Key Takeaways

  • An SC LLC lookup is essential for verifying business name availability before forming an LLC in South Carolina.
  • The South Carolina Secretary of State provides an online search tool for this purpose.
  • Name availability is governed by strict rules; minor differences do not make names distinguishable.
  • Businesses can reserve a name for 120 days for a $25 fee.
  • You can search by full or partial names and should check for similar variations.
  • The online system also allows users to view entity details, including status, registered agent, and filing history.

SC LLC Lookup

An SC LLC lookup is necessary if you want to form a South Carolina LLC. An LLC, also referred to as a limited liability company, has many advantages. Some of these key advantages include limited liability protection against the LLC’s debts. Another advantage is the fact that there are fewer formalities and paperwork required when forming your LLC. But before forming your South Carolina LLC, you will need to conduct a name search to ensure that the name you want to use for your business is available.

Using the South Carolina Business Entity Search Tool

To perform an SC LLC lookup, visit the South Carolina Business Entities Online Filing System provided by the Secretary of State. This tool allows you to:

  • Search by entity name, registered agent, or registered agent’s address
  • View business details such as status, date of formation, and type of entity
  • Confirm whether a name is already in use or too similar to another entity

The system is free to use and updated regularly. For the most accurate results, avoid including punctuation or the "LLC" designator when searching.

SC LLC Name Search

The first step in forming your SC LLC is to conduct a name search. You cannot use a name that is already in use in the state of South Carolina. The name itself must be unique and follow several other rules and guidelines. Such requirements are governed by Section 33-44-105 of the Uniform LLC Act.

You can visit the Business Search Name website to conduct your search. You’ll want to enter your name choice and click search. Be sure to leave out the LLC designator of your name when searching. You should also leave out any punctuation, such as commas, hyphens, periods, etc. Capitalization can be left in as this will not affect the results.

Even if you find no results, you should run several different searches for similar names to see if any results are found. For example, if you want to name your company Apple & Orange Orchid Farm LLC, you should conduct searches on names as “Apple & Orange Orchid Farm,” “Apple and Orange Orchid Farm,” “Apple & Orange Orchid,” “Apple & Orange,” “Apple and Orange Orchid,” and “Apple and Orange.”

You might see some of the following results:

  • "This Name is Available" along with no results: This means the name is available for use
  • "This Name is Available" along with some results: This means you can use the name, but you should look through the results list, as your name choice might be similar to another name being used. While you can use the name, you might want to think twice about choosing that name to avoid any issues of potential customers mixing up your business with the other similarly named business
  • "This Name is Currently Being Used:" This means your name is not available for use

If you are not sure as to whether or not a name is being used or whether or not your business name choice is distinguishable, you can call the SC Secretary of State for prior approval. If you do submit your Articles of Organization with your name choice, you might be rejected if you don’t have a proper name choice. If that does happen, you’ll simply need to change your business name.

Steps to Conduct an SC LLC Lookup

Follow these steps to check name availability for your South Carolina LLC:

  1. Go to the SC Secretary of State’s Business Name Search Portal.
  2. Enter the desired business name (exclude suffixes like LLC or L.L.C.).
  3. Run multiple variations of your name to spot possible conflicts.
  4. If "This Name is Available" appears without conflicting entries, it’s likely safe to use.
  5. Review similar names carefully even if the system says the name is available.

If uncertain, consider calling the SC Secretary of State’s Office for clarification before filing.

Naming Requirements

Before conducting your business name search, you should keep in mind the requirements for naming your South Carolina LLC. While you want to choose a name that fits your business, is memorable, easy to spell, and easy to remember, there are some other guidelines and requirements when choosing your name.

The LLC business designator must be included in your name, i.e., LLC, L.L.C., Limited Liability Co., etc. Additionally, you cannot use terms like Corp or Inc. as this gives an impression that you are operating as a corporation.

Your name must be distinguishable from any other name. Some examples of names that aren’t distinguishable from other names already being used include:

  • Single vs. plural use of a name; i.e., Farm vs. Farms
  • A, An, or The; i.e., An Apple Farm vs. The Apple Farm
  • Or, And, or &; i.e., Apple & Orange Farms vs. Apple and Orange Farms
  • Punctuation such as commas and periods; i.e., Apple Farms vs. Apple-Farms
  • Numerical vs. written out number; i.e., 3 Farm vs. Three Farm

Other terms are prohibited in any business name, including terms like Bank, University, Education, Treasury, FBI, etc. Other terms that can’t be used include Architect, Lawyer, Doctor, or any other professional term if you are not actually licensed in this area. You can reserve your business name for up to 120 days by filing an application with the South Carolina Secretary of State. The fee is $25.

Reserving your SC LLC Name

If you're not ready to file your Articles of Organization but want to secure your business name, you can reserve it for 120 days. This process involves:

  • Completing a Name Reservation Application (available on the Secretary of State’s website)
  • Paying a $25 non-refundable filing fee
  • Mailing or delivering the form to the Secretary of State’s office

This prevents others from registering the same name while you prepare your LLC filing.

What Information You'll Find in an SC LLC Lookup

When you look up a business using the SC LLC lookup tool, you’ll be able to view:

  • Legal name of the entity
  • Entity type (LLC, corporation, etc.)
  • Status (active, dissolved, etc.)
  • Date of formation
  • Registered agent’s name and address
  • Filing history and document images (for certain entities)

This information is crucial not just for starting your business, but also for due diligence when entering partnerships or contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the SC LLC lookup tool used for?
    It allows users to search for registered business names in South Carolina to ensure name availability or find information on existing businesses.
  2. How do I check if a name is available for my South Carolina LLC?
    Use the Secretary of State's business search tool and test several name variations without punctuation or suffixes.
  3. Can I reserve a name before forming my LLC?
    Yes. You can reserve a business name for 120 days by submitting an application and paying a $25 fee.
  4. What happens if I try to register an unavailable name?
    Your filing will be rejected, and you will need to choose a new name or amend your documents.
  5. Is the SC LLC lookup tool free?
    Yes, the South Carolina Secretary of State provides this service at no cost online.

If you need help choosing a business name or forming your SC LLC, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel’s marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.