Start an LLC by State

Start an LLC by State › South Dakota

Starting an LLC in South Dakota: step by step (2026)

To start an LLC in South Dakota, file the Articles of Organization with the South Dakota Secretary of State and pay the $150 state fee. South Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due due during the entity's anniversary month, for $55. Every South Dakota LLC must keep a registered agent with a South Dakota street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in South Dakota

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the South Dakota Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a registered agent: a commercial registered agent listed with the state, a noncommercial agent (an individual or entity with a South Dakota address), or the title of an office in the company.
  3. File the Articles of Organization with the South Dakota Secretary of State and pay $150.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. South Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due due during the entity's anniversary month, for $55.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus South Dakota’s fees.

South Dakota LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$150
Formation document
Articles of Organization
Yearly filing
Annual Report, every year, $55
Due
Due during the entity's anniversary month each year
Registered agent
Required. A commercial registered agent listed with the state, a noncommercial agent (an individual or entity with a South Dakota address), or the title of an office in the company.
Agent address
The address has to be an actual street address or rural route box number in South Dakota, plus a South Dakota mailing address if it differs.
Filing fee rank
37th lowest of 50 (36 states charge less, 11 charge more)
Best overall for a South Dakota LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus South Dakota’s $150 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

South Dakota compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
South Dakota$150$55 / yr
Iowa$50$30 / 2 yrs
Minnesota$155$0 renewal
Montana$35$20 / yr
Nebraska$100$25 / 2 yrs
North Dakota$135$50 / yr
Wyoming$100$60 / yr

All 50 states

South Dakota LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in South Dakota?

$150 to the state to file. South Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due due during the entity's anniversary month, for $55. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does South Dakota require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. South Dakota LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due due during the entity's anniversary month, for $55.

Do I need a registered agent in South Dakota?

Yes. A commercial registered agent listed with the state, a noncommercial agent (an individual or entity with a South Dakota address), or the title of an office in the company.

Can I form a South Dakota LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization directly with the South Dakota Secretary of State and pay the $150 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources