How to Form a Professional Corporation in South Carolina (2024 Guide)

If you would like to start and learn how to form a corporation in South Carolina, there are a few things that you should do now. However, in a professional corporation, professionals must create a special organizational structure to establish a professional or service corporation. Among the appropriate professions to organize a professional corporation in South Carolina are accountants, physicians, engineers, architects, and attorneys.

Forming a professional corporation in South Carolina or any business organization needs a certain number of steps. In this article, Webinarcare Editorial Team is going to share those steps. Keep in mind that these are general procedures. Depending on local law, it may be modified. For instance, your professional corporation may be subject to city or county-based rules.

What is a Professional Corporation in South Carolina?

A professional service corporation (PSC), often known as a professional corporation (abbreviated as PC), is a particular type of organization that is permitted by state law to allow owners of specifically licensed professions to practice in the South Carolina. A professional corporation’s owner is answerable for their own negligence or wrongdoing but is not held personally liable for the actions of other owners. The abbreviation PC or P.C. is frequently used to denote professional corporations.

This structure allows professionals to enjoy some of the benefits and protections of a traditional corporation while maintaining their professional status and abiding by the regulations of their respective licensing boards.

LegalZoom is the recommended corporation formation if you are thinking of forming a professional corporation from scratch. However, you can always start an LLC in South Carolina, if you changed your mind.

– WEBINARCARE EDITORIAL TEAM

How to Form a Professional Corporation in South Carolina

To form a Professional Corporation in South Carolina for the professional service you provide, you must follow a few steps that include verifying if you are qualified for a PC, naming your business, hiring a Registered Agent, filing the Articles of Incorporation, outlining an operating agreement, requesting for an EIN, opening a bank account, getting a business license, and filing for an Annual report and taxes.

Step 1: Verify If You Are Qualified for a Professional Corporation

In forming a professional corporation in South Carolina, you should know if you are qualified. There are specific professions that are allowed to form a professional service corporation, including-

• Doctors
• Architects
• Accountants
• Lawyers and others

To provide your service, you must be qualified and have a license. In most cases, you can now form a professional corporation after finishing your studies, passing the exam, and receiving your license. If you work in an industry that does not provide a license or professional certification, you should consider starting an LLC or corporation.

Step 2: Name your Professional Corporation in South Carolina

After you have decided to form a professional corporation in South Carolina, you must choose a name for your corporation. Here are some pointers to consider when naming your professional corporation.

• The business name should have the word PC, frequently followed by the name of the principal owner in place of Inc or LLC. (Example. John Doe, MD, PC)
• Limit of restricted words that need a license.
• A unique name is needed with no match
• No confusion with a government entity name.

In South Carolina, if you do not wish to file your professional corporation right away but want to hold the name that you have decided on, then you can reserve your corporation name for 120 days. You must file a name reservation application in the South Carolina Secretary of State to keep the name.

If not already present, a professional corporation, professional association, service corporation, or professional service corporation must be included in the name. You may register your business under a different legal name if your preferred legal name is unavailable. Once you’ve decided on a name, you can apply for South Carolina DBA (doing business as). This way, you can run a clinic or law firm under your name.

Recommended: Unlock your business’s full potential with LegalZoom’s DBA service, providing a hassle-free experience that allows you to focus on what matters most – turning your passion into profit. We recommend –

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Step 3: Choose the South Carolina Registered Agent

The next step in forming a professional corporation is hiring a Registered Agent, who accepts legal paperwork for your business. This person or business will receive important tax forms, legal documents, all notices of lawsuits, and other official government correspondence in South Carolina. Forming a professional corporation for your service will be easier if you have Registered Agent in South Carolina.

Alternatively, you can serve as your own Registered Agent if you have the time. Usually, in South Carolina, a Registered Agent costs is ranging from $50 – $150. To make it easier, you can hire South Carolina Registered Agent Services for your professional corporation.

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Step 4: File the Articles of Incorporation in South Carolina

After you hire a Registered Agent to form a professional corporation, the next step is to file the South Carolina Articles of Incorporation. In writing the Articles of Incorporation, the business name, owner’s contact information, corporation address, and Registered Agent contact information, should be written. Include the names of all co-owners as well. All owners must demonstrate that they have the necessary licenses to practice the profession in question.

Filing the Articles of Incorporation in South Carolina may be done with two methods, online and by mail. The Articles of Incorporation fee may vary from different state. However, in South Carolina, it costs $110 for online and by mail filing. Create an account/Log in to the SOS site, get the online form, fill it, and submit online. For offline filing, Send the form by mail to South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, Attn: Corporate Fillings, 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia, SC 29201.

Step 5: Write an Operating Agreement in South Carolina

An operating agreement in South Carolina is a document that contains all of your company’s organizational details. It is optional to draft an operating agreement in most states. Yet, having one as an internal document is strongly advised. The operating agreement includes information like-

• About Business
• Members and management
• Capital contribution
• Profit Distribution
• Change of membership
• Dissolution

Step 6: Designate the PC Board of Directors in South Carolina

The next step is to form the first board of directors for your PC in South Carolina. All of the initial directors must provide the owner with their contact information. The owner must keep records and submit them by the South Carolina Secretary of State. As a shareholder and owner, you must ensure that a provision for appointing a new director is included in the By-laws. In South Carolina, you must have Three directors in forming your Professional Corporation.

Step 7: Write the Corporate Bylaws

Now that you are done forming the team of the board of directors, the next step is to draft corporate bylaws. Corporate bylaws are the basic rules that control a corporation. It includes the organization’s structure, processes, laws, and rules. As a result, all personnel, managers, and corporation members must obey the firm’s rules.

Creating comprehensive corporate bylaws requires specific knowledge about the company, its structure, and operations. However, I can provide you with a general outline of what corporate bylaws usually include. It is crucial to consult with South Carolina Business Attorney or a legal expert to ensure that your bylaws comply with the laws and regulations governing your jurisdiction and industry.

• Name and Purpose of the Corporation
• Registered Office and Agent
• Shareholders
• Board of Directors
• Officers
• Committees
• Indemnification and Insurance
• Conflict of Interest
• Records and Reports
• Amendments
• Miscellaneous

Step 8: Hold the First Board of Directors’ Meeting

Gather the board of directors for the first meeting after drafting the corporate bylaws. This meeting will conclude with the appointment of directors to manage the company’s daily operations, approval of the bylaws, selection of the corporation’s financial reporting year, and approval of the stock issue. Minutes should be taken at all board meetings and kept with the company’s records.

Step 9: Request an EIN in South Carolina.

After the operating agreement’s documentation, you should get or request an Employer Identification Number (EIN) in South Carolina. The tax ID for your professional corporation will be an EIN. The Internal Revenue Service can provide an EIN (IRS). It has nine digits and is comparable to a social security number. Nevertheless, EIN is different from SSN. Only business-related tasks, primarily filing general taxes, are performed using it. The form needs to be filled out and submitted online to the IRS.

The application of an EIN in South Carolina can be through the following:

• Apply Online- The online EIN application is the preferred method for customers to apply for and obtain an EIN.
• Apply by Fax- Taxpayers can fax the completed Form SS-4 application to the appropriate fax number), after ensuring that the Form SS-4 contains all of the required information.
• Apply by Mail- The EIN application Form SS-4 can be filed via mail. The processing time frame to receive the mail is four weeks.
• Apply by Telephone-International Applicants – International applicants may call 267-941-1099 (not a toll-free number) from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday to obtain their EIN.

After you have your EIN number, you can benefit in several ways. It will give your professional corporation the absolute advantage necessary to operate at full capacity without encountering legal or judicial issues.

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Step 10: Open a Bank Account and Prepare for Taxes.

You should open a business bank account as soon as you have applied for and received your Employer Identity Number because you will use this account for yourself, your clients, and your staff. Check out the Best Banks in South Carolina for you to decide on which bank you are going to open an account.

Due to your organization’s increased legality and liquidity, having a US business bank account may make conducting business in South Carolina easier. Most banks require an EIN for businesses other than sole proprietorships to open a business bank account. Also, keeping your accounts separate will prevent you from merging your personal and business finances. Also, filing taxes is simpler when you have an EIN. You can expect to pay employee and corporate taxes when you form a professional corporation.

Step 11: Get a Business License in South Carolina

Before your professional corporation operates in South Carolina, you must have South Carolina Business License first. A business license is a formal document issued by a state government agency that allows you to conduct business in the geographic area governed by that agency. The cost of business licenses and permits in South Carolina ranges from $50 – $300. You must check with the local authorities to see if any special licenses or permits are required.

Step 12: File Your Taxes in South Carolina

Finally, you’ve arrived at the final process. Remember to file your taxes when you have obtained a business license and are ready to begin operations. To avoid a large tax bill, you should begin paying taxes quarterly as soon as possible. Each state has different tax requirements. Start examining the South Carolina tax classification for the taxes that an LLC in South Carolina must pay.

Main Characteristics of a Professional Corporation

In forming a Professional Corporation, the main characteristics must be distinguished before forming it. These are the general characteristics of forming a Professional Corporation in South Carolina.

• Limited Liability Protection: A professional corporation provides its owners, shareholders, or members limited liability protection like a regular corporation. This means the shareholders’ personal assets are generally protected from business debts, obligations, and lawsuits, except in malpractice or professional negligence cases.
• South Carolina Licensing Requirements: All shareholders must typically be licensed professionals in the same field in a professional corporation. The corporation must also comply with specific state regulations and licensing requirements that govern the profession.
• Governance and Management: A professional corporation is governed by a board of directors, who the shareholders elect. The board appoints officers to manage the day-to-day operations of the corporation. All directors and officers must be licensed professionals in the same field as the corporation.
• Taxation: Professional corporations are taxed as C corporations, where the corporation pays taxes on its income, and shareholders pay taxes on dividends received from the corporation. However, some professional corporations may be eligible for S corporation status, allowing pass-through taxation. Income, losses, deductions, and credits flow to the shareholders, who report this information on their income tax returns.
• Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer of Shares: Professional corporations often restrict the ownership and transfer of shares to ensure that only licensed professionals in the same field can become shareholders. This helps maintain the professional nature of the corporation and adheres to state licensing requirements.
• Malpractice Liability: While a professional corporation provides limited liability protection for general business debts and obligations, it does not shield shareholders from liability for their own malpractice or professional negligence. Shareholders can still be personally liable for their actions in providing professional services.

In summary, a professional corporation is a specialized corporate structure designed for licensed professionals, offering limited liability protection and a formal governance structure while adhering to state licensing requirements and regulations.

Maintain Professional and Business License in South Carolina

You must maintain or renew your professional license regularly now that you have established your professional corporation. Even if your company is well-established, it is only meaningful if you have a valid operating license. And it makes no difference if your professional license is still valid for a year or two, but your business license has already expired.

Make time at least once a year to check the status of your licenses. You won’t miss anything important this way. You can address any issues that arise.

Filing Annual Report in South Carolina

In South Carolina, you must submit a report. The owners’ and Registered Agent’s names and contact details are listed in the Annual Report. Also, it should include all of your yearly financial activity. You must submit the report every 1 year in the South Carolina Secretary of State.

FAQs

Also Read

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• Form a Professional Corporation in North Dakota
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• Form a Professional Corporation in South Carolina
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How to Save Money While Forming South Carolina Professional Corporation

One of the first steps to saving money when forming a professional corporation in South Carolina is to do your research. Understanding the exact requirements and procedures for forming a professional corporation in the state can help you avoid any unnecessary expenses. Make sure to consult the South Carolina Secretary of State’s website or speak to a legal professional who specializes in business formation to get the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Another way to save money when setting up a professional corporation is to DIY as much as possible. While it may be tempting to hire a lawyer or a professional business formation service to handle all the paperwork and details, there are certain aspects of the process that you can handle on your own. For example, you can file your articles of incorporation yourself, rather than paying a service to do it for you. By taking on some of the tasks yourself, you can cut down on unnecessary expenses.

When it comes to legal representation, consider whether you truly need a lawyer to help you form your professional corporation. While it’s always a good idea to have legal guidance when setting up a business, there may be other, more cost-effective options. For example, you could look into hiring a paralegal or a legal document preparation service to help you with the paperwork at a fraction of the cost of a lawyer.

Another way to save money when setting up a professional corporation in South Carolina is to shop around for the best prices on services you may need. Get quotes from different lawyers, business formation services, and accountants before making any decisions. You may be surprised at the price discrepancies between different providers.

Consider whether you really need all the bells and whistles when forming your professional corporation. There may be additional services or features that are nice to have but not essential. By trimming down your list of must-haves, you can significantly reduce your costs.

Lastly, don’t forget to take advantage of any tax deductions or credits that may be available to you as a small business owner. Keep detailed records of all your business expenses related to forming your professional corporation so you can maximize your tax savings come tax time.

In conclusion, forming a professional corporation in South Carolina doesn’t have to break the bank. By doing your research, taking on certain tasks yourself, shopping around for the best prices, and maximizing tax deductions, you can save money while still setting up your professional corporation properly and legally. A little bit of effort and savvy financial planning can go a long way in keeping costs down.

Conclusion

In conclusion, forming a professional corporation in South Carolina is a strategic decision for licensed professionals who seek to combine their expertise and services under a single corporate entity. This business structure offers limited liability protection, a formal governance structure, and compliance with state licensing requirements. However, it also comes with certain restrictions on ownership, transfer of shares, and personal liability for professional malpractice. By carefully considering the advantages and disadvantages of a professional corporation, professionals can determine whether this structure aligns with their business goals, regulatory requirements, and risk management needs, ultimately contributing to a more organized, secure, and compliant professional practice.