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Register a business in South Dakota
The filing office, forms, steps and next stops for registering a business in South Dakota. Every line shows the official page it came from, and the day we read it.
The order to do it in
Choose a business type and get your EIN first. Then file with the state filing office below, and check your city and county before you start work.
Filing office
- South Dakota entities are formed with the Secretary of State, Business Services (Corporations). LLC, business corporation and nonprofit formations may be filed immediately online. Paper filings that could be filed online carry a paper processing fee. South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
Forming an LLC
- A South Dakota LLC is formed by Articles of Organization (domestic), filed online or on paper with the Secretary of State. South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
- Articles of Organization, filed online: $150 (as of Oct 6, 2026) South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
- Articles of Organization, filed on paper (includes the paper processing fee): $165 (as of Oct 6, 2026) South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
- Optional expedited service, added: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
Forming a corporation
- A South Dakota business corporation is formed by Articles of Incorporation (domestic), filed online or on paper with the Secretary of State. South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
- Articles of Incorporation, filed online: $150 (as of Oct 6, 2026) South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
- Articles of Incorporation, filed on paper (includes the paper processing fee): $165 (as of Oct 6, 2026) South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
- Optional expedited service, added: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
Annual or biennial report
- Every LLC and corporation files annual reports each year, each due on the 1st day of the anniversary month. An entity still unfiled two months after the due date becomes delinquent and pays a late fee. South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
- The statutes set the fee and the late fee for annual reports (SDCL 47-34A-212 for LLCs and SDCL 47-1A-122 for corporations). South Dakota Legislature, as of
- Annual report fee, filed online: $55 (as of Oct 6, 2026) South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
- Annual report fee, filed on paper (includes the paper processing fee): $70 (as of Oct 6, 2026) South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
- Late fee for a delinquent entity, added: $55 (as of Oct 6, 2026) South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
Assumed name (DBA)
- South Dakota registers fictitious business names with the Secretary of State, filed online or at the county Register of Deeds. Cancellation is free. South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
- Fictitious name registration, renewal or amendment, per name: $10 (as of Oct 6, 2026) South Dakota Secretary of State, as of
State tax registration
- A business with a physical presence in South Dakota needs a sales tax licence from the Department of Revenue and can apply through the online Tax License Application. South Dakota Department of Revenue, as of
State rules for pool, lifeguard and contractor work
These lines point to the state’s own rules. Whether one applies to your work is for the state to say, so confirm with the agency named in each line.
- South Dakota rule 44:02:05:15 requires pools, spas and water slides operated by a specialty resort to follow the 1996 “Recommended Standards for Swimming Pool Design and Operation”, with weekly lab water sampling. South Dakota Legislative Research Council, as of
City and county licences
City and county licences vary by place. Check with your city hall or county clerk before you start work.
Sources
- Corporations: Business FAQs and Contact South Dakota Secretary of State. As of .
- Filing Fees (fee schedule) South Dakota Secretary of State. As of .
- SDCL 47-34A-212 South Dakota Legislature. As of .
- Sales & Use Tax South Dakota Department of Revenue. As of .
- Administrative Rule 44:02:05:15 Water recreation facilities South Dakota Legislative Research Council. As of .
Official pages change. Each line shows the day we last read it.
Last checked