What Is the Cost of a Registered Agent in South Carolina?
A South Carolina business entity’s registered agent obligation produces two independent expenses: state filing fees paid to the South Carolina Secretary of State, and commercial service fees paid to a private registered agent company. Separating these categories is the starting point for any realistic budget, because one is a fixed government charge and the other is a recurring market-priced service.
State filing fees are set by statute and assessed only when a document is delivered to the Secretary of State at formation, when changing an agent, or when a registered agent resigns. South Carolina does not impose any recurring annual state fee solely for maintaining a registered agent. The full schedule of filing fees is published on the Secretary of State’s Business Entities Online forms pages.
Commercial service fees are the annual charges a professional registered agent company collects for supplying a South Carolina street address, accepting service of process, and forwarding official documents. These fees depend on the provider and service tier; commercial registered agent services in South Carolina typically charge between $50 and $300 per year.
South Carolina does not require any entity to retain a commercial provider. Under the South Carolina Business Corporation Act of 1988 (S.C. Code Ann.) § 33-5-101, a corporation must continuously maintain a registered office and registered agent in the state, but the agent may be “an individual who resides in this State and whose business office is identical with the registered office.” An owner, officer, or director who meets this requirement may serve at no commercial cost.
South Carolina State Filing Fees for Registered Agent Appointments
The registered agent is named within the entity’s formation document — articles of incorporation for a corporation, articles of organization for an LLC, or a certificate of limited partnership for an LP. No separate state fee is charged for the registered agent designation itself; the agent’s name and registered office address are part of the formation filing, and the formation fee covers the complete document.
South Carolina’s formation fees vary substantially by entity type. Business corporations face a three-part cost: a $10 Secretary of State filing fee, a $100 franchise tax paid to the State Treasurer under S.C. Code Ann. § 33-1-220(d), and a mandatory $25 initial annual report (CL-1 form) filed with the Department of Revenue through the Secretary of State. Nonprofit corporations, by contrast, pay only a flat $25 formation fee under S.C. Code Ann. § 33-31-122, with no franchise tax and no CL-1.
The table below shows formation filing fees by entity type. All figures reflect paper filing; online filing through the Business Entities Online system adds a $15 electronic records access fee.
| Entity Type | Form | Filing Fee |
| Domestic Business Corporation | Articles of Incorporation (§ 33-2-102) | $135 |
| Domestic Professional Corporation | Articles of Incorporation – Professional Corporation (§§ 33-2-102, 33-19-109) | $135 |
| Domestic Statutory Close Corporation | Articles of Incorporation – Statutory Close Corporation (§§ 33-2-102, 33-18-103) | $135 |
| Domestic Benefit Corporation | Articles of Incorporation – Benefit Corporation (§§ 33-2-102, 33-38-200) | $135 |
| Domestic LLC | Articles of Organization (§§ 33-44-202, 33-44-203) | $110 |
| Domestic Nonprofit Corporation | Articles of Incorporation (§ 33-31-202) | $25 |
| Domestic Limited Partnership | Certificate of Limited Partnership (§ 33-42-210) | $10 |
| Domestic LLP | Application for Registration of a Limited Liability Partnership (§ 33-41-1110) | $100 |
| Foreign Business Corporation | Application for Certificate of Authority (§ 33-15-103) | $135 |
| Foreign LLC | Application for Certificate of Authority (§ 33-44-1002) | $110 |
| Foreign Nonprofit Corporation | Application for Certificate of Authority (§ 33-31-1503) | $10 |
| Foreign Limited Partnership | Application for Registration (§ 33-42-1620) | $10 |
| Foreign LLP | Application for Certificate of Authority (§ 33-41-1160) | $100 |
Note: The $135 corporation fee comprises three components: a $10 filing fee to the Secretary of State, a $100 franchise tax, and a $25 CL-1 initial annual report fee. The CL-1 must accompany the articles of incorporation. All corporation types — business, professional, close, and benefit — pay this combined amount at formation.
Paper filings are sent by mail or delivered in person to the Secretary of State’s Office, Business Filings Division, 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia, SC 29201. The office accepts cash, personal checks, and money orders payable to the SC Secretary of State. Credit and debit cards are accepted only through the online filing system, which adds the $15 electronic records access surcharge. Filing forms in PDF format are available on the Starting a Business in South Carolina forms page.
State Filing Fee to Change a Registered Agent
When an entity replaces its registered agent, updates the registered office address, or both after formation, it files the applicable notice of change with the Secretary of State. The standard filing fee for a change of registered agent is $10 for corporations, LLCs, LPs, LLPs, and nonprofit corporations alike.
South Carolina provides separate forms for each entity type, and the fee structure for agent-initiated address changes and resignations varies. For corporations and nonprofit corporations, the registered agent may file an agent-initiated address change — updating only the street address of the registered office without changing the agent — for $2 per affected entity. Resignation filings for corporations and nonprofits carry a $5 fee, which covers a $3 resignation component and a $2 registered office discontinuance component. LLC, LP, and LLP resignations cost $10.
| Action | Form | Filing Fee |
| Change of registered agent or office—Business Corporation | Notice of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent (§ 33-5-102) | $10 |
| Change of registered agent or office—Foreign Corporation | Notice of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent (§ 33-15-108) | $10 |
| Agent-initiated address change — Corporation | Agent’s Statement of Change of Registered Office (§ 33-5-102(b)) | $2 |
| Agent resignation — Corporation (domestic or foreign) | Resignation of Registered Agent and Discontinuance of Registered Office (§ 33-5-103) | $5 |
| Change of agent or office — Domestic LLC | Notice of Change of Designated Office, Agent or Address (§ 33-44-109) | $10 |
| Change of agent or office — Foreign LLC | Notice of Change of Designated Office, Agent or Address (§ 33-44-109) | $10 |
| Agent resignation — LLC (domestic or foreign) | Resignation of Agent for Service of Process (§ 33-44-110) | $10 |
| Change of agent or office — Nonprofit Corporation | Notice of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent (§ 33-31-502) | $10 |
| Agent resignation — Nonprofit Corporation | Resignation of Registered Agent and Discontinuance of Registered Office (§ 33-31-503) | $5 |
| Change of agent or office — Limited Partnership | Notice of Change of Registered Agent or Address | $10 |
| Agent resignation — Limited Partnership | Resignation of Agent for Service of Process | $10 |
| Change of agent or office — LLP | Notice of Change of Registered Agent or Address | $10 |
| Agent resignation — LLP | Resignation of Agent for Service of Process | $10 |
All agent change and resignation forms are listed on the Resignation or Change of Registered Agent forms page. Online filings add the $15 electronic records access fee; paper filings carry no surcharge.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 33-44-110, an LLC agent’s resignation becomes effective on the thirty-first day after the statement is filed. The same timeline applies to corporation agents under § 33-5-103. The entity must designate a replacement agent before that date to avoid a gap in compliance.
What Is Included in a Registered Agent Service Fee?
The annual fee paid to a commercial registered agent covers the provider’s ongoing obligation to accept legal and government documents at a South Carolina street address on the entity’s behalf. Specific inclusions vary by provider and price tier, but most services share a common set of deliverables.
Core services (generally included at all price levels):
- A physical street address in South Carolina that serves as the entity’s registered office on record with the Secretary of State.
- Receipt of service of process, tax notices, Secretary of State correspondence, and other official documents during normal business hours.
- Same-day or next-day digital scanning of received documents to the client’s secure online account.
- Email or text notification when a document arrives on behalf of the entity.
Additional services (included by some providers or at higher tiers):
- Compliance calendar reminders for annual report deadlines and other recurring filing obligations.
- Use of the registered agent’s address on formation documents to keep the owner’s home address off the public record.
- Mail forwarding for general business correspondence beyond legal and government mail.
- Pre-populated South Carolina filing forms are accessible within an online dashboard.
What is NOT included in a standard registered agent service fee:
- State filing fees, formation fees, change-of-agent fees, franchise taxes, and resignation fees are paid separately to the Secretary of State.
- Preparation or filing of annual reports, tax returns, or other compliance documents (unless purchased as a separate add-on).
- Legal advice or representation.
- Expedited processing of state filings.
Registered Agent Cost When Forming a New South Carolina Business
When forming a new entity, the registered agent is named within the formation document itself — no separate state filing fee is assessed for the agent designation. The total first-year cost combines the state formation filing fee with the commercial registered agent service fee, if the entity uses a commercial provider rather than self-designating.
| Entity Type | State Formation Fee | Commercial RA (Year 1) | Total Year 1 Cost |
| Domestic Business Corporation | $135 | $0–$300 | $135–$435 |
| Domestic LLC | $110 | $0–$300 | $110–$410 |
| Domestic Nonprofit Corporation | $25 | $0–$300 | $25–$325 |
| Domestic Limited Partnership | $10 | $0–$300 | $10–$310 |
| Domestic LLP | $100 | $0–$300 | $100–$400 |
| Foreign Business Corporation | $135 | $0–$300 | $135–$435 |
| Foreign LLC | $110 | $0–$300 | $110–$410 |
| Foreign Nonprofit Corporation | $10 | $0–$300 | $10–$310 |
The $0 figure in the Commercial RA column reflects entities where a South Carolina resident serves as the entity’s own registered agent, eliminating the commercial service fee. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 33-44-108, an LLC’s agent for service of process must be “an individual resident of this State, a domestic corporation, another limited liability company, or a foreign corporation or foreign company authorized to do business in this State.”
Many commercial registered agent services bundle the first year of service within a formation package. Before purchasing, confirm whether the quoted package price includes:
- The state filing fee is paid to the Secretary of State.
- The registered agent service fee for year one.
- The renewal price for subsequent years.
Some providers advertise introductory rates well below their standard renewal fee. A formation package priced at $39 in year one may reset to $125 or more annually beginning in year two. Formation fee details are listed on the Starting a Business in South Carolina forms page.
Cost of Serving as Your Own Registered Agent in South Carolina
South Carolina law permits an individual who resides in the state and whose business office is identical with the registered office to serve as the registered agent for a corporation under S.C. Code Ann. § 33-5-101. The same eligibility structure applies to LLCs under § 33-44-108, limited partnerships under § 33-42-50, and nonprofit corporations under § 33-31-501. The entity itself cannot serve as its own registered agent; a qualifying individual or authorized entity must be designated.
Cost of self-designation:
- Commercial service fee: $0.
- State filing fee at formation: Included in the standard formation filing fee. No additional charge for the registered agent designation.
- State filing fee to update address: If the agent’s address changes, a notice of change must be filed. The fee is $10 for most entity types, or $2 if only the registered office address is being updated by the existing agent for a corporation. Forms are available on the forms catalog.
Tradeoffs of self-designation:
| Factor | Self as Registered Agent | Commercial Service |
| Annual cost | $0 | $50–$300 per year |
| Privacy | Personal name and home address appear on the public record | The provider’s business address appears on the public record |
| Business hours availability | Must be available in person at the registered office during normal business hours | The provider guarantees availability |
| Service of process delivery | Delivered in person at the registered address, potentially in front of customers or staff | Received, scanned, and forwarded digitally |
| Address updates | Must file a notice of change ($2–$10) each time the address changes | The provider maintains a stable address |
| Compliance monitoring | Self-managed; no automated reminders | The provider sends reminders for annual reports and filing deadlines |
| Eligibility requirement | Must be an individual resident of South Carolina with a business office identical to the registered office | Meets all statutory requirements by design |
Frequently Asked Questions About Registered Agent Costs in South Carolina
Is there a fee to designate a registered agent when forming a South Carolina LLC or corporation?
No separate state filing fee is charged for the registered agent designation at formation. The agent’s name and registered office address are included within the formation document — articles of organization for an LLC ($110) or articles of incorporation for a corporation ($135). These fees cover the entire document, including the agent designation.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in South Carolina?
The filing fee to change a registered agent is $10 for all entity types — corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, LLPs, and nonprofits. If only the street address of the registered office is being updated by the existing agent for a corporation, the fee drops to $2. Online filings add a $15 electronic records access surcharge. Paper filings are submitted by mail or in person to the Secretary of State’s Office, 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia, SC 29201. Phone: (803) 734-2158. All applicable forms are available on the agent change forms page.
Can I designate myself as a registered agent to avoid the annual service fee?
Yes. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 33-5-101, any individual who resides in South Carolina and whose business office is identical to the registered office may serve as the registered agent for a corporation. Parallel eligibility rules apply under § 33-44-108 for LLCs and § 33-31-501 for nonprofit corporations. Self-designation eliminates the commercial service fee but places the individual’s name and address on the public record and requires personal availability during business hours. If the registered office address changes, a notice of change must be filed at the applicable fee.
What is the annual cost of Northwest Registered Agent in South Carolina?
Northwest Registered Agent charges $125 per year for registered agent service in South Carolina. The fee covers a physical South Carolina street address on file as the entity’s registered office, same-day scanning and upload of service of process and official correspondence, email notifications when documents arrive, compliance reminders, and access to pre-populated South Carolina filing forms through an online account.
Does the registered agent service fee include the state filing fee?
No. The commercial registered agent service fee and the state filing fee are entirely separate charges paid to different parties. The service fee goes to the private provider for address maintenance and document handling. State filing fees, such as the $110 LLC formation fee or the $10 change-of-agent fee, are paid to the Secretary of State. Some providers pay the change-of-agent filing fee as a promotional benefit when a new client switches to their service, but this is not a standard inclusion.
Is there a fee to file the consent of registered agent form?
South Carolina does not require a standalone consent form to be filed with the Secretary of State. Instead, S.C. Code Ann. § 33-5-102 requires that a notice of change include “the new agent’s written consent (either on the statement or attached to it).” The consent is part of the change-of-agent filing, covered by the $10 filing fee — no additional fee is assessed for the consent itself. The consent is similarly integrated into formation documents under §§ 33-44-203 and 33-31-202.
Is there a fee for the registered agent to resign?
Yes. For corporations and nonprofit corporations, the resignation filing fee is $5, covering a $3 resignation component and a $2 registered office discontinuance component. For LLCs, limited partnerships, and LLPs, the resignation filing fee is $10. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 33-44-110, the agency terminates on the thirty-first day after the resignation statement is filed. The entity must appoint a replacement registered agent before that date.
How does the cost compare for a nonprofit corporation versus a for-profit corporation?
Nonprofit corporations in South Carolina pay significantly lower state filing fees than for-profit business corporations at every stage. The filing fee schedules are set independently: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-31-122 governs nonprofit fees, while § 33-1-220 governs business corporation fees.
| Transaction | For-Profit Corporation | Nonprofit Corporation |
| Articles of incorporation (formation) | $135 | $25 |
| Foreign entity registration | $135 | $10 |
| Change of registered agent | $10 | $10 |
| Resignation of registered agent | $5 | $5 |
| Annual report (CL-1 / DOR) | Minimum $25 license fee (filed with Dept. of Revenue) | Not required via SOS |
Commercial registered agent service fees do not differ based on the entity’s nonprofit or for-profit status. A nonprofit corporation pays the same annual service fee as a business corporation when using a commercial provider.
Are there any hidden fees associated with registered agent services?
State filing fees are fixed, publicly available, and listed on the Secretary of State’s forms catalog. The only state-imposed surcharge that sometimes catches filers off guard is the $15 electronic records access fee added to every online filing. Beyond state fees, common commercial pricing practices to watch for include significantly higher renewal rates after a discounted first year, per-document fees for scanning or forwarding service of process, formation packages that bundle unnecessary add-on services at inflated prices, and extra charges for compliance reminders or mail forwarding that other providers include at no additional cost.
Does the cost change if I move my business to a new address in South Carolina?
The financial impact depends on which address is changing and whether the entity uses a commercial registered agent.
- Entity’s principal office address only: If only the principal business office changes and the registered office address stays the same, no registered-agent-related filing is required with the Secretary of State. Corporations update their principal office through their annual report filed with the Department of Revenue.
- Registered agent’s address changing (same agent, new location): The agent may file an agent-initiated address change for $2 per affected corporation under S.C. Code Ann. § 33-5-102(b). For LLCs, the entity files a notice of change at $10 under § 33-44-109. Online filing adds the $15 electronic records access fee.
- Replacing the registered agent entirely: The entity files a notice of change of registered agent at $10 (plus $15 if filing online).
- Using a commercial registered agent service: No filing is needed on the entity’s part when the entity’s own business address changes because the registered office address on file with the Secretary of State belongs to the commercial provider and remains unchanged.