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LLC formation questions by state
South Dakota
The reply · South Dakota
3 Best LLC Services in South Dakota (2026), Answered
In 2026, we rank South Dakota Registered Agent.co ($199), SD Registered Agent.org ($199) and Mainstay Filing ($199), in that order, as the LLC formation services for South Dakota. Budget $150 for the state plus $397 to $597 in service fees over three years.
By the LLC Answered editorial team
Answers updated November 13, 2026
Our funding: LLC Answered is reader-supported. We may earn money when you buy through links on this page, and the companies we rank are our partners. Prices come from each company's own pages and official state sources.
Short version
Short reply
State fee to file
$150, a single time
Recurring cost
$55 per year
Registered agent
Yes, it is required
Our picks
South Dakota Registered Agent.co, SD Registered Agent.org then Mainstay Filing
South Dakota: our answer
The scoring is explained on this page .
#1
Hire first
1. South Dakota Registered Agent.co: best for a lean launch
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, plus the state fee
Hire South Dakota Registered Agent.co in South Dakota: a three-year total of $397 results from its $99 renewal.
Cost decides it: three years here total less than at Mainstay Filing.
Set aside time for the annual report; it is not included.
What is bundled
Formation handled Agent for year one
Pluses
$199 plus the state fee Agent renews at $99 No agent charge for year one
Downsides
The annual report is outside the service EIN not included ($99)
#2
For South Dakota
2. SD Registered Agent.org: best for a second in-state filer
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, plus the state fee
SD Registered Agent.org comes next since a three-year total of $397 results from its $99 renewal.
Set aside time for the annual report; it is not included.
Price for price it ties South Dakota Registered Agent.co.
What is bundled
Formation handled Agent for year one
Pluses
Agent renews at $99 No agent charge for year one $199 plus the state fee
Downsides
The annual report is outside the service EIN not included ($99)
#3
Any state you add
3. Mainstay Filing: best for staying away from paperwork
$199 a year, plus the $150 state fee
Why Mainstay Filing third? Simply put, for $199 a year the formation, the registered agent and the annual report all get handled.
The three-year gap to South Dakota Registered Agent.co is $200, which explains the lower rank.
It files the annual report for you and bills the state's $55 at cost.
What is bundled
The LLC formation itself Registered agent for a full year Annual report handled each time We mean the EIN: applied for State fee passed through, no markup
Pluses
EIN step covered One price, $199 a year Renewal stays $199
Downsides
$100 a year more than South Dakota Registered Agent.co from year two
Numbers at a glance
Company prices on November 13, 2026, before state fees.
Straight replies
What does setup run in this state?
$150 for the state, plus $199 if you hire.
Add up the state's fees from filing through year three and you get $260. source sdlegislature.gov (October 2026) on file
Who receives the LLC paperwork?
The paperwork is the Articles of Organization, and the recipient is the South Dakota Secretary of State.
State processing time: Paper 1 to 3 business days; online processed immediately. source sdlegislature.gov (October 2026) on file
Will the state insist on a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
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.
source sdlegislature.gov (October 2026) on file
Does the state bill me every year?
Set aside $55 each year for the annual report. Mark the state's date, due during the entity's anniversary month, on your calendar.
Am I allowed to skip the service?
Yes. Owners who skip the service pay only $260 to the state over three years.
Choosing a service raises the three-year cost by $397 to $597.
How did you rank them?
South Dakota Registered Agent.co is strongest on three-year price, which counts 36% in our ranking.
Three-year price is worth 36% and paperwork covered 29%, with three smaller tests breaking ties.
Three years with South Dakota Registered Agent.co cost $397, which is $200 less than Mainstay Filing.
How we decide
South Dakota checklist with sources
Item Reply Where it is from
Fee at filing
$150 source sdlegislature.gov (October 2026) on file
Registered agent
Yes, it is required source sdlegislature.gov (October 2026) on file
Annual report
$55 every year source sdlegislature.gov (October 2026) on file
Three-year state total
$260 Rows above, added
To get the three-year number we add the formation filing, two later reports and any minimum tax, and we do not count costs without a fixed price.
What these words mean
Registered agent The in-state person or company that accepts legal papers and government notices on the LLC's behalf.
Annual report A repeat filing that confirms the LLC's details to the state, usually with a fee. Some states want it every two years, a few not at all.
More quick questions
How soon will the LLC exist?
Paper 1 to 3 business days; online processed immediately.
Will they get my EIN for me?
Only one pick bundles it, Mainstay Filing; South Dakota Registered Agent.co adds $99, SD Registered Agent.org adds $99.
What happens if I file the report late?
South Dakota charges $50 for it.
What does each pick cost across three years?
South Dakota Registered Agent.co $397; SD Registered Agent.org $397; Mainstay Filing $597, with state fees on top.
How do you know these fees?
Fees set by the state come from South Dakota's own publications; what services charge comes from their published prices.
What is the best LLC service for South Dakota?
South Dakota Registered Agent.co, because year one is $199 and each later year is $99. Then SD Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing.
Proof and sources
sdsos.gov | South Dakota Secretary of State | August 2026sosenterprise.sd.gov | South Dakota Secretary of State | August 2026sdlegislature.gov | South Dakota yearly filing: Annual | October 2026sdlegislature.gov | South Dakota report due date | August 2026sdlegislature.gov | SDCL 47-34A-203 | August 2026sdsos.gov | South Dakota formation fee: Filing | October 2026sdlegislature.gov | South Dakota formation fee: Filing | October 2026sdlegislature.gov | South Dakota registered agent statute | October 2026sdsos.gov | Processing, official source | October 2026Prices on the South Dakota Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026
Prices on the SD Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026
Prices on the Mainstay Filing South Dakota service page, read November 13, 2026