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South Dakota LLC formation
Start your South Dakota LLC, usually filed within 1 business hour
HourLLC usually prepares and files your South Dakota Articles of Organization with the South Dakota Secretary of State within one business hour of a complete order (Monday to Thursday 9 AM to 5 PM and Friday 9 AM to 12 PM Eastern; orders placed after hours are usually filed by 10 AM the next business day). You pay our $99 service fee plus South Dakota's $153.68 state filing fee, passed through at cost, so your total is $252.68. An EIN from the IRS and an operating agreement are included.
- State fee at cost, shown up front
- EIN included
- Documents by email
At a glance
South Dakota LLC: fees, speed and paperwork
Once we file, approval is up to the state. South Dakota is one of the faster states: typical approval for a standard online filing is instant. South Dakota already approves online filings quickly, so no paid rush is needed.
- State filing fee (paid to the state at cost)
- $153.68
- HourLLC service fee
- $99
- Your total
- $252.68
- We file
- usually within 1 business hour
- Typical state approval
- Instant
- Filing office
- South Dakota Secretary of State
- Formation document
- Articles of Organization
- Certified copy (state cost only)
- LLC $21 / corporation $19
- Certificate of Good Standing (state cost only)
- $20
State fees and processing times as researched in October 2026 and subject to change by South Dakota. We confirm your exact state fee before we file. Certified copies, Good Standing certificates and state rush filing are optional and charged at checkout at the state's cost with no service fee.
Official South Dakota fee source: official state fee page. Fees checked October 23, 2026; the price at checkout is what the state charges us, including any card or portal fee it adds.
How it works
Forming an LLC in South Dakota with HourLLC
- Pick a name. Your South Dakota LLC name must include an LLC designator such as "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company" and must not already be taken. We check availability before filing; give us a backup name on the form in case your first choice is taken.
- Fill out a 3 minute form. Members, a South Dakota registered agent, and your business address. South Dakota filings are public records, so a business address rather than a home address is a common choice.
- Review and pay. One total: $99 plus South Dakota's state fee at cost. No upsells.
- We usually file within 1 business hour. We prepare and submit your Articles of Organization to the South Dakota Secretary of State. When South Dakota approves it, we email your filing receipt and stamped Articles of Organization as PDFs and keep them in Documents at My account. Then we get your EIN.
After your South Dakota LLC is approved
South Dakota LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State each year.
Your EIN is included: we apply to the IRS for it together with your state filing, so you can open a business bank account and file taxes under the LLC.
Almost every state requires a registered agent with a street address in the state who accepts official mail and legal papers during business hours. You can be your own registered agent if you have a South Dakota address, or use a commercial registered agent.
What every HourLLC order includes
- Name availability check before filing
- Articles of Organization usually filed with the state within 1 business hour
- EIN from the IRS (federal tax ID)
- Free operating agreement
- Filing receipt and stamped, approved Articles of Organization, emailed as PDFs
- Annual report reminders, free with every LLC
Choosing a South Dakota LLC formation service
Compare the all-in price, not the starting price. Ask each service: is the EIN included, is an operating agreement included, when exactly do you file, and what renews every year? With HourLLC the answer is one price ($99 plus South Dakota's fee at cost), EIN and operating agreement included, usually filed within 1 business hour, and no yearly fee for the LLC itself. See a side by side comparison.
Yearly cost after your South Dakota LLC is formed
South Dakota LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State each year. We send free reminders before it is due.
Rules and costs
South Dakota LLC requirements
On this page: Name rules · Registered agent · EIN · Cost breakdown · Other rules
South Dakota LLC name rules
A South Dakota LLC name must include “limited liability company”, “limited company”, “L.L.C.”, “LLC”, “L.C.” or “LC”. It also has to be different from names already on file with the state.
You can reserve a name before you file for $25 (good for 120 days). Most people skip this: we check the name and file right away, and you can give us a backup name.
South Dakota registered agent
The LLC names either a commercial registered agent or a noncommercial registered agent. A noncommercial agent's filing must give an actual street address (or rural route box) in South Dakota.
On our order form you name your registered agent and their South Dakota street address. It can be you, if you have a street address in South Dakota, or a commercial registered agent service.
Getting an EIN for your South Dakota LLC
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your LLC's federal tax ID. It comes from the IRS, not from South Dakota, and the IRS does not charge for it. You need it to open a business bank account, hire employees and file business taxes. Every HourLLC order includes it: we prepare and submit the EIN application together with your state filing and send you the IRS confirmation letter.
If your LLC will sell taxable goods or services or hire employees, you may also need to register for South Dakota state tax accounts. That is a separate step with the state.
South Dakota LLC cost breakdown
| State filing fee (one time) | $153.68 |
|---|---|
| Yearly report or tax (1st day of your anniversary month) | $55 online |
| Name reservation (optional) | $25 |
| Assumed or trade name / DBA (optional, Secretary of State) | $10 |
| Registered agent | $0 if you serve yourself; a commercial service charges its own yearly fee |
Add our $99 service fee once, at formation. There is no yearly HourLLC fee for the LLC itself.
Other South Dakota rules to know
Starting January 1, 2027, a new South Dakota LLC picks its annual report date on the formation document: its anniversary month, or January 31 each year.
Checked on official South Dakota sources on November 5, 2026: name rules, registered agent, name reservation, trade name, other rules. Rules and fees can change; we confirm them before we file.
FAQ
South Dakota LLC questions, answered
How much does it cost to form an LLC in South Dakota?
South Dakota charges a $153.68 state filing fee for a new LLC. HourLLC adds a flat $99 service fee, so your total is $252.68. That includes your EIN and an operating agreement. The state fee is passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
How long does it take to get an LLC in South Dakota?
We usually file within 1 business hour of a complete order during business hours. After that, approval is up to the South Dakota Secretary of State. Typical approval for a standard online filing is instant. Some filings take longer; the state sets the pace, not us.
Can I rush my South Dakota LLC?
South Dakota already approves online filings quickly, so no paid rush is needed.
Does a South Dakota LLC have to file an annual report?
South Dakota LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State each year. We send free reminders with every LLC so you do not miss it.
What is the South Dakota formation document called?
In South Dakota the document that creates your LLC is the Articles of Organization, filed with the South Dakota Secretary of State. We prepare it from your order, file it, and email you the stamped, approved copy as a PDF.
Do I need a registered agent in South Dakota?
Yes, like almost every state, South Dakota requires a registered agent with a street address in the state who can accept official mail and legal papers during business hours. You can be your own registered agent if you have a South Dakota address, or use a commercial registered agent and give us that address when you order.
Is the EIN really included?
Yes. The IRS issues EINs for free, and we prepare and submit the application for you together with your state filing, at no extra charge. You will usually need the EIN to open a business bank account or hire employees.
What does a South Dakota LLC name need to include?
A South Dakota LLC name must include "limited liability company", "limited company", "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C." or "LC", and it has to be different from names already on file with the state.
Who can be a registered agent in South Dakota?
The LLC names either a commercial registered agent or a noncommercial registered agent. A noncommercial agent's filing must give an actual street address (or rural route box) in South Dakota.
How do I get an EIN for my South Dakota LLC?
An EIN is a free federal tax ID from the IRS. Every HourLLC order includes it: we prepare and submit the EIN application together with your South Dakota state filing and send you the IRS confirmation letter.
Other states
Forming an LLC somewhere else?
We file in all 50 states and DC at the same $99 service fee. Each state sets its own filing fee and speed.
Nearby states
Sources checked October 2026: South Dakota filing requirements