The South Carolina state government offers a friendly environment for new investors to start a business. It supports them to develop their business plans, accessing start-up resources, or getting alternative chances for financing. It also works closely with business owners helping them access the right service provider.
The common types of business entities registered in the state are partnerships, sole proprietorships, corporations, and LLCs. The steps of registering a business in the state are simple. Start by choosing a business name that your customer will easily identify with. Let it be unique from other names registered in the state. Before registration, you need to perform a business name search to confirm if the name is available.
Business entity search in South Carolina is done through the Department of Commerce Business Services website. The department keeps an updated record of all business entities registered in the state. Open the website and perform a South Carolina business name search to find out if your unique name is available for registration.
If the name is available, follow the registration steps required or reserve it to register later. Name reservation costs $25 for B-Corporations, LLCs, and LCs. DBAs and Non-Profit Corporations pay $10. You may pay by check, cash, or credit card. To conduct an LLC or Corporation search in South Carolina, visit the South Carolina Secretary of State Website. The types of organizations that you can search include:
- Corporations
- Limited Liability Companies
- General Partnerships
- Limited Partnerships
- Limited Liability Partnerships
- Sole Proprietorships
South Carolina Secretary of State Business Lookup Contact Details
| Website | https://sos.sc.gov/ |
| Phones | (803) 734-2158 (Voice) (803) 734-1614 (Fax) |
| Address | OFFICE ADDRESS: Edgar Brown Building 1205 Pendleton Street Suite 525 Columbia, SC 29201 MAILING ADDRESS: Corporations Division P.O. Box 11350 Columbia, SC 29211 |
| Hours | Monday — Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) |
| Business: [email protected] |
South Carolina Business Entity & Corporation Search
Lookup South Carolina Corporation Search
Step 1 – Visit the South Carolina Department of Commerce Business Services Website
Information for the South Carolina corporation search is available at the official website of the South Carolina Secretary of State. The business entities you can search for include Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, General Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, and Limited Liability Partnerships.
Criteria for Business Name search in South Carolina is done using: Corporation Name or Registered Agent. If you want a more detailed report, contact the South Carolina State Department of Commerce Business Services through email or telephone.
Step 2: Select Your Entity
After keying your options, click the search icon to generate your search results. If the name is registered, a list of names will be displayed as shown below.
Go through the matching results one by one and sort them out. To make your lookup easier, the search results table displays the active and inactive entities from the database. It consists of the Entity Name. Once you have located the listing you are looking for, check the Entity Name column and click the link. You will be redirected to the South Carolina Corporation Search/Information Page, showing the details of the specific entity.
Step 3: Download the information
This is the last step of the lookup LLC South Carolina. You now have all the registration details, including:
- Entity Name
- Domestic / Foreign
- Status
- State of Incorporation / Organization
- Registered Agent Information
- Filing Date
- Effective Date
The South Carolina Secretary of State allows you to view corporation history records. You may request a Certificate of Good Standing or certified copies of all documents stored in its database at a fee.