 South Carolina |  Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| All-in to start with usOur $40 fee with the EIN, the registered agent for the first year, and the state fee. | $210 | $392 |
| State filing fee | $125 | $307 |
| Typical approval time | 1–3 business days | 3–5 business days |
| What the state asks each year | None | Franchise tax report (no tax under threshold) |
| Yearly state cost, about | $0 | $0 |
| Total over 5 years, aboutFormation, then four years of registered agent ($45) and state fees. Excludes bookkeeping and IRS filings, which are the same in every state. | $390 | $572 |
| State income tax on wages | Yes | None |
| Owners in the public formation document | Can be listed | Can be listed |
| Newspaper publication after formation | No | No |
South Carolina against Texas
Advantages
- Cheaper to form: $125 state fee against $307 in Texas.
- Faster approval: usually 1–3 business days, against 3–5 business days.
Disadvantages
- Has a state income tax, though it normally only reaches income connected to the state.
Texas against South Carolina
Advantages
- No state income tax on wages.
- A large economy, and a name that reads well on an invoice.
Disadvantages
- Costs $182 more to form than South Carolina.
- Slower approval: usually 3–5 business days.
Which one to choose
South Carolina comes out ahead on both cost and speed: about $182 less over five years, and usually approved in 1–3 business days.
If your company will have staff, an office or a warehouse in one particular state, form it there: otherwise you register in that state anyway. Federal taxes and IRS filings are the same in every state.
General information about the states, not legal or tax advice. State fees change occasionally; the price at checkout is the price you pay.
South Carolina or Texas
Questions about this comparison
Is a South Carolina or a Texas LLC cheaper?
South Carolina is cheaper to form: $210 all-in with us, against $392. Each year after, South Carolina costs the state about $0 and Texas about $0, plus $45 for the registered agent.
Which is faster, South Carolina or Texas?
South Carolina usually approves an LLC in 1–3 business days, Texas in 3–5 business days. We file within 48 hours of payment in either state.
Can a non-US resident form an LLC in South Carolina or Texas?
Yes, in both. Neither state asks for citizenship or residency, and the registered agent we include provides the in-state address. The EIN is included without an SSN.
Another pair