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Plan for Columbia, SC

Starting a Business in Columbia: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist

A step-by-step plan to open a business in Columbia: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.

Your businessThe plan below updates as you change these.
Details

Permits and registrations specific to Columbia, SC

Sales tax permitSouth Carolina retail license
City of ColumbiaHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Lexington CountyHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Local licenses and permits to obtain
  • Renew City of Columbia business license · City of Columbia Business Licenses Division (city)
  • File Lexington County business personal property return · Lexington County Auditor (county)
Register with these South Carolina agencies

Startup sequence and prerequisites in Columbia

Based on your selections, this plan has 26 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.

Do these first

  1. Maintain a registered agent in South Carolina
  2. File formation documents with the South Carolina Secretary of State
  3. Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Then, once those are done

  • Register for unemployment insurance (South Carolina) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Register for state income tax withholding (South Carolina) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • South Carolina retail license (South Carolina) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Register for and file South Carolina entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Municipal or county business license — Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Obtain food service establishment / health permit — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Ensure certified food protection manager on staff — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Columbia — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Renew City of Columbia business license — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Report new hires to the South Carolina new hire directory — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Display required federal labor law posters — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Complete Form I-9 for each new hire — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Display required South Carolina workplace notices — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Start planObligations (25)
Government fees

No fee amounts are known for this plan yet.

Total incomplete: some fees unknown

25 of 26 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 1 step with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule. Fees that depend on your situation: File wage reports and pay unemployment insurance contributions (South Carolina).

File formationOct 25, 2026in 7 days
Ready to operateJan 1, 2027in 75 days
Opening dateNot setAdd a target opening date to check the plan fits
Progress0 / 26Saved in this browser

Things the formation documents depend on: a registered agent and any professional approvals.

Suggested planning date: Oct 25, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked

File the formation documents with the state.

Suggested planning date: Nov 8, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Maintain a registered agent in South Carolina

Obtain the EIN (and apply for tax-exempt status, for nonprofits). Most registrations need it.

Suggested planning date: Nov 11, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: File formation documents with the South Carolina Secretary of State

State tax accounts, trade name, foreign qualification and publication requirements.

Suggested planning date: Nov 25, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Nov 25, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Nov 25, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Nov 25, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Licenses and permits you need before you operate: state, industry, local and professional.

Suggested planning date: Dec 25, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 25, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 25, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 25, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Statutory deadline: Dec 25, 2026 · in 68 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Business is located in Columbia, SC. Schedule: April 30.After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Insurance, employment paperwork, new-hire reporting and workplace notices.

Suggested planning date: Jan 1, 2027
Per event
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Jan 1, 2027
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Jan 1, 2027
Per event
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Jan 1, 2027
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Recurring filings and payments, in the order they fall due.

Statutory deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · in 13 days
Quarterly
not individually checked
Applies because: Business has employees. Schedule: April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31.
Statutory deadline: Nov 1, 2026 · in 14 days
Annual
checked Oct 16, 2026
Applies because: Business operates in SC. Schedule: November 1.
Statutory deadline: Jan 31, 2027 · in 105 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Business has employees. Schedule: January 31.
Statutory deadline: Jan 31, 2027 · in 105 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Business has employees. Schedule: January 31.
Statutory deadline: Apr 15, 2027 · in 179 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Federal tax treatment is sole_prop. Schedule: April 15.
Statutory deadline: Apr 30, 2027 · in 194 days
Annual
checked Oct 13, 2026
Applies because: Business is located in Lexington County, SC. Schedule: April 30.
Monthly
not individually checked
Ongoing
checked Oct 16, 2026
Quarterly
checked Oct 13, 2026
Monthly
not individually checked
Suggested planning dates are allowances, not agency processing times. Statutory deadlines come from the rules and are labeled as such.

Common questions about Columbia

The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Columbia:

  • Contractor licensing: South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board
  • Real estate licensing: South Carolina Real Estate Commission
  • Alcohol licensing: South Carolina Department of Revenue, Alcohol Beverage Licensing
  • Child care licensing: South Carolina Department of Social Services
  • Health facility licensing: South Carolina Department of Public Health
  • Renew City of Columbia business license (City of Columbia Business Licenses Division, city)
  • File Lexington County business personal property return (Lexington County Auditor, county)

With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: South Carolina retail license (South Carolina); Obtain food service establishment / health permit; Ensure certified food protection manager on staff; Municipal or county business license — Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Columbia; Renew City of Columbia business license. Change the industry above to see yours.

Sources: sos.sc.gov, dor.sc.gov, dew.sc.gov

In your plan for Columbia, requirements come from four levels. South Carolina sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.

  • Federal (8): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C; Deposit federal payroll taxes; File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return)…
  • State (12): Maintain a registered agent in South Carolina; Register for and file South Carolina entity-level taxes; South Carolina retail license (South Carolina); File sales tax returns and remit tax (South Carolina)…
  • County (2): Obtain food service establishment / health permit; File Lexington County business personal property return
  • City (3): Municipal or county business license — Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Columbia; Renew City of Columbia business license

Sources: sos.sc.gov, dor.sc.gov

  • Register for unemployment insurance with South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce.
  • Workers' compensation: South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission. Required when: 4 employees (annual payroll of $3,000 or more)
  • Register to withhold South Carolina income tax from wages.
  • Your plan adds these employer steps: Report new hires to the South Carolina new hire directory; Display required federal labor law posters; Complete Form I-9 for each new hire; Display required South Carolina workplace notices.

Sources: dew.sc.gov, llr.sc.gov, dor.sc.gov

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