State hub · South Dakota
South Dakota LLC true cost (2026)
South Dakota state side: $150 formation filing, $55 for Annual Report in the 3-year model, ~$315 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #31 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
South Dakota state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is South Dakota Secretary of State. Filings go through sosenterprise.sd.gov.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $150 | Domestic Articles of Organization $150 electronic / $165 paper (includes paper filing fee). |
| Annual Report | $55 | $55 online / $70 paper. Late fee for delinquent annual reports listed as $55 on SOS fee schedule (confirm at filing). |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $315 | Formation $150 (online) + 3× annual report $55 = $315. |
When South Dakota actually bills you
South Dakota's recurring filing is due By the last day of the anniversary month of formation — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What South Dakota charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $150 | $150 |
| Year 1 cycle | Annual Report | $55 | $205 |
| Year 2 cycle | Annual Report | $55 | $260 |
| Year 3 cycle | Annual Report | $55 | $315 |
Provider + South Dakota state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the South Dakota state subtotal of $315.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $604 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $812 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $613 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $1,062 |
Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices above are researched from public pages, not supplied by the provider. How this site makes money.
How South Dakota ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, South Dakota sits at #31 — the 31st cheapest three-year state charter — at $315 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $280 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $35 above the $280 median, and $2,195 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, South Dakota lands in the pricier half of the table.
- Just cheaper: Texas ($300), Vermont ($290).
- Just pricier: New Jersey ($325), Connecticut ($360).
- Full table: all 51 states ranked by 3-year state fees — including where the ranking flips once you add a professional registered agent.
Registered agent (South Dakota)
- Registered agent in South Dakota required.
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of South Dakota state fees is $315, while the cheapest provider path in our national 3-year comparison runs $289 (Formation $39 (RA Y1 included)) and the most expensive runs $747 (Basic $0 + RA $249/yr) — a $458 spread for the same statutory job. On the cheapest path the service, not South Dakota, is about 48% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- Anniversary-month deadline (not a fixed calendar date).
- Paper filings add $15 vs electronic.
Who South Dakota is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- South Dakota domestic LLCs filing electronically.
Often a poor fit when…
- Operators seeking sub-$50 formation fees.
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about South Dakota LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in South Dakota?
$150 to South Dakota Secretary of State for the formation filing. Domestic Articles of Organization $150 electronic / $165 paper (includes paper filing fee). That is the state charge only. A formation service is a separate bill on top: Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) works out to $39 in year one, versus $249 on the most expensive path we track.
What are the ongoing South Dakota LLC fees after year one?
$55 for the Annual Report, due By the last day of the anniversary month of formation. $55 online / $70 paper. Late fee for delinquent annual reports listed as $55 on SOS fee schedule (confirm at filing). Recurring state charges are what make a low formation fee misleading — they are the reason this site models three years instead of one.
What does a South Dakota LLC really cost over three years?
$315 in South Dakota state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $604 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $1,062 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with South Dakota.
Do I need a registered agent in South Dakota?
Yes. Registered agent in South Dakota required. Confirm South Dakota's DIY-versus-commercial agent rules with South Dakota Secretary of State before you file — a home address here becomes public record. On the money side, the four providers tracked here charge $0–$249 in year one for formation plus the agent, then $125–$249 a year in agent renewal after that — separate from every South Dakota figure above.
Is South Dakota a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, South Dakota ranks #31 of 51 at $315 over three years, against a $35 floor and a $2,510 ceiling. But cheapest charter is not the same as cheapest outcome: if you operate somewhere else you will likely foreign-qualify there and pay that state's fees and taxes too. See the full 3-year state fee ranking for the comparison.
How the South Dakota three-year number is built
Formation $150 (online) + 3× annual report $55 = $315. Figures are re-derived from the cited South Dakota sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the South Dakota state subtotal:
- Professional registered agent fees (same shopping problem in every state)
- County newspaper publication (NY, AZ, and similar — variable)
- Card / portal convenience fees unless fixed on the SOS schedule
- Expedites, name reservations, certified copies, foreign qualification
- Income / sales / payroll taxes and variable gross-receipts tiers above a stated floor
Unverified / confirm before filing
- Provider checkout upsells: see the national comparison page.
- Re-check live South Dakota Secretary of State fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where South Dakota's $315 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the South Dakota math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.