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Formation Facts

What the state wants, and what it costs.

LLC cost guide · South Dakota

South Dakota LLC Fees (2026): What the State Charges and the 3 Best LLC Services

For anyone starting a limited liability company in South Dakota this year, 2026, we would go with SD Registered Agent.org ($199), South Dakota Registered Agent.co ($199) and Mainstay Filing ($199), in that order. South Dakota charges $150 when you form the LLC and $55 every year when you file the annual report. Compared with the other 49 states over three years, that ranks 31st.
Briefing by the Formation Facts team

South Dakota: the quick briefing

31st

among 50 states for three-year state fees

A rank of 1 means the lowest bill. The whole 50-state comparison

  • Fee the state takes at filing

    $150

    sdlegislature.gov; we confirmed it in October 2026

  • Annual report

    $55 / yr

    Deadline, as the state states it: due during the entity's anniversary month. sdlegislature.gov; we confirmed it in October 2026

  • Cost of missing the deadline

    $50

    sdlegislature.gov; we confirmed it in October 2026

  • What the state collects in 3 years

    $260

    Three years of fees paid to the state

Services ranked for South Dakota

You can read the weights on the method page; three-year fees and coverage carry the most.

Our #1

1. SD Registered Agent.org: best for South Dakota LLCs on a shoestring

$199 for formation; $99 in later years

Our first choice is SD Registered Agent.org. Formation costs $199 above the state fee, and the agent is $99 from year 2.

Its three-year fees are lower than Mainstay Filing's, and cost is 33% of our score, the biggest weight we use.

You send in the annual report on your own, every year.

What your money gets you

  • Files your South Dakota formation
  • First year of agent service

What works

  • Then $99 a year
  • No agent fee in year 1
  • A formation fee of $199

What to weigh

  • The annual report is yours to complete
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit SD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

South Dakota specialist

2. South Dakota Registered Agent.co: best for another option in South Dakota

$199 for formation; $99 in later years

Why South Dakota Registered Agent.co is second: formation costs $199 above the state fee, and the agent is $99 from year 2.

You send in the annual report on your own, every year.

SD Registered Agent.org and this provider charge the same.

What your money gets you

  • Files your South Dakota formation
  • First year of agent service

What works

  • Then $99 a year
  • No agent fee in year 1
  • A formation fee of $199

What to weigh

  • The annual report is yours to complete
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit South Dakota Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

All-in-one

3. Mainstay Filing: best for having someone else track the deadlines

$199 a year, renewing at $199

Last on the list is Mainstay Filing, because a $199 yearly price replaces three separate jobs: the South Dakota formation, the registered agent and the annual report.

SD Registered Agent.org costs $200 less over three years, and that explains the order.

Each renewal includes the annual report, and the $55 state fee is billed at cost.

What your money gets you

  • Prepares your formation papers and files them
  • Acts as your registered agent all year
  • Prepares and files your annual report
  • Applies for your EIN
  • You pay the state fee at cost

What works

  • It files your EIN application
  • No jump at renewal ($199)
  • A flat $199 a year

What to weigh

  • Its renewal is $100 above SD Registered Agent.org's
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Prices side by side

RankWhoYou pay in year 1Then per yearTheir fees across 3 years
1SD Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit SD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2South Dakota Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit South Dakota Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Every price here was taken from the company's website on November 13, 2026. You will also owe the $150 state fee on every row.

What a South Dakota LLC costs by year

Pick how many years you want to total and which provider you would use. What the state takes is built from its own schedule: $150 when you form, then the annual report from year 2.
Choosing SD Registered Agent.org means paying $657 over 3 years, made up of $260 for the state and $397 for the service.

How South Dakota compares with the states near it in the ranking

RankStateThree-year state fees
29thVermont$245
30thNew Jersey$250
31stSouth Dakota$260
32ndConnecticut$280
33rdIllinois$300
The whole comparison lives at LLC costs by state, lowest bills first.

How much it costs to file an LLC in South Dakota

To form the LLC you send the Articles of Organization and $150 to the South Dakota Secretary of State. None of the providers below charges extra for it. The state tells filers to expect Paper 1 to 3 business days; online processed immediately.

Your South Dakota LLC's good standing and the annual report

Your LLC has to file the annual report every year and pay $55; the deadline is due during the entity's anniversary month. Filing late costs $50.

Why SD Registered Agent.org comes first

What settled South Dakota was price over three years, at 33%.

Cost puts it ahead, at $397 over three years, which is $200 lower than Mainstay Filing.

Common questions

How much will South Dakota charge me to form an LLC?

South Dakota charges $150 to file. Provider fees come to $199.

What will I pay for the South Dakota annual report?

You pay $55, every year, and the deadline reads due during the entity's anniversary month. Filing late costs $50.

Is South Dakota a low-cost state for LLCs?

South Dakota ranks 31st of 50 on three-year state fees, at $260. Rank 1 is the lowest total.

How long will the state take to process my LLC?

Usually you wait Paper 1 to 3 business days; online processed immediately.

Will I need a registered agent in South Dakota?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Which LLC service should I choose?

Go with SD Registered Agent.org: you pay $199 plus the state fee, with your first agent year included, then $99 a year. After that: South Dakota Registered Agent.co and Mainstay Filing.

More for this state

Where this briefing comes from

  1. If you want proof of what we say about South Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services /, open sdsos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
  2. If you want proof of what we say about South Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services /, open sosenterprise.sd.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
  3. If you want proof of what we say about South Dakota yearly filing: Annual report: fee and, open sdlegislature.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  4. If you want proof of what we say about South Dakota report due date, open sdlegislature.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
  5. If you want proof of what we say about SDCL 47-34A-203, open sdlegislature.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
  6. If you want proof of what we say about South Dakota formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open sdsos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  7. If you want proof of what we say about South Dakota formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open sdlegislature.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  8. If you want proof of what we say about South Dakota registered agent statute, open sdlegislature.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  9. If you want proof of what we say about Vermont Secretary of State fee schedule, open sos.vermont.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  10. If you want proof of what we say about Vermont formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open legislature.vermont.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  11. If you want proof of what we say about New Jersey DORES, Getting Registered, open nj.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  12. If you want proof of what we say about New Jersey formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open pub.njleg.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  13. If you want proof of what we say about New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, open njportal.com; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
  14. If you want proof of what we say about New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, open njportal.com; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
  15. If you want proof of what we say about Conn, open cga.ct.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
  16. If you want proof of what we say about Connecticut formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open business.ct.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  17. If you want proof of what we say about Connecticut formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open business.ct.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  18. If you want proof of what we say about Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services Division, open business.ct.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
  19. If you want proof of what we say about Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services Division, open business.ct.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
  20. If you want proof of what we say about Connecticut yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source, open business.ct.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  21. If you want proof of what we say about 805 ILCS 180/5-5, open ilga.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
  22. If you want proof of what we say about Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open ilga.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  23. If you want proof of what we say about Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open ilsos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  24. If you want proof of what we say about Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, open ilsos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
  25. If you want proof of what we say about Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, open ilsos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
  26. If you want proof of what we say about Processing, official source, open sdsos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  27. The page we used for SD Registered Agent.org (pricing page) was open to us on November 13, 2026
  28. The page we used for South Dakota Registered Agent.co (pricing page) was open to us on November 13, 2026
  29. The page we used for Mainstay Filing (South Dakota service page) was open to us on November 13, 2026