Register your South Dakota LLC Online
Complete the form below in 2–3 minutes. Your LLC and EIN come at no extra cost — you only pay South Dakota’s own $150 state fee.
- Enter your desired LLC name
- Choose your state
- Receive your LLC and free EIN by email
Trusted by Thousands Nationwide
What is an LLC in South Dakota?
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a simple structure for running your business under a professional name. It separates your business from your personal name, and it's the most common way to add a partner, sell the business, or look like a real company instead of a side project.
That separation goes further than the name. If the business owes money or gets sued, your house, car, and personal bank accounts are generally off-limits — as long as you run the LLC properly. It doesn't protect you from something you personally did wrong.
A sole proprietorship skips all of that. You're doing business under your own name or a DBA, and everything stays tied to you personally.
A corporation does the same separation as an LLC, but it's built for a different job: issuing stock and bringing in outside investors. An LLC is simpler to run and cheaper to keep up if that's not you right now.
Benefits of an LLC in South Dakota
- Add partners or co-owners whenever you're ready
- Transfer ownership if you sell the business
- “South Dakota Company, LLC” shows you’re a real business
- Shows you’re registered (South Dakota Secretary of State)
- Get a matching domain like SouthDakotaCompanyLLC.com
- Simpler upkeep than forming a corporation
What's different about a South Dakota LLC
Your $150 filing fee is a single flat fee to the state — South Dakota doesn't split it into add-on charges the way some states do. Filing on paper instead of online adds $15. Need it faster? A $50 expedited fee moves your paperwork ahead of the standard queue, though South Dakota doesn't publish a guaranteed number of days for either option.
South Dakota has no state income tax and no franchise tax on a standard LLC — the annual report above is the one recurring cost every South Dakota LLC owes, regardless of income. South Dakota also doesn't require you to publish a notice in a newspaper to form one, unlike a handful of other states.
Cost to start an LLC in South Dakota
$150 to the South Dakota Secretary of State — that's it. We don't charge a filing fee on top of it. A South Dakota corporation runs $150 through the same process.
| What you get |  | Others |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (Tax ID) | Free | up to $99 |
| Registered agent | Freefirst year | up to $249per year |
| Name check | Free | usually free |
| South Dakota state filing feespaid to the state — same for everyone | $150 | $150 |
Free EIN with your South Dakota LLC
Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is what opens a business bank account and identifies your company to the IRS — it's like a Social Security Number for your LLC. It's included at no extra cost, right alongside your LLC.
LLC vs Corporation in South Dakota
An LLC is simpler and more flexible, and keeps “LLC” in your business name. A corporation is a more formal structure built for issuing stock and outside investment, and keeps “Inc” or “Corp” in the name instead. 97% of our clients choose an LLC.
What is a Sole Proprietor in South Dakota?
A sole proprietorship means you're doing business as an individual. You can file a DBA with the Secretary of State, or on paper with your county Register of Deeds, to use a name other than your own. As an individual, you can't add a partner to the business, because everything is tied to your personal name and Social Security Number. If you later want to add partners or sell the business, you'll need to start an LLC or corporation.
File a DBA Under Your LLC
South Dakota calls a DBA a Fictitious Name statement. It lets one LLC operate under more than one business name. You can file it electronically with the Secretary of State, or in paper form with any county Register of Deeds — either way it lands in the same statewide record, and it costs $10.
A Fictitious Name isn't required if you're fine using your LLC's own name.
Example: South Dakota Company, LLC dba South Dakota Auto Brokers.
DBA vs LLC in South Dakota
A DBA only gives you another name to use. The LLC is the actual business entity that owns the DBA name and holds all legal rights.
Common Questions
Why start an LLC in South Dakota?
It separates the business from your own name, lets you add or remove owners as the business grows, and reads as a real, established company.
How long does it take to get a South Dakota LLC?
Filing takes a few minutes on this page. South Dakota doesn't publish a guaranteed timeline for standard processing, but a $50 expedited fee moves your paperwork ahead of the queue if you need it sooner.
Does South Dakota require an LLC annual report?
Yes. $55 a year online ($70 by paper), due before February 1 every year no matter when your LLC was formed. Miss it and South Dakota adds a $55 penalty; 60 days past due, the state can start dissolving the LLC.
Do I need an EIN for my South Dakota LLC?
Yes, for a business bank account and for the IRS to recognize your company. It's included free when you file here.
What's a registered agent, and do I need one?
A registered agent is the South Dakota street address the state sends legal mail to. Every LLC needs one, and it's included free for your first year when you file here.
Do I need an operating agreement?
South Dakota doesn't require one to file, but a bank often asks for one to open your business account. You can add it when you file, or write your own later.
Still deciding on a name?
Try the free name generator — type a word you like, get real available options back, then come straight here to file.
Page updates (2)
- March 11, 2025 — South Dakota raised its LLC annual report fee from $50 to $55 (and the late-filing penalty to match) under House Bill 1024. South Dakota Legislature →
- Starting January 1, 2027 — South Dakota will let LLCs choose their annual report deadline: either the anniversary month of formation, or the current January 31 date, under House Bill 1102. South Dakota Legislature →
Sources (6)
Every fact on this page was checked directly against South Dakota's own filing agency, revenue agency, and statutes — verified September 20, 2026.
- South Dakota Secretary of State — Filing Fees — the $150/$165 LLC and corporation fee, the $55/$70 annual report, the $10 DBA fee, the $50 expedite fee
- SDCL 47-34A — the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act: filing fees, the liability shield, Series LLCs
- SDCL 59-11 — the Model Registered Agents Act: registered agent rule and the annual report deadline
- SDCL 37-11 — the DBA (fictitious name) filing mechanism
- 2025 South Dakota House Bill 1024 — the law that raised the LLC annual report fee to $55
- South Dakota Department of Revenue — confirms no corporate income tax