How to search South Carolina records
- Search Business Entities Online by name or entity ID.
- The record shows the registered agent, effective date, and every filed document.
- Use "Advanced Search" to filter by entity type and status.
Open the official South Carolina search
South Carolina SOS, corporation and LLC search
South Carolina Secretary of State Business Search
The South Carolina Secretary of State business search is run by the South Carolina Secretary of State, Business Filings Division through its Business Entities Online search. Related queries such as "SC sec of state business search" reach the same free database. Search by name first, then reopen the record by its entity ID so you are reading one exact entity. The step-by-step instructions above walk through the screens.
South Carolina Entity Search
An entity search of the South Carolina business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. South Carolina has no recurring report, so addresses and officers on an older record can be out of date. Treat good standing as a separate check.
South Carolina Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "South Carolina Secretary of State corporation search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
South Carolina LLC Search
Run the South Carolina LLC search with the exact name, then note the entity ID. Forming a South Carolina LLC costs $110 with no recurring report fee. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
South Carolina Business Name Search
A South Carolina business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. South Carolina lets you hold a name for 120 days for $25. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
Scsos Business Search
SCSOS is shorthand for the South Carolina Secretary of State. An SCSOS business search is the Business Entities Online search, which is free to use. For other checks, see the business verification checklist.
No LLC annual report
South Carolina has no annual report for most LLCs at the Secretary of State. Corporations file their annual report with the Department of Revenue as part of the income tax return, so entity status and tax compliance sit in two different agencies.
South Carolina filing facts
| Record number | Entity ID |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $110. Articles of Organization. |
| Recurring filing | No annual report for most LLCs |
| Due | Only LLCs taxed as S corporations file with the Department of Revenue |
| Name reservation | $25 for 120 days |
| Agency phone | 803-734-2158 |
What a South Carolina LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $110 | $0 | $110 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Three-year state total | $110 | ||
Reading South Carolina records
Business Entities Online shows the registered agent, effective date and every filed document, and Advanced Search filters by type and status. South Carolina does not register DBAs at the state level; see DBA. The state sells corporations data through its interactive subscriber program, at a 2019 price of $12,000 a year, as listed in data downloads by state.
Checking a South Carolina LLC
Because most South Carolina LLCs file nothing after formation, the record may still show the original agent. Check the filed documents for amendments and confirm the agent before relying on the address. Corporations are tracked for tax purposes by the Department of Revenue.
How South Carolina compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $110 | $0 | None | $25 |
| North Carolina | $125 | $200 | Yearly | $30 |
| Georgia | $100 | $50 | Yearly | $25 |
| Tennessee | $300 | $300 | Yearly | $20 |
Before you rely on a South Carolina result
- South Carolina does not register DBAs at the state level.
- Corporation annual reports are part of the SC1120 corporate income tax filing.
Bulk South Carolina business data
Sold by the state. Corporations bulk data $12,000 per year (2019 figure). Sold through the SC Interactive subscriber program; confirm the current price. Official source
Searching beyond South Carolina
Registries next to South Carolina: North Carolina business search, Georgia business search, Tennessee business search.
South Carolina business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in South Carolina?
The state filing fee is $110. Articles of Organization. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $0 a year in state fees.
When is the South Carolina annual report due?
South Carolina has no recurring report for LLCs.
Can I reserve a business name in South Carolina?
Yes. A name reservation costs $25 and holds the name for 120 days.
Do South Carolina LLCs file annual reports?
Most do not. Only LLCs taxed as S corporations file, and corporations report through the Department of Revenue.
Is the South Carolina business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Business Entities Online search costs nothing. The South Carolina Secretary of State, Business Filings Division charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in South Carolina?
The South Carolina Secretary of State, Business Filings Division. Its business line is 803-734-2158, and its free search is the Business Entities Online search.
What number identifies a business in South Carolina?
South Carolina assigns each entity an entity ID. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all South Carolina businesses?
Only by buying it. Corporations bulk data $12,000 per year (2019 figure). Sold through the SC Interactive subscriber program; confirm the current price.
Sources
- South Carolina Secretary of State online filings
- South Carolina business entity search
- South Carolina bulk data source
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