Conducting proper research is critical prior to opening your business. SCBOS is here to help!
SCBOS promotes the Department of Commerce tool SizeUpSC.
This sophisticated business intelligence tool is a platform that provides you with the information you need to make better decisions around competitive benchmarking, customers, and suppliers, and provides you with marketing and advertising information.
Research your industry and local labor market to ensure that there is a qualified labor force to fit your business needs. The Department of Workforce Development has a great resource for this information. You can check it out
here.
Selecting a business name is one of the first steps of starting a business. SC law requires that the name of a Corporation, L.L.C., L.P., and an L.L.P. is distinguishable from the name of any other business of the same type on record with the Secretary of State's office. To determine if a particular name is available, conduct a name availability search
here.The Check Name Availability search helps the user determine if a business entity's legal name may be available for use. It is only a preliminary search, meaning the name cannot be guaranteed as available until the final processing is completed at the time of filing. You should not rely, in any way, upon this preliminary information.
- If you are operating as a sole proprietor, you are not required to register your name with the Secretary of State.
Learn more about business name registration by visiting the
Secretary of State website.
Below is a list of SCBOS partners that can help you with the business planning process.
Sample Business Plans
SCDOA -ACRE Program
Small Business Association-SBA
Industry and Market Research.
SC Department of Commerce-
SIZE UP SC
Local Labor Market
Department of Workforce
(SCDEW)
Funding Information
Small Business Association-
Lending Match
Look Up a business name
Secretary of State
Need one on one assistance? Check out our partner programs to find a location near you.
