Business License by State › South Carolina
South Carolina business license (2026)
No general state business license. The South Carolina Business One Stop says: “There is no statewide business license in South Carolina.”
- State page read October 21, 2026
- Quoted from the state
South Carolina at a glance
- State rule
- No general state business license
- Next step
- Check your city and county: local licenses are common even where the state has none.
- Forming an LLC
- $110 with the South Carolina Secretary of State
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, same at renewal
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Questions
Does South Carolina require a business license?
No general state business license. The South Carolina Business One Stop says: “There is no statewide business license in South Carolina.”
Who do I contact in South Carolina?
South Carolina Business One Stop (page linked below), your city or county clerk, and the South Carolina Secretary of State for forming the company.
Is a South Carolina LLC the same as a license?
No. Forming the LLC is a filing with the South Carolina Secretary of State, which charges $110. A license, where one applies, is a separate step.
Sources
- South Carolina Business One Stop (business license statement): scbos.sc.gov/business-compliance/licenses/business-license, checked October 21, 2026
- South Carolina Secretary of State: sos.sc.gov/, checked October 20, 2026