How to Start an LLC in South Dakota (SD)

Forming a Limited Liability Company in South Dakota is an excellent business structure that helps business owners legitimize their operations without the need for excess cash or resources.

If you form an LLC in the state of South Dakota, it will grant you stronger protection against legal and financial obligations, as it separates your personal assets from your businesses, meaning you won’t personally be held liable for any business debts. 

It costs $165 to file an LLC in South Dakota, and if you file online, your application will be processed immediately. Applying is quick and convenient, and doing so will grant your business the protection of a corporation while still being able to operate it as a small business. 

To form an LLC  in South Dakota, follow our step-by-step instructions: 

How to Form an LLC in South Dakota – A Step by Step Guide

You can apply for your LLC on your own or through a professional service. While filing on your own isn’t complicated and doesn’t take too much time, you still want to make sure you complete each step as outlined below, ensuring your LLC is set up correctly the first time around.

If you’d rather not handle your business’s legal side, we suggest hiring experts to file all your business paperwork for you (a more worry-free approach).

Otherwise, if you’re a do-it-yourself kind of person, follow these 5 initial steps:  

1. Name your South Dakota LLC 

To form an LLC in South Dakota you need to follow specific name requirements set by state law. Your business name needs to be unique, meaning no other company has a similar name.

Name Requirements

Before checking to see if the business name you’d like is available, to abide by South Dakota LLC law, make sure the name of your company contains one of the following:

• Limited Liability Company
• Limited Company
• L.L.C
• LLC
• LC
• L.C.

You can also abbreviate the word ‘Limited to ‘Ltd.’ and the word ‘Company,’ to ‘Co.’ Your LLC name can be your business name, like Plumbing King L.L.C, or the name of one of your LLC’s members, such as Joe Smith LLC.  

Check Name Availability

Once you’ve decided on your name, you need to check to see if it’s available and there’s no other company in South Dakota using it. The quick and easy way to do this is through a quick google search using your desired name.

If you don’t find any competing companies, you can move onto the next step – checking your business’s potential name through the South Dakota business name search. 

If you aren’t ready to form an LLC, but you’ve found a name you like that’s still available, you can reserve it for up to 120 days by filing an Application for Reservation of Name. It costs $25 to file, and you must print off the application and mail it to:

Secretary of State Office
500 E Capitol Ave Pierre,
SD 57501

Using a Fictitious Name

If you don’t want to use LLC in your business name, then you can add a fictitious name once your business is registered. Also known as DBA (“doing business as,”) or a trade name, a fictitious name allows you to run your business under a name that’s not the legal LLC registered name. 

You can also use a fictitious name if you plan on running several different businesses under your LLC formation.

If you’d like to operate under a fictitious name, you can register that name online through the South Dakota Secretary of State’s business portal. Registering your fictitious name will give you full legal rights to use it and will make sure no other business in the state can operate under that name. It costs $10 to file and lasts for 5 years. 

Once you’ve figured out what your business name is and you’ve made sure it’s still available, the next step is to choose a registered agent who will help you with the legal side of your business. 

2. Choose a South Dakota Registered Agent

A registered agent is anyone who receives and sends legal documents on behalf of your company. They are the main point of contact between your company and the Secretary of State.

South Dakota, an LLC must have a registered agent who lives in South Dakota and has a valid street address (not a P.O. box).

An LLC registered agent can be:

• Yourself 
• A family member or friend 
• A Commercial Registered Agent  

Why you should use a registered agent

While the easier route seems to have yourself, or one of your LLC’s members, act as the registered agent, there are some benefits in hiring a professional. A registered agent will ensure your business is always in good standing with the state, helping you stay organized and up-to-date. It also adds a layer of protection since they’ll help you in the case of a lawsuit or any penalties/fines.

Once you’ve decided who’s the best person to be your registered agent the next step is to submit your LLC application. 

3. File a South Dakota LLC Articles of Organization

You need to file the Articles of Organization with the South Dakota Secretary of State for your LLC to be created. You can apply online for $150 or mail in your application for $165.

Online applications are processed instantly, while applications that are mailed in take 1-2 business days.

Be prepared to include the following information when filling out the form: 

• Your LLC’s name
• Your LLC’s purpose (optional)
• Your LLC’s office address
• The name and address of your LLC’s registered agent
• The name and address of each of the LLC’s organizers
• The LLCs duration (if not perpetual)
• Member-managed or manager-managed
  • Managers’ names and addresses if applicable
• Whether one or more members will be liable for the LLC’s debts
• Signature of LLC’s organizer

What’s the difference between member-managed or manager-managed? 

Member-managed is if you (and the other owners of your LLC) are responsible for everyday business activities. In contrast, manager-managed is if you decide to hire someone who is not a member to manage your business’s day-to-day activities.

Member-managed is more common for smaller businesses, while larger companies typically use manager-managed. You’d usually only choose manager-managed if you are a passive investor and aren’t involved much in the business.  

Once you get approval, you can move onto step 4 – creating an LLC Operating Agreement. If you’re operating your LLC by yourself, skip to step 5. 

4. Create a South Dakota LLC Operating Agreement

If your LLC has two or more members, it should have an operating agreement. Although it’s not required in South Dakota, we suggest creating one to outline how the business is structured and how it will operate among its members (and/or managers). 

Some of the sections you’ll typically find covered in an operating agreement include:

• Organization
• Management
• Voting
• Capital distributions
• Distributions
• Dissolution

Again, while this is not a necessary step, as you don’t have to mail it to the secretary of state, it is recommended if your LLC has more than 2 members. It helps clarify the rules of your LLC and makes sure they are legally documented.

After you’ve agreed and created an LLC Operating Agreement, the next step is to create your unique employer identification number. 

5. Apply for your South Dakota LLC Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Once your LLC is approved, you’ll need to get an employer identification number (EIN).
An EIN is a federal tax ID number that registers you with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This number identifies your company when filing taxes.

How to register for an EIN:

– Apply online or,
– fill out the Employer Identification Number form and fax it to 855-641-6935, or mail it to:

Internal Revenue Service,
Attn: EIN Operation,
Cincinnati,
OH, 45999

If you apply online, you’ll get instant approval. If you apply by fax, it takes up to 4 business days, whereas mailing can take up to 4 weeks. Applying for your EIN is completely free! 

South Dakota LLC Registration – Final Checklist & Summary

Ready to get started? Use this simple checklist to make sure you’ve dotted your i’s and crossed your t’s! 

1. Name your LLC  – Your business name must have ‘Limited Liability Company’ or ‘Limited Company’ in its name, or an abbreviation(s) such as: LLC, LC, L.L.C or L.C. You can also shorten ‘company’ to ‘Co.’ and ‘Limited’ to ‘Ltd.’ Be sure to check the state’s business name database to ensure your desired name is completely original.
2. Choose a Registered Office – A registered agent is a person who receives and sends legal documents on behalf of your company. It can be you, a friend or family member, or a commercial registered agent.
3. File a South Dakota LLC Articles of Organization – Filing the Articles of Organization can be done both online or through the mail. It is recommended to submit the forms online as processing is instant. Standard fees for online applications are $150, while paper fillings cost an additional $15. 
4. Apply for your South Dakota LLC Employer Identification Number (EIN) & File your Tax Registration Form – Once you get approval for your LLC, you need to apply for an employer identification number (EIN) through the IRS. This number identities your company when filing taxes. You can apply online for free, and approval is instant.
5. Create South Dakota LLC Operating Agreement – If your LLC has two or more members, you should create an LLC operating agreement that outlines how the business is structured, who is responsible for what, and how much of the LLC each person owns. You don’t have to send your operating agreement to the South Dakota state, but you should have one, so everything is documented and signed by all members.

Always double-check your LLC information is correct before submitting any paperwork. You want to avoid simple mistakes and ensure your business is set up correctly from the get-go. If it’s within your budget, we recommend using a formation service to help form your LLC. They can act as your registered agent and make sure your company is always in good standing. Just make sure you do your homework and choose one of the best LLC services for your business.

Our first recommendation is to go with ZenBusiness, an LLC creation service that holds your hand from start to finish. Packages start as low as $49. 

How To Apply for a South Dakota LLC Online

Now that you know the exact steps on what’s needed to form your LLC, it’s time to start the application process. There are two ways of going about this:

1. Do it Yourself 

Taking the DIY route is a good option if your budget is tight or you’ve previously opened an LLC and understand how it works.

2. Use an Online Formation Company

Using an online formation company is a better option if it’s your first time opening up an LLC and if it’s within your budget (formation services cost anywhere between $49 – $199). This is typically a better choice if you want to avoid headaches and have peace of mind knowing professionals handle everything for you. 

If using a professional service is more up your alley, here are our top 3 recommendations: 

ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness built its platform to meet the needs of your business throughout its lifetime. When you pay for their services, you’ll receive a personalized dashboard for your business to store documents, receive alerts, and manage your website.

ZenBusiness charges work on a tier system. There are three different tiers with pricing as follows:

• The Starter = $49 annually
• The Pro = $199 annually
• The Premium = $299 annuall

Visit ZenBusiness and File Your LLC Today

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IncFile

IncFile provides you with a full suite offering startup services to best support your business formation.

Their pricing model also depends on the state you are filling. You can generate a personalized quote on their website by entering the necessary information about your business.

Visit IncFile and file your LLC today

IncFile Review

Legal Zoom

LegalZoom is an online legal service provider that helps you to be able to create legal documents without having to pay the expensive lawyer fees. Some of the services they provide assistance to includes business formation, copyrights, and trademarks.

LegalZoom has many different pricing options available. For their LLC service, pricing begins at $79 + the allotted state fee.

Visit LegalZoom and file your LLC Today

LegalZoom Review

After Starting Your South Dakota LLC

You’re approved – now what? The journey doesn’t stop here – there’s still a handful of things you need to do to get your business off the ground. We recommend ticking off the following items to make sure your LLC gets off on the right foot. 

Purchase A Domain For Your Business

Even if your business is local, having an online presence is essential in creating trust, professionalism, and a way for people to find you. If you haven’t already thought about getting a website, now’s the time.

In a tech-saturated world, you need a domain to not only attract new customers but help create a good first visual impression of what your business does and how it can help. 

Get A Business Phone Number

Since your business is now an approved South Dakota LLC, you should think about getting a business phone number. Having a business number is a great way to show professionalism to your clients and customers. It makes you more serious and, more importantly – more trustworthy.

There are various online phone services you can go with, or you could go the traditional route and open an account through a local branch. You can get a local number or a 1-800; the options are endless!  

Open Your South Dakota LLC Business Bank Account

You’ll want to open a business account that’s separate from your personal banking. This will not only make accounting easier, but you won’t have to worry about your finances mixing in with your business finances.

USA Business Bank Accounts

If you already have online banking, it might be easier to open a business account through your current bank, so all your banking (although in separate accounts) will be accessible in the same place. If you prefer to open something new, keep these checking accounts in mind: 

Chase – Free checking account with no extra fees – as long as you keep a $1,500 minimum balance.

BlueVine – Free checking account with mobile banking and a debit MasterCard. 

Bank Novo – Open a free checking account with Free transfers and free ATM fees.

Bank West – Choose between two business checking accounts, one that offers a simple, flat-fee package that eliminates budgeting guesswork, while the second one earns interest.

Along with your business checking account, you should apply for a business credit card too. Having a business credit card is an excellent way to establish your business credit score (which may help if you ever need a loan). It also makes it easier for online purchases, and again, it will keep your personal and business finances separate. 

Find Accountant/Buy Accounting Software

Taxes get complicated fast and can be a burden to handle. We recommend getting an accountant or using accounting software to ensure all your spending actions are tracked (payroll, bills, invoices, receipts, etc.). Here are some popular options to look into:

Wave – Free invoicing & accounting software with credit card processing & payroll services.

Intuit Quickbooks – Online accounting software to track expenses, customize invoices, and run reports.

Freshbooks – Accounting software to send invoices, track time, manage receipts, expenses, and accept credit cards.

Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credential – If you want to use a local tax specialist, you can search for a certified public accountant (CPA) through the IRS online directory.

Having all of your business reports in one spot is highly beneficial, so you can keep an eye on your cash flow. To run a successful business, you will need to analyze how your business performs and narrow down what’s working or what isn’t working. Finding areas for growth will ensure success. 

Don’t Forget to File an Annual Report

LLCs in South Dakota are obligated to submit an annual report to the secretary of state. This report keeps your LLC active and in good standing. 

 The first report must be filed before the first day of the second month every year after the LLC was formed (i.e. if your LLC was formed in June 2020, annual reports are due yearly before  July 1, 2021).

You can find and submit your annual report online through the secretary of state online portal, or print it and mail it in. It costs $150 plus an additional $15 if you apply by mail. If you’re late submitting your annual report there’s a $50 penalty, and if you don’t submit any report then the state has the right to dissolve your LLC status. 

Notify South Dakota Of Any Changes You Make To Your LLC

If at any time you make changes to your LLC you need to inform the state. If you’re using a registered agent they can do this for you. If you’re going about this alone, you can update changes through South Dakota’s business portal or through your registered agent. 

8 Benefits of Forming an LLC in South Dakota

Setting up an LLC in South Dakota makes sure your business finances stay separate from any personal finances and that each member’s personal possessions are safe. It’s a great business entity for small, medium or large businesses as it gives you the freedom of a sole proprietorship or partnership with the protection of a corporation. Best of all, it’s easy to get (approval is instant), and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Some of its major benefits include:

1. Protect Your Personal Assets

The LLC will have its liability that does not automatically extend to the owners, unlike a sole proprietor, where you are legally responsible for everything. That means South Dakota LLC protects the liabilities and debts incurred by the business. In most situations, your assets, such as your car, home, or savings, will never be at risk if your South Dakota LLC is faced with lawsuits or bankruptcy.

2. Benefit From Business Profit Taxation

In an LLC in South Dakota, your profits and losses can pass through to your income without having to have corporate taxation.

3. Simple to Create and Maintain

The formation of a South Dakota LLC requires minimal paperwork and requirements. They are known for being easy to start and simple to maintain.

4. Minimal Restrictions

Your business matters can be managed by more than one owner or member while still being one main business to the public. This means all decisions and transactions behind the scenes can be equitably distributed while presenting one entity as you move forward.

5. Heighten Your Credibility

As you move forward, your South Dakota LLC will continuously be recognized as an entity. People and other businesses prefer doing business with a legitimate entity because it shows your level of professionalism.

6. Gain Access to Business Loans

When you form your South Dakota LLC, you will obtain a DUNS number and build your business credit, helping you to further build upon your business.

7. Benefit From Flexible Profit Distribution

In an LLC, you are not required to spread the distribution of profits equally across the owners. You have complete control over profit distribution in your  LLC.

8. Good For Any Kind Of Business

An LLC business structure in  is an excellent choice for both medium and higher-risk level businesses. You might always want to consider opting to go with an LLC if you have a significant amount of personal assets to protect from your company. And lastly, LLCs are great for owners who are interested in paying lower tax rates than corporations.

Conclusion 

Forming an LLC in South Dakota is the perfect business structure to follow for both new and veteran business owners. It doesn’t matter whether you run a small business or a larger one; creating an LLC will legitimize your company while making sure your personal assets are completely protected.

Once you’ve decided an LLC is the right path for you, getting approval from the state is fairly straightforward (all you need to do is follow the 5 initial steps mentioned above). It costs $150, and you can have it up and running right away. The only real problem arises if something is filed incorrectly or you forget a step, as sometimes these mistakes aren’t realized until later on.

If it’s within your budget, we suggest using a formation service such as ZenBusiness, who can also act as your registered agent. Doing so will ensure all forms are submitted properly and your LLC can get formed as quickly as possible without any errors. 

File Your Dream Business with ZenBusiness

FAQ About Forming LLC

There are several different steps you’ll need to take to form your LLC legally. It’s a lot of information to take in and can get confusing. To help out, we’ve compiled some answers to the most frequently asked questions: