South Carolina

Foreign registration · Form 972

South Carolina LLC Foreign Registration in Louisiana

An LLC formed in South Carolina that wants to do business in Louisiana files Form 972, with $190 in state fees. Louisiana also asks for South Carolina's Certificate of Existence ($10), no older than 90 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division using your South Carolina records and act as your registered agent there for the first year.

South Carolina vs Louisiana: the paperwork

	South Carolina formed here	Louisiana registering here
Document	South Carolina Certificate of Existence	Form 972, Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company
State fee	$10	$190 at order (filing fee $185 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	South Carolina: online	Filed with Louisiana
Paid expedite		24-hour $35, 2 to 4 hour $60
Office	South Carolina Secretary of State	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Official page	businessfilings.sc.gov	sos.la.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 90 days
Yearly filing	No annual report	Annual Report, $35, every year
Due		On or before the anniversary date of registration in Louisiana
Agent	Your South Carolina agent for service of process	Our Louisiana registered agent

How South Carolina companies register with Louisiana

Order the South Carolina certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($10) is ordered from South Carolina separately; it is not part of our Louisiana order. Louisiana accepts it within 90 days of South Carolina's issue date, so it is ordered shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form 972
It lists us as your Louisiana registered agent, next to your South Carolina name and formation date, with the certificate attached. Once South Carolina's certificate is in hand, Louisiana's filing goes in. After approval, your South Carolina LLC is registered with Louisiana.

Louisiana costs for South Carolina companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$190
Certificate of Existence, paid to South Carolina	$10
Our service, with a year of Louisiana registered agent service	$199
First-year total, South Carolina certificate included	$399

Louisiana's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Your South Carolina name and Louisiana's rules

We search Louisiana's records for South Carolina's name on file before anything is filed.

Your Louisiana agent and the South Carolina one

Louisiana calls it a registered agent; South Carolina says agent for service of process. Your current agent for service of process stays for South Carolina; ours takes Louisiana's papers and notices.

Staying in good standing in South Carolina and Louisiana

South Carolina has no annual report for LLCs; Louisiana wants the Annual Report every year ($35). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, South Carolina to Louisiana

A corporation formed in South Carolina files Form 326 with Louisiana ($160 in state fees). After that come South Carolina's Annual Report (Schedule D of Form SC1120 / SC1120S) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($30). See the corporation filing.

Registering a Louisiana company in South Carolina

An LLC formed in Louisiana that registers with South Carolina files Form F0008 with $110 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($25) dated within 30 days. See that filing.

Common questions: South Carolina to Louisiana

Does my South Carolina company need to register in Louisiana?

Yes, once a South Carolina business operates there; Louisiana law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does it cost to register a South Carolina LLC in Louisiana?

$389 at checkout plus $10 to South Carolina for the Certificate of Existence, $399 in all (checkout is $190 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need South Carolina's certificate of good standing?

Yes: Louisiana wants South Carolina's Certificate of Existence ($10), no more than 90 days old at filing.

What are the yearly costs for South Carolina and Louisiana?

Our registered agent renewal ($149 a year), no South Carolina yearly report and Louisiana's report ($35).

What if I don't register with Louisiana?

A South Carolina company cannot sue in court there until it registers, and Louisiana can add a civil penalty of up to $1,000.

Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

Yes: the South Carolina agent for service of process stays, and ours covers Louisiana for year one.

Can I form a new Louisiana LLC instead?

Yes, but South Carolina keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Louisiana's Annual Report ($40), and South Carolina has no yearly report for the original.

What does a Louisiana company file to register in South Carolina?

It files Form F0008 with $110 in state fees, plus Louisiana's good standing certificate.

Official sources

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