Which is Better, an LLC in South Carolina or Washington?

In this article we'll compare whether an LLC in South Carolina or Washington is a better option for forming an LLC. We'll look at the similarities and differences in pricing and features with this data-driven guide. Choose which state is best for your needs with side-by-side comparisons.

Recommended Formation Service

Save hours of your valuable time by using a formation service to form your company.

It's hard to pick just one service that will be suitable for every business formation need.

However, in our experience, ZenBusiness offer the best and most reliable service for the majority of LLC and company formations.

ZenBusiness has a fantastic track record, and offers 100% error free LLC formation.

Try ZenBusiness Now →

Our product recommendations are made independently, but we may earn affiliate commissions if you use a link on this page.

Recommended Option for Most Businesses

In broad terms, it is usually better to form your LLC in the state you are based in, or plan to conduct your business in. The reason for this is because there is slightly less paperwork involved, and you can save money on the formation fees.

If you live in South Carolina or Washington and most of your business will be conducted there, it's probably best for you to form your LLC there too.

However, if you are not based in the USA, or you are looking for a more tax-efficient option, you may want to consider forming your LLC in a different state.

If that sounds more like what you are looking for, keep reading and we'll break down the differences between South Carolina and Washington.

This article is for educational purposes only. Please make sure you consult an attorney before making any decisions about where to form your new business.

If you're in a rush and just need to see the latest offers that and are offering, the links below will always take you to their most up-to-date offers and deals.

Pricing

Every state has different fees for forming an LLC. The table below breaks down the approximate fees for South Carolina and Washington. We have also worked out the average filing fee for all states so you can see how South Carolina and Washington compare to the rest of the country.

Country average South Carolina Washington
Filing fee $133 $125 $200
Renewal fee $80 $0 $60
Renewal period (years) 1 0 1

When factoring in the costs, you might also want to consider an inexpensive formation service like ZenBusiness or Incfile. These services can help you form your LLC for a fraction of the cost of a lawyer or accountant.

They also both provide a Registered Agent service, which is a requirement in both South Carolina and Washington. This is a service that will receive any legal documents on your behalf, and forward them to you.

Feature Comparisons

Beyond the pricing differences, we can also look at the different features or filing options that South Carolina and Washington offer to see how they compare to each other. This is a really great way to see, side-by-side, what each state offers so you can determine which is best for your company formation needs.

Feature South Carolina Washington
File by mail
File online
Online approval time 48 days 72 days
Expedited filing
Expedited approval time Not available 72 hours
Expdited filing fee Not available $230
Max. corporate tax rate 5% 0%
South Carolina guide Washington guide

Conclusion

Hopefully, being able to see South Carolina vs Washington side-by-side has helped you to determine which state is better to form your LLC in.

The general rule of thumb is that you should file in your home state unless you have good and valid reasons for doing otherwise. If you are still looking at South Carolina or Washington, then make sure to look at the pricing options, filing options, approval times and corporate tax rates to see which might be favorable to you.

The limited liability protections of each state are reasonable similar so it's really a case of personal preference, looking at the fees of each, and considering your business type (i.e if you are a franchise, certain states have lower tax rates available).

Ultimately, make sure to consult an attorney before making any decisions. It might be that South Carolina and Washington are both good options for you, but you might also find that neither works for your needs.

The only way to truly decide whether an LLC in South Carolina or an LLC in Washington is right for you is to consult with your attorney.