All business entities, including LLCs (limited liability companies), registered with the South Carolina Secretary of State are required to have a registered agent (also called a resident agent).
Choosing a registered agent requires careful consideration because the agent will be the point of contact that handles your business’s legal documents on your behalf. That includes confidential documents like your tax notices.
There’s a great benefit in hiring a registered agent service instead of acting as the registered agent yourself.
Sure, convenience is one factor, but using a registered agent service also ensures privacy. When someone sues your company or the IRS serves a notice for a discrepancy in your tax returns, the registered agent service will receive the documents, saving you the embarrassment.
To help you find the one that best suits your needs, we listed the top eight registered agents in South Carolina.
Can I be my own registered agent in South Carolina?
Sure, you can be your own registered agent. But appointing a registered agent service provides good value — provided you choose the right one.
If you’re wondering if being your own registered agent is a good move, consider these factors before you decide:
- Availability: South Carolina registered agents must be available at the principal address during business hours. The problem? You might have sick days or go on vacations. That is especially a problem when you’re using your home address.
- Privacy: If you’re using your office address, your staff might be available, but that can lead to privacy issues. When documents are delivered to a staff member, they might view the subject line. If it’s a notice from the IRS or summonses, it can also compromise privacy. A registered agent’s address becomes a public record. If you’ve registered your home address, there’s a slight possibility that an angry customer might just show up at your house.
- Scalability: If your business has locations in other states, you’ll need to file a foreign entry registration in every state. Even worse, you’ll need a registered agent in every state. You’ll also need to pay a filing fee each time you change the registered agent. Using a registered agent service is more practical in these cases.
- Better service: Since you’ll be working with a service provider, you won’t need to worry about changes in the state requirements. Your chosen service provider will inform you when something changes.
Top 8 Registered Agent Service Providers in South Carolina
1. Northwest Registered Agent (Our Partner)
Northwest Registered Agent Service is the most popular option for South Carolina businesses.
Northwest is a reliable service that provides everything you’d need from a registered agent, such as receiving service of process, mail forwarding, and an available street address during business hours.
They scan and upload documents the same day they receive them, and you can access these documents online 24/7.
- Cost: $125/year
- Visit Website
- Address: 6650 Rivers Ave., Suite 100, Charleston, SC 29406
2. Nosal & Jeter
If you are a new small business owner in South Carolina, you should consider using Nosal & Jeter for your registered agent needs.
Nosal & Jeter is a local law firm that specializes in helping small businesses. They offer registered agent services at a competitive price, and they are committed to providing their clients with the best possible service.
- Cost: $200/year
- Visit Website
- Address: 852 Gold Hill Rd., Suite 201, Fort Mill, SC 29708
3. Shipman Miranda
Shipman Miranda is a unique choice for LLC business owners who are looking for a registered agent service. The firm's experience in business formation means that it can provide clients with valuable advice and guidance on how to start and run their businesses successfully.
The firm has a deep understanding of South Carolina business law and can help LLC business owners stay compliant with all applicable laws and regulations.
- Cost: Request a quote
- Visit Website
- Address: 1028 South Main St., Anderson, SC 29624
4. Morton & Gettys
Here are just a few of the benefits of using Morton Gettys for registered agent services:
Experienced and knowledgeable: They've been helping businesses with their registered agent needs for over 20 years. They know the ins and outs of the law, and they're committed to providing clients with the best possible service. Reliable and responsive: You can count on them to receive and forward all of your legal documents on time and accurately. They'll also keep you informed of any important deadlines or changes in the law. Affordabilty: They offer competitive rates for registered agent services. They also offer a variety of packages to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes.
- Cost: Request a quote
- Visit Website
- Address: 331 E. Main St., Suite 300, Rock Hill, SC 29730
5. Applewood Estates
As one of the only registered agent service providers in South Carolina that isn't an attorney, Applewood Estates offers economical services.
They will notify you when it's time to file your annual reports and respond quickly when legal documents are received on your behalf.
- Cost: Request a quote
- Visit Website
- Address: 364 South Pine St., Suite B-155, Spartanburg, SC 29302
6. Mack & Mack
Mack & Mark offers complete turnkey business formation services.
Along with filing your formation documents with the state, they can help you get any necessary permits or licenses you need to legally operate your business.
- Cost: Request a quote
- Visit Website
- Address: 101 Allison St., Fort Mill, SC 29715
7. Henderson and Henderson
Henderson and Henderson are a one-stop shop for small business legal services.
In addition to registered agent services, Henderson and Henderson also offer business formation, contract review, and other legal services that are essential for new small businesses.
- Cost: Request a quote
- Visit Website
- Address: 6 Charlotte St., Charleston, SC 29403
8. South Carolina Attorneys at Law
South Carolina Attorneys at Law offers registered agent services to small businesses in South Carolina. They'll handle all the legal paperwork and notifications on your behalf, so you can focus on what you do best: running your business.
Here are just a few of the reasons why a new small business would use South Carolina Attorneys at Law for registered agent services:
They have extensive experience in South Carolina business law. South Carolina Attorneys at Law has been helping businesses in South Carolina for over 40 years. They know the ins and outs of the law, and they're committed to providing their clients with the best possible service.
They're reliable and responsive. You can count on them to receive and forward all of your legal documents on time and accurately. They'll also keep you informed of any important deadlines or changes in the law.
- Cost: Request a quote
- Visit Website
- Address: 2315 North Main St., Suite 211-B, Anderson, SC 29621
Conclusion:
Northwest (our partner) is the best registered agent service in South Carolina.
Acting as your own registered agent is possible, but you’d be better off hiring a service for convenience and privacy. The money you save by acting as your own agent might not be worth putting your address on public record or letting your staff see legal notices you wouldn’t want them to see.
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Last updated: Apr 2024