How to Find the Best Registered Agent in South Carolina

The primary responsibility of a registered agent in South Carolina is to be the point of contact for a business that accepts legal notices and important documents such as:

• Articles of Organization – the South Carolina formation documents for an LLC
• Articles of Incorporation – formation documents for corporations
• Certificate of Existence– proof of good standing in South Carolina
• Corporate income tax – expected on or before the fourth month at the end of the taxable year

You can appoint anyone for free to your company as long as they meet the registered agent requirements.

• Adult child
• Employee
• Yourself

Commercial registered agent services in South Carolina can cost between $50 and $500 annually.

Section 3 of the South Carolina Articles of Organization form will request the registered agent information.

• Agent for service of process name
• Registered agent street address

Depending on your business structure, you must complete the appropriate notice of change form and submit it to the South Carolina Secretary of State by mail or in person.

• Corporation
• LLC
• LP
• LLP
• Nonprofit

The agent’s resignation for the service of process form will request specific information.

• Company name
• Statement of resignation
• Date
• Signature

• You’re ensuring you remain in good standing

Your state taxes are due annually, and the due dates can get away from you.

When you don’t pay state taxes in a timely matter, you risk losing good standing and asset protection in South Carolina.

The professional registered agent you appoint will use a current compliance calendar to send you alerts when due dates are near and help you through the process of submitting them.

• A private address stays out of the South Carolina public record

Small business owners in South Carolina commonly work from a home address or a private office.

By appointing yourself, that personal address becomes the business address and part of the South Carolina Business Search and is searchable using the business name or keywords.

A business owner can choose to list an appointed registered agent address in the Secretary of State business database instead of their personal address.

• You get the benefit of peace of mind

A process server can pop up at a business without having to notify the business owner in order to serve legal documents.

You safeguard your reputation by appointing an outside professional registered agent service that can accept sensitive documents, such as subpoenas, away from your place of business.

• You’re the boss of your work hours

According to Title 33 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, a registered agent must be available during regular business hours so that they can accept official documents from:

By appointing yourself as your own registered agent, you become responsible for that mandated availability.

A professional registered agent service has resident agents on staff during normal business hours to relieve official correspondence from South Carolina.

• You always have access to the Certificate of Existence

Banks and other financial institutions will ask you to provide proof that you’re in good standing with the Secretary of State.

The appointment of a registered commercial agent service means you have 24/7 access to the Certificate of Existence and other formation documents to make doing business convenient.

• Expansion into other states is easy

All states require you to appoint a registered agent when forming a foreign LLC in a different state.

If you have one appointed already, you can begin the LLC formation process easily and quickly.