Early voting is open today in Brunswick, Georgetown, and Horry counties. 2026 election guide: dates, hours and locations
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026 A Vik Media Group publication
Grand Strand Dispatch Myrtle Beach and Brunswick Islands news: Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick counties
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Small business/Horry County

How 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).

Steps and offices checked Oct. 31, 2026 on each official site, linked below. Visitor figures come from each area's tourism office, with the source on every card. New business applications: U.S. Census Bureau.

6,926applications to start a business in 2025 (+86% vs. 2019)
717businesses in our local directory in Horry County. Is yours?
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Step by step in Horry County

  1. Register your business

    Register an LLC or corporation with the South Carolina Secretary of State

    Fee shown when you file online

    SC Secretary of State ›

  2. Get an EIN

    Get a free Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS if you will hire or form an LLC or corporation

    Free

    IRS ›

  3. Sales tax and state registration

    Get a Retail License from the SC Department of Revenue if you sell goods, including online (one per location)

    State rate 6%, plus local sales taxes where voters approved them

    SC Department of Revenue ›

  4. Get a local business 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. Inside a city or town (Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, Georgetown and others), the business license comes from that city or town, not the county.

    Horry County Business License › · (843) 915-5620

  5. Get found

    Claim your free listing in our directory and your Google, Apple and Bing listings, so neighbors and visitors can find you from day one.

    Free

    How to get found ›

Some trades also need a state license (contractors, food, alcohol, health and others). Ask the free help offices below which ones apply to you. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.

New business applications per year in Horry County

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.

Applications to start a business per year in Horry County2015: 3,087 applications3,087'152016: 2,888 applications'162017: 3,230 applications'172018: 3,503 applications'182019: 3,733 applications'192020: 4,422 applications'202021: 5,727 applications'212022: 6,018 applications'222023: 6,787 applications'232024: 6,464 applications'242025: 6,926 applications6,926'25

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics. The Census adds statistical noise to protect privacy, so small counties move more from year to year. Download: numbers.csv.

Free help near you

South Carolina SBDC21 centers that offer individual, confidential business consulting at no cost.
SCOREVolunteer business mentors who advise at no cost, in person or online.
U.S. Small Business AdministrationLoans, contracting and the official guide to planning, launching and growing a business.

Small Business Saturday: Saturday, November 28

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, when shoppers are asked to buy from local, independent businesses. Claim your free listing and post your offer so shoppers find it on our deals page.

Post your offer

Insurance Agencies for local businesses in Horry County

Suggested from our local directory. See all ›

Davis Insurance Associates, Inc.
North Myrtle Beach · Verified Oct. 29, 2026
Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00
Call (843) 213-0000WebsiteDirections
Anchor Insurance and Financial Services
Little River · Verified Oct. 29, 2026
Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00
Call (843) 256-1527WebsiteDirections
Carrie Johnson Insurance
Murrells Inlet · Verified Oct. 29, 2026
Call (843) 357-9404WebsiteDirections
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Owners read this guide when they look for an accountant, an agency or an insurance agent.
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We publish short answers from local owners after an editor reviews them, in a separate "Reader reports" section.

Small business news and advice

Already open? Get a free check of your website, your chatbot or how AI finds you ›

How we build this page: steps and offices from each state and county site, checked Oct. 31, 2026 and again every January; visitor figures from the official tourism offices; business applications from the U.S. Census Bureau; listings from our own directory. Something wrong? Tell us.

Cite this data

Free to reuse in your story, report or website under CC BY 4.0. Just credit Grand Strand Dispatch with a link to this page. Downloads: numbers.csv.