Skip to content
Plain CharterLLC questions, short answers.

Answered simply · South Carolina

3 Best Registered Agents in South Carolina (2026), Plainly Answered

We'd pick South Carolina Registered Agent.co ($99 a year), Mainstay Filing ($149 a year) and SC Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) in South Carolina for 2026, in that order. Year one is $99 to $149. Three years come to $297 to $447.

By the Plain Charter editorial team ·

Quick answer

Must you name one?
Required by law
Legal term
Registered agent
Yearly cost
$99 to $149 annually
Our order
South Carolina Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing then SC Registered Agent.org

Who to use in South Carolina

Ranked by how we choose: three-year cost first, then what the price covers.
1We'd start here

1. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for tight budgets

Annual price $99, renewal price $99

First choice: South Carolina Registered Agent.co. The reason is simple: $99 a year buys an in-state agent.

It is the lower three-year cost of the two, which is what we weigh first.

The price covers

  • An office address in the state
  • Scanned service of process

Upsides

  • Under the national pick on price
  • $99 a year, no increase

What to weigh

  • South Carolina only
Visit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Most included

2. Mainstay Filing: best for owners planning to grow

Annual price $149, renewal price $149

Our number 2 is Mainstay Filing, since $149 a year buys an agent here and in any state you add later.

It costs $150 more than South Carolina Registered Agent.co over three years, and cost carries the most weight with us.

The price covers

  • An address in the state
  • Three government mailings a year scanned free
  • Covers LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits

Upsides

  • $149 a year
  • Works in every state

What to weigh

  • Higher by $50 a year
  • Report filing needs the formation package
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3In-state

3. SC Registered Agent.org: best for a second in-state choice

Annual price $99, renewal price $99

SC Registered Agent.org is next: $99 a year buys an in-state agent.

Its prices match South Carolina Registered Agent.co exactly, so either is a sound choice.

The price covers

  • An office address in the state
  • Scanned service of process

Upsides

  • $99 a year, no increase
  • Under the national pick on price

What to weigh

  • South Carolina only
Visit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

How the picks compare

#ProviderFirst yearRenewal3-year costIn the price
1South Carolina Registered Agent.co$99$99/yr$297an office address in the state; scanned service of processVisit South Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$149$149/yr$447an address in the state; three government mailings a year scanned free; Covers LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofitsVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3SC Registered Agent.org$99$99/yr$297an office address in the state; scanned service of processVisit SC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company prices on November 12, 2026, before state fees.

What owners ask

Must the LLC name a registered agent?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

See S.C. Code § 33-44-108. from scstatehouse.gov · October 2026

Who qualifies?

A South Carolina resident, a South Carolina corporation, another LLC, or a corporation or company from another state authorized to do business in South Carolina.

Qualify, and you can fill the role yourself for free.

How much per year?

From $99 to $149 a year, $297 to $447 across three years.

No state fee depends on the agent.

What is the agent's job?

Its job is to receive legal documents and official notices for the company in South Carolina.

What matters most is that you hear about every document quickly. Read: service of process

What does the state charge yearly?

There is no recurring LLC report here.

What put the first pick first?

Because of three-year cost: South Carolina Registered Agent.co does best there, and it counts for 35%.

Most of our weighting sits on three-year cost and what the price takes off your plate.

$297 over three years for South Carolina Registered Agent.co, which is $150 under Mainstay Filing.

The criteria in full

Requirements, cited

RequirementDetailFrom
Formation fee$110from scstatehouse.gov · October 2026
Registered agentRequired by lawfrom scstatehouse.gov · October 2026
Three-year state total$110Sum of the rows
Filing fee, the reports in years two and three, then any minimum tax: that is the three-year line.

People also ask

Can I act as the agent myself?

You may, once you meet the rule on who can serve and where.

Where must the agent be located?

The address has to be a street address in South Carolina for the agent, stated in the articles. P.O. boxes are not accepted.

What is the three-year cost of each?

South Carolina Registered Agent.co $297, Mainstay Filing $447 and SC Registered Agent.org $297

What sources do you use?

Official South Carolina sources for state fees, company price pages for service fees.

Does the state require a service?

It is optional; the state charges the same either way.

Who comes first in South Carolina?

We rank South Carolina Registered Agent.co first on three-year cost, with Mainstay Filing and SC Registered Agent.org behind it.

Sources

  1. S.C, August 2026 (scstatehouse.gov)
  2. South Carolina Registered Agent.co: pricing page, read November 12, 2026
  3. Mainstay Filing: South Carolina service page, read November 12, 2026
  4. SC Registered Agent.org: pricing page, read November 12, 2026