Small business & local marketing on the Grand Strand: start, grow and get found
How to open a business in Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick counties, where to get free help, how many businesses start here each year and how locals find you.
18.2 million visitors spent $13.2 billion in the Myrtle Beach area in 2024, up 5% from 2023 (Visit Myrtle Beach, 2024 Volume and Spending (DK Shifflet)). People filed 10,422 applications to start a business in the 3 counties on the Grand Strand in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (+89% vs. 2019). Our local directory lists 956 businesses on the Grand Strand.
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Who visits the Grand Strand, and what it means for your business
The latest numbers from the official tourism offices. Each card says what the number means for a shop, restaurant or service.
visitors spent $13.2 billion in the Myrtle Beach area in 2024, up 5% from 2023
For your business: A big market, but most of it is decided before the visitor sees your door.
is the average stay, with about 2.7 people per travel party
For your business: You have a few days to be found. Phone searches and maps decide where a family eats tonight.
are the top home states; outside the Carolinas the top markets are Atlanta, Washington, New York, Roanoke-Lynchburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
For your business: Most guests drive in. They can come back any weekend if they remember you.
booking windows: more visitors plan at the last minute
For your business: Keep hours, prices and availability current. Last-minute visitors pick what they can confirm fast.
hotel occupancy in the third quarter of 2025 vs. 2024; local leaders now market value
For your business: Price-conscious visitors respond to clear deals and family bundles.
in visitor spending in Brunswick County in 2025, including $384 million on food and drink and $114 million in retail; 6,035 tourism jobs
For your business: Restaurants and shops take the biggest share after lodging and transport.
The next 90 days: when visitors and locals come out
Events per week on our calendar on the Grand Strand. Busy weeks need staff, stock and a reason to stop by your door.
- Week of Nov 9: 10 events · Live Music with Dash – Gordon Biersch · Gaither Vocal Band – Then Came the Morning Tour 2026 · Zack Fox (DJ Set) – 18+
- Week of Nov 16: 8 events · R-Rated Comic Hypnosis at Wonders Theatre · R-Rated Comic Hypnosis at Wonders Theatre · Big Green Tractor: Nashville’s Tribute To The Music Of Jason Aldean
- Week of Nov 23: 8 events · Slaughter To Prevail: North America 2026 Leg 2 · Pancakes and Penguins at Ripley’s Aquarium · Photos with Santa
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Get found by visitors and neighbors
Visitors plan on rental sites and search engines and then look you up on their phone. Tick what you have done; it stays saved on this device.
Not sure how AI assistants describe your business? Ask for a free check ›
Your website: what a visitor needs in 10 seconds
- Hours, phone and address at the top of every page, written as text and not inside an image.
- Fast on a phone: visitors look you up from the car, the beach or the trail.
- One page per service and per town you serve, so search engines can match the question.
- Prices, or at least a starting price, where you can.
- One clear button: Call, Book or Get directions.
Answer every customer, even after hours
- A call or message nobody answers at 9 p.m. is often a booking that goes to someone else.
- A chatbot should say it is a bot and hand off to a person when it cannot help.
- Give it only your real prices, hours and policies, and never let it guess.
- Offer Spanish if your customers ask for it.
- Read the conversations every week: they tell you what customers want.
Get a free check for your business
Tell us what you want to improve. A specialist from the company you pick will review it and send you their notes, free and with no obligation.
New business applications per year on the Grand Strand
Applications for a federal employer number (EIN) that look like a new business, by county. The orange bar is 2025. Not every application becomes an open business.
| County | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horry County | 6,018 | 6,787 | 6,464 | 6,926 |
| Georgetown County | 1,052 | 1,071 | 979 | 1,005 |
| Brunswick County | 1,850 | 2,082 | 2,035 | 2,491 |
Starting a business? Pick your county
Registration, tax accounts and the local license, with the official link for each step.
Free help near you
Small Business Saturday: Saturday, November 28
Insurance Agencies for local businesses on the Grand Strand
Own a business here?
We publish short answers from local owners after an editor reviews them, in a separate "Reader reports" section.
- What worked for your business: the ad, the event or the change that brought customers in the slow season.
- Opening soon? Tell us about a new business and we may cover it.
- Report a change: a new fee, license rule or office address. We check it and update this page.
Small business news and advice
Questions about running a business on the Grand Strand
How many new businesses start on the Grand Strand?
In 2025, people filed 10,422 applications to start a business in Horry County, Georgetown County and Brunswick County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Business Formation Statistics. Not every application becomes an open business.
What should a local business know about visitors on the Grand Strand?
18.2 million visitors spent $13.2 billion in the Myrtle Beach area in 2024, up 5% from 2023 (Visit Myrtle Beach, 2024 Volume and Spending (DK Shifflet)). A big market, but most of it is decided before the visitor sees your door.
How do visitors find a local business?
Before the trip they plan with rental websites, friends and family and search engines; once here, they search on their phones, in maps and, more and more, in AI assistants. Keep your Google, Apple and Bing listings and your directory listing complete and identical.
What do I need to start a business in Horry County, SC?
To start a business in Horry County, SC: register an LLC or corporation with the South Carolina Secretary of State (fee shown when you file online); get a free EIN from the IRS; and get a Retail License from the SC Department of Revenue if you sell goods, including online (one per location). Local license: Horry County Treasurer's Business License office licenses businesses in unincorporated Horry County. A new business in a commercial building also needs zoning compliance from Planning and Zoning. 6,926 new business applications were filed in Horry County in 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau).
What do I need to start a business in Georgetown County, SC?
To start a business in Georgetown County, SC: register an LLC or corporation with the South Carolina Secretary of State (fee shown when you file online); get a free EIN from the IRS; and get a Retail License from the SC Department of Revenue if you sell goods, including online (one per location). Local license: Ask Georgetown County about a business license for unincorporated areas. 1,005 new business applications were filed in Georgetown County in 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau).
What do I need to start a business in Brunswick County, NC?
To start a business in Brunswick County, NC: register an LLC or corporation with the North Carolina Secretary of State (an LLC costs $125 to form, and its annual report costs $200); get a free EIN from the IRS; and register for sales and use tax with the NC Department of Revenue if you sell taxable goods or services. Local license: Ask Brunswick County Planning or your town hall about zoning before you open. 2,491 new business applications were filed in Brunswick County in 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau).
When is Small Business Saturday 2026?
Saturday, November 28, 2026. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, when shoppers are asked to buy from local, independent businesses.