina LLC journey with confidence. Check out the best South Carolina LLC services from below.

Check #1 Best LLC Service in South Carolina

On this page, you’ll learn about the following:

Best LLC Formation Services in South Carolina
How to Form an LLC in South Carolina
How to Choose the Best LLC Formation Service in South Carolina
Why South Carolina is One of the Best Places for Business
Conclusion

Best LLC Formation Services in South Carolina

Here is the list of best LLC services available in South Carolina. The best thing about these services is starting your LLC for free. Some of the following services are offering LLC formation in South Carolina at $0. Other than the state fees and charges, you do not have to pay any charges to the service provider. You will get the basic formation package for free. Now, let’s check out the list of best LLC formation service providers in South Carolina-

LLC Service	Our Rating & Pricing	Top Features	Learn More
#1 TOP PICK	4.5/5 $0 + State Fees	100% accuracy guarantee Worry-free service Great customer support	Learn More
	4/5	Established reputation Extras are bit more expensive Good customer support	Learn More

Below is the list of the best LLC formation services in South Carolina we picked for you.

ZenBusiness – Known for its affordable packages and efficient service, ZenBusiness has become a favorite among new entrepreneurs.
LegalZoom – With years of industry experience, LegalZoom offers comprehensive services and a vast array of legal resources.
Northwest Registered Agent – Praised for its top-notch customer service, Northwest ensures personalized assistance and detailed compliance guidance.
BetterLegal – Speed is BetterLegal’s forte, promising the fastest LLC formation process in the market.
TailorBrands – Beyond LLC services, TailorBrands stands out with its branding solutions, making it a one-stop shop for budding businesses.

Our Editorial Team selects these companies through thorough research and market study. It is recommended that you cross-check all the factors before choosing the right one for your business.

1. ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness is a Texas-based company that provides services from formation to annual compliance to an LLC. It offers three plans, Starter, Pro, and Premium. The Starter plan starts from $0. That means you can form your LLC for free in South Carolina, though you must pay the state filing fee of $110 to the South Carolina Secretary of State. But, the company charges nothing to form your business in the state.

ZenBusiness Plans

Starter Plan at $0 + state filing fee
Pro Plan at $199/year + state filing fee
Premium Plan at $299/year + state filing fee

ZenBusiness Pros and Cons

Why You Must Get ZenBusiness	Why You Should Not Get ZenBusiness
100% accuracy rate	Does not form South Carolina nonprofit
Free LLC formation in South Carolina	Additional cost for EIN
User friendly
Standalone Registered Agent services

ZenBusiness Overview

ZenBusiness is one of those top-rated companies that provide business formation in South Carolina at a minimum cost (currently at $0). There is no charge to be paid to the company for forming your LLC in South Carolina. The state filing fee and other necessary fees must be paid, including the registered agent fee.

ZenBusiness offers three plans, among which the Pro plan is recommended. The Pro plan has everything you need to start an LLC in South Carolina. Obtaining EIN, operating agreement drafting, name search, and all other services are available with the rush filing feature.

Form LLC in South Carolina with ZenBusiness

2. LegalZoom

LegalZoom is one of the service providers in South Carolina that offers free LLC formation services. If you want to avoid spending money to form your LLC, then LegalZoom is for you. It offers various formation packages that include all types of LLC services. Aside from LLC formation, LegalZoom offers C and S corp formation. With over thousands of customers, the company offers basic LLC formation services at $0.

LegalZoom Plans

Basic Package- $0 + State Filing Fees (Tax deduction may be applicable)
Pro Package – $249 + State Filing Fees (Tax deductible may be applicable)
Premium Package – $279 + State Filing Fees (Tax deduction may be applicable)

Apart from these packages, LegalZoom offers a bunch of add-on services as well. Add-on services include the following-

Registered Agent – $299 per year. Available as an add-on and not included in any packages
Trademark registration: Assisting with the US trademark application process
Copyright registration: Guidance on registering copyrights for creative works
Patent services: Support in obtaining utility, design, and plant patents
Estate planning: Offering personalized wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents
Legal advice: Access to a network of lawyers for consultations and legal guidance
Expedited Filing: With an additional $99, you can speed up your filing process.

LegalZoom Pros and Cons

Why You Must Get LegalZoom	Why You Shouldn’t Get LegalZoom
Free LLC formation	Expensive add-ons, such as Registered Agent
Trustworthy and established reputation	Higher pricing compared to some competitors
Quick turnaround time	Less number of add-on options
Access to legal professionals	Some additional fees not included in plan prices
Customer support available through phone or chat	Mixed customer reviews

LegalZoom Overview

LegalZoom is one of the oldest companies in USA. This company is a service provider offering LLC formation at $0. It offers three broad packages, Basic, Pro, and Premium. The Basic package costs $0. Though you must pay the South Carolina filing fee while filing the Articles of Organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State. The filing fee depends on which method, mail, online, or any other method you choose.

LegalZoom offers vast add-ones like others. Hence, the chances of getting diverse services are comparatively high. The best part about the company is there is an access to legal documents and legal consultation. The registered agent service is a bit expensive. If you want to hire Registered Agent from LegalZoom, you must purchase that service separately, it does not come with any formation plans.

Form LLC in South Carolina with LegalZoom

3. Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent is a family-owned business based in Spoken, Washington state. The company offers LLC formation, registered agent service, annual compliances, and other business-related services in all 50 states, including South Carolina. It offers LLC formation at $ 39+ state fees and registered agent service at $125 yearly.

Northwest Plans

Northwest does not have conventional packages. It offers Core, Business maintenance, and business development services. Under these categories, various services are available at a flat rate. Some of the services offered by Northwest in South Carolina are listed below-

LLC formation in South Carolina at $39 + state filing fee
Registered Agent at $125 yearly
Annual report filing at $100 + state filing fee
Obtaining EIN at $50
Northwest offers National Agent Service. If you operate your LLC Registered Agent in 5 or more states, you can pay $100 + state fees (if applicable) to get a single agent for all states.

Northwest Registered Agent Pros and Cons

Why You Must Get Northwest	Why You Should Not Get Northwest
DIY Packages for your LLC in South Carolina	Not BBB accredited
No plans, flat rate for all services	Additional charges to obtain EIN in South Carolina
Purchase only the service you need to form South Carolina LLC.	The operating agreement draft is not included in the Core services
Northwest offers standalone Registered Agent service in South Carolina

Northwest Registered Agent Overview

Northwest is one of those service providers that offer DIY packages. Northwest is not for you if you want a wholesome formation package in South Carolina. It does not have conventional LLC formation packages. It is simply like a departmental store for you. You don’t need to buy everything, but the only thing you need.

Northwest has in-house corporate guides to guide you through the formation process. It offers LLC formation at $39 plus the state filing fee ($110). If you have already formed your LLC in South Carolina and are willing to appoint Registered Agent only, then Northwest can provide a standalone registered agent service at $125 per year.

Northwest offers single flat rates for all services in South Carolina and other states. The best part about the company is it does not outsource any of its services. Northwest offers corporate guides to help you through the steps of LLC formation.

Form LLC in South Carolina with Northwest Registered Agent

4. BetterLegal

BetterLegal is a comparatively new company than other competitors. But this company has successfully grabbed a large portion of the market in the United States. Serving in 51 states, BetterLegal has been in business since 2016. Unlike other experienced companies, it does not have a list of packages and plans for LLC formation.

BetterLegal Plans

BetterLegal offers one single plan at a flat $299 + state filing fees. It has a list of add-on services as well. BetterLegal is an online service that started off with a very small team. However, even after being in the business for so long, they didn’t increase their team size much. They have transparent pricing, and no hidden charge exists for any services they provide.

BetterLegal offers a list of add-on services. Following are the additional services they offer-

Registered Agent service – $10/month or $90/year
State Annual compliance services – $10/month or $90/year
Permit & License Search Service – $125
Amendment & document research – Free with the core formation service package

BetterLegal Pros and Cons

Why You Must Get BetterLegal	Why You Shouldn’t Get BetterLegal
No refund; all sales are final	The basic package does not include registered agent service
Quick Turnaround time	Additional charge for EIN
A+ BBB Accredited	The basic package does not include a registered agent service
Single plan for all incorporation

BetterLegal Overview

Even though the company is called BetterLegal, no attorneys or legal services are available. The company offers a single plan for all types of business formation. Hence, if you are planning to form a corporation, you can pay $299 + incorporation fee ($110 for online and by mail filing in South Carolina). It offers comparatively better turnaround time at a reasonable price than other companies. You can file your LLC within 10 minutes with BetterLegal.

It offers a resource center for new entrepreneurs. They provide guidance to make things easier when it comes to filing your business. Their small team sometimes fails to cater to their customers on time. Reaching out to their customer support team is very difficult. Another disadvantage is it does not have a refund policy. All sales with BetterLegal are final, and at any stage, upon cancelation, no refund is made. However, basic LLC formation and registered agent services are much cheaper in BetterLegal than in other close competitors.

Form LLC in South Carolina with BetterLegal

5. TailorBrands

Do you want to create a brand for your business in South Carolina? Here is the LLC formation service provider, TailorBrands, for you. The company was established in 2015 in New York, and since then, it has offered several incredible services to set up your business. TailorBrands has a single LLC formation plan that starts at $49 a year. You can choose different other add-on services at an additional cost.

TailorBrands Services

TailorBrands offer a single plan for forming an LLC at $49. There are some basic services that TailorBrands offer, including starting an LLC, filing it, South Carolina name availability search, priority support, and so on. You can use their add-on services as and when required. Add-ons are-

Registered Agent Service – $199/year
Employment ID Number (EIN) – $99 (one-time pay)
Annual Compliances – $299/year
Operating Agreement – $29
Expedited Filing – $49
Business bank account – Free

TailorBrands Pros and Cons

Why You Must Get TailorBrands	Why You Shouldn’t Get TailorBrands
Low-cost LLC formation	Not BBB Accredited
Free business bank accounts	No business domain packages
Hassle-free LLC formation	Additional charges to obtain EIN
Additional services like logo, website, domain

TailorBrands Overview

TailorBrands does not have vast LLC formation packages. Instead, it has a single package that includes the formation of LLCs. The name availability search is unlimited, and you don’t have to pay any additional fees. The state filing fee of $110 must be paid apart from the charges you pay for add-ons.

TailorBrands offers other business services such as logo making, domain, website, business bank account, merchandise, and other business services. As a small or start-up business, you must go for TailorBrands.

Form LLC in South Carolina with TailorBrands

How to Form an LLC in South Carolina

South Carolina, popularly known as The Palmetto State, is a business-friendly state with a population of 5,266,343. The Nominal Gross Domestic Product (in millions) of South Carolina is $298,961 according to a 2022 study, which has been said to be increased over the past year. Hence, starting your business in South Carolina will always be a good option. If you choose the state capital, Columbia, to start your LLC, you might get more tax and other benefits.

To form an LLC in South Carolina, you need to follow some basic steps, including getting an LLC name, appointing your South Carolina Registered Agent, filing the South Carolina Articles of Organization, creating South Carolina LLC operating agreement, and finally getting an EIN for filing required taxes.

You can do that on your own. However, it is always recommended to get a professional person on board to guide you through. These steps are crucial and sensitive. You must complete everything to avoid canceling your formation process. Hence, having a professional LLC formation service for your LLC is better.

How to Choose the Best LLC Formation Service in South Carolina

It is important to choose the best service for your business carefully. Before you select the best one, make sure you thoroughly research on following points-

Reputation: Look for a company with a good reputation. Check reviews and ratings from previous clients to see how they feel about the services offered.
Experience: Choose a company with years of LLC formation experience. This ensures that they have knowledge of the process and can provide quality services.
Cost: Compare prices between different companies. Choose a company that offers affordable pricing for the services you need.
Customer Service: Ensure that the company has good customer service. They should be responsive, helpful, and willing to answer any questions.
Services Offered: Look for a company that offers a range of services, including entity formation, registered agent services, and ongoing compliance support to ensure your LLC remains in good standing.
Ease of Use: Choose a company with a user-friendly website and easy-to-use online platform. This makes the process of forming an LLC simple and straightforward.
Guarantees: Check if the company offers a satisfaction guarantee or a refund policy. This gives you peace of mind that you are getting the best possible service.

Why South Carolina is One of the Best Places for Business

First and foremost, the business-friendly culture in South Carolina is unparalleled. The residents and state authorities alike value business growth and prosperity, manifesting in their support for investment and entrepreneurship. The state’s economy is diverse, with robust sectors ranging from manufacturing and agriculture to technology and tourism. Moreover, the state government has proactively taken steps to foster economic development, implementing policies that nurture innovation and attract companies to establish a strong foothold. South Carolina’s commitment to entrepreneurship and its supportive environment make it ripe for business success.

Another critical factor contributing to South Carolina’s appeal is its workforce. Characterized by dedicated and skilled individuals, the Palmetto State boasts a labor force that is ready and willing to contribute to businesses at all levels. South Carolinians bring a strong work ethic and sense of loyalty to their jobs, ensuring that businesses can count on their employees’ commitment. Furthermore, the available workforce is often well-versed in industries vital to the state’s economy, possessing expertise in sectors such as automotive manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, and information technology. With this invaluable resource at hand, businesses can thrive and tap into a pool of competent professionals, propelling them toward success.

Geographically, South Carolina also has a lot to offer to entrepreneurs and companies. With access to convenient transportation and logistic networks, businesses can efficiently transport goods and services to key markets across the state, region, and even beyond. The state’s excellent infrastructure, including its well-maintained highways, extensive rail network, and well-connected airports, ensures that logistical challenges are mitigated, facilitating trade and commerce. South Carolina’s location provides an advantageous launching point for businesses targeting a wider market and broader scope of operations, making it an appealing destination for both domestic and international companies.

Furthermore, the commitment toward education and workforce development in South Carolina cannot be overlooked. The state recognizes the significance of a well-educated workforce and invests substantially in education at all levels. State institutions and private sector partnerships ensure that South Carolinians are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to meet the evolving demands of the current job market. Renowned higher education establishments, such as Clemson University and the University of South Carolina, offer world-class education programs, producing graduates who are well-prepared to contribute significantly to the workforce. Businesses in South Carolina not only have access to a competent labor force but can also collaborate with local educational institutions to promote research, innovation, and collaboration.

In conclusion, South Carolina’s allure as a land of possibility and prosperity for businesses cannot be overstated. Its business-friendly environment, supportive government policies, exceptional workforce, strategic location, and commitment to education make it an ideal state for businesses to flourish and thrive. With these factors in play, it comes as no surprise why so many businesses are choosing South Carolina as their ideal location. So whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an established company seeking new opportunities, South Carolina shall remain a beacon of endless possibilities for you.

Conclusion

Starting a business in South Carolina is a big step. It’s really helpful to have experts on your side. When you use a professional LLC service, you’re making sure everything is done right without any headaches. We’ve given you a list of the top choices in this article. Take your time to look at each one. Check their prices, see what they offer, and think about what’s best for your business.

Remember, picking the right South Carolina LLC service can make things smoother and better for your business as it grows. If you want the best for your business, check out ZenBusiness. With their compelling offer of $0 + state fee for LLC formation, combined with an impressive array of 5-star Trustpilot reviews, they’re our number one recommendation. Seize this exceptional opportunity for your business!