Incorporation in South Carolina

Find the right Business Incorporation attorney in Charleston, SC

Under South Carolina law, a business may incorporate. If it chooses to do so, it is thereafter identified as its own legal entity. As a separate entity from the owners, the business is then considered to be operating on its own when it buys and sells property, assents to contracts and exercises legal rights. A business looking to incorporate in South Carolina must file with the Secretary of State in accordance with established guidelines.

Benefits of Incorporation in South Carolina

There are distinct advantages to incorporating a business. Most importantly, liabilities the business accrues may be satisfied only by assets that the owners have specifically invested in it. Had the business instead remained a collection of the owners' personal assets, the personal property of the stakeholders could be liquidated to pay the liabilities of the business, if it runs into financial issues. Furthermore, a business that has not incorporated puts the unnecessary burden on creditors in the Charleston area to evaluate the credit worthiness of individual owners rather than that of the business, making loans more difficult. Finally, a corporation's ownership stake is divided into equal slices or "shares" of stock, which make investments in the business much easier to transfer.

Costs of Incorporation

There are costs associated with incorporation, both short and long term. First, businesses in South Carolina might be charged a fee to incorporate. Also, a corporation is taxed as its own entity. The individual incomes of the owners are still taxed also, and this can mean the same income is taxed twice, known as double taxation. With proper planning and assistance from a local Charleston lawyer, you can avoid this disadvantage.

Talk to a Business Law Attorney now!

Life in Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina is an important port city located in Charleston County. It is nicknamed the "Holy City" due to the large number of churches that mark the city's skyline. As a port city, trade is central to the city, as a number of ships and boats launch regularly from Charleston.

Charleston is unique among cities that showcase a Southern culture. In general, Charleston's community culture is a rich blend of French, English, West African, and southern American elements. Particularly, the "Charleston dialect" is a rare dialect featuring distinct phrases and is not comparable to other dialects in the Southern U.S.

Charleston, South Carolina draws many visitors every year when it holds its annual Spoleto Festival USA. The Spoleto Festival is an art festival lasting 17 days and featuring more than 100 performances by artists practicing in different disciplines. The event is an internationally recognized festival and is considered to be the premier performing arts festival of the U.S. Other notable Charleston attractions include live music at the Music Farm, and the Citadel a famous military college. Many Charleston lawyers studied at Charleston School of Law.

Lawyers in Charleston, South Carolina are available to assist persons who may have differing legal needs. Charleston is the first city in the United States to institute a "Livability Court", which is a municipal court that focuses on legal cases involving housing, animal control, tourism, traffic, the environment, waste, and compliance with city zoning codes.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Howard B.
Howard B.

Business - Litigation

Rye Brook, NY

Mark B.
Mark B.

Business - Litigation

Roseland, NJ

David A.
David A.

Business - Litigation

Walnut Creek, CA