South Dakota business entity search and name check

What the South Dakota search covers

Corporations, LLCs, LLPs, limited partnerships, nonprofits, cooperatives and business trusts, both South Dakota and out-of-state. Inactive records (for example cancelled, withdrawn or expired) are included unless you tick 'Active only'. DBAs (fictitious business names) show up in the same results.

You can search with 'Starts With' (the default) or 'Contains'. Spaces seem to be ignored when matching: a 'Starts With' search for 'smith' also returned 'SMIT HOLDINGS, LLC'. Results come back as a single list.

Each record has a Business ID (for example DR000464). Search by number on the SOS Enterprise / Business Services Online.

How to read South Dakota results

South Dakota uses its own status labels. We always show the official wording; here is what the common ones mean according to the state:

A status describes the registry filing only. It isn’t evidence of a license, tax compliance or reputation, and a record with the same name as a company you know may be a different business. More on statuses.

South Dakota business name rules

An LLC name must include one of: limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC, Ltd. (for 'limited'), Co. (for 'company').

An LLC name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records from the names of corporations, limited partnerships and LLCs formed in or registered to do business in South Dakota, from reserved or registered names, and from assumed names approved for out-of-state companies. (SDCL 47-34A-105) Source: sdlegislature.gov

South Dakota doesn’t publish a list of the differences it ignores, so our check treats only capitalization and punctuation as insignificant and flags other close names as similar for you to judge.

Using a similar name with consent

Yes. You can use a name that isn't distinguishable if the business currently using or holding it consents in writing and agrees to change its own name, or if a court judgment gives you the right to it (SDCL 47-34A-105(c)).

Reserving a name in South Dakota

South Dakota lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $25, held for 120 days. You can't reserve the same name again until more than 60 days after your 120-day reservation ends.

File a Reservation of LLC Name with the Secretary of State, online or on paper.

South Dakota name reservation Source: sdsos.gov

Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only SD Secretary of State can.

Forming an LLC in South Dakota

Document

Articles of Organization

State filing fee

$150
$150 online; $165 on paper, which includes a $15 paper filing fee. Articles for a master series LLC cost $200.

File online

SD Secretary of State filing

Processing

Expedited service is available for $50.

Registered agent

Commercial registered agents must register with the Secretary of State ($100).

Out-of-state LLC registering here

$750 (Foreign Certificate of Authority)

Fees change. Confirm them on the official South Dakota fee schedule before you file.

Keeping a South Dakota LLC in good standing

Annual Report: $55. Through 2026, state law sets the first report before the first day of the second month of the year after the business was formed, then the same date each year. From January 1, 2027, it's due either in your formation anniversary month or by January 31 each year, whichever you choose on your formation document. Late fee: $55. Source: sdlegislature.gov

We found no state franchise or minimum tax for LLCs on the Secretary of State's pages.

The annual report costs $55 online or $70 on paper, and a late report adds a $55 late fee. Each report must say whether the business owns agricultural land and whether it has foreign beneficial owners (SDCL 59-11-24).

Proof of status: Certificate of Good Standing/Existence ($20). Source: sdsos.gov

Assumed names (DBAs)

Register a DBA (fictitious business name) with the Secretary of State for $10. Amendments and renewals also cost $10, and cancelling is free. DBAs appear in the same official search as businesses. Source: sdsos.gov

Good to know about South Dakota

• Registering an out-of-state LLC or corporation costs $750 online, five times the $150 fee to form one in South Dakota. Source: sdsos.gov
• Starting January 1, 2027, you choose on your formation document whether annual reports are due in your anniversary month or by January 31 each year, and you can switch later with a change-of-filing-date form. Source: sdlegislature.gov
• Annual reports must disclose whether the business owns agricultural land and has any foreign beneficial owners; the Secretary of State publishes a combined list each December. Source: sdlegislature.gov
• DBAs are registered with the Secretary of State, not counties, for $10, and show up in the same business search. Source: sdsos.gov
• A name reservation lasts 120 days, and you have to wait more than 60 days after it ends before you can reserve the same name again. Source: sdlegislature.gov
• Paper filings cost $15 more than online filings for documents that can be filed online. Source: sdsos.gov

Sources and accuracy

We checked this page against official South Dakota sources on October 30, 2026. Our monitor rechecks the official search, filing portal and fee pages daily and flags changes for review.

See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only SD Secretary of State can change an official record.