Black Friday Special: Use code 'FRIDAY2025' at checkout to save $50 on Pro. Offer ends 11/30.
ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
Starts at $0 + state fee and only takes 5-10 minutes
Last Updated: November 20, 2025
Trying to find the best LLC formation service in South Dakota for your business? Whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur or an experienced business owner, choosing the right LLC formation service can save you time, money, and stress. In this comparison guide, we break down top providers like ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, Bizee (formerly Incfile), and Northwest Registered Agent. You’ll see how they stack up in terms of pricing, features, and customer support — plus what each service is best known for. If you’re looking for great value and reliable service, ZenBusiness is a standout option for forming an LLC in South Dakota.
If you’re looking for an overall, excellent LLC formation service in South Dakota, go with us at ZenBusiness. We’ve already formed 850,000+ businesses since 2015!
✔ Free LLC formation (only pay South Dakota state fees)✔ 60-day money-back guarantee✔ 25720+ reviews with a 4.8 average rating✔ Award-winning customer support✔ Extended customer service hours, including Saturdays and Sundays✔ Socially conscious company (Public Benefit Corporation)
✘ Registered agent service costs extra after the first year✘ Some advanced features require higher-tier plans
If you want socially conscious South Dakota LLC formation services with a service discount, choose ZenBusiness.
Another LLC service is Bizee (formerly known as Infile), with a basic formation service that would only require you to pay South Dakota’s state filing fee. Bizee is a well-known choice, with more than one million businesses formed since they opened in 2004. They also have a variety of features to suit a business owner’s needs.
✔ Free LLC formation (only pay South Dakota state fees)✔ Includes one year of registered agent service ($119/yr afterward)✔ Large customer base with 22,700+ reviews (as of November 2025)✔ Phone and email support
✘ Lots of upsells can increase overall costs✘ Customer support can be slow during peak times✘ No weekend phone support available
Keep in Mind: Even though their South Dakota LLC formation service is free, you’re going to deal with more upsells and potentially higher overall prices as a result.
Want to learn more? See our Bizee review.
LegalZoom is the most well-known service in this industry, handling millions of LLC formations since 2001. They handle huge volumes of entity formations in South Dakota and offer legal services beyond formations.
✔ Established brand with 4 million+ businesses formed✔ Extended customer service hours, including Saturdays✔ Offers legal services beyond South Dakota LLC formation
✘ Aggressive upsells during the ordering process✘ Registered agent service is expensive ($249/yr)✘ Not the best value compared to other services available in South Dakota
Want to learn more? See our LegalZoom review.
Northwest Registered Agent also offers a good business formation service in South Dakota, with personalized customer support as their standout feature. They’ve been forming businesses since 1998.
✔ Personalized customer support✔ Includes one year of registered agent service ($125/yr afterward)✔ Industry experience since 1998
✘ Higher starting price than competitors who offer free South Dakota LLC formation✘ No published customer service hours and no chat support✘ Limited brand recognition compared to larger competitors
Want to learn more? See our Northwest Registered Agent review.
Compare ZenBusiness Plans
$0
+ state fees | does not renew
Starter
Standard
$149
$199
Enter FRIDAY2025 at checkout
+ state fees | renews at $199/yr
Pro
Most Popular
$349
$399
Save $50
+ state fees | renews at $399/yr
Premium
Best Value
*Processing times are based on receiving complete information. ZenBusiness processing times do not include Secretary of State processing times, which can vary.**Starter includes one optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance (renews at $199/yr).† SPECIAL OFFERS – Each package includes special service offers. After the initial period ends, these services automatically renew at their regular price. You can cancel these services at any time before or after the introductory period ends.
In addition to the costs of a business formation service or hiring an attorney (which are optional, as we’ve discussed), there are other required and optional expenses when forming and maintaining a South Dakota business. You cannot form an LLC in South Dakota without filing the Articles of Organization, the document that officially registers your business within the state. It costs $150 to submit online and $165 to submit by mail.
Your LLC will need to file an annual report every year. The report is a pretty simple filing that keeps the state updated about some basic but vital information about your business, such as your registered agent and business address. The filing fee is $50 (plus $15 if you choose to file by mail). Read more about South Dakota LLC costs.
We invite you to take a look at our guide to forming a limited liability company in South Dakota. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in this state step by step, helping ensure that you don’t miss any crucial elements.
One of the most important steps in forming a South Dakota LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the Secretary of State’s name availability search to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in South Dakota, check out our South Dakota business search article.
You can fill out or download the Articles of Organization on the Secretary of State’s website.
In South Dakota, an LLC’s ongoing maintenance requirements include the annual report. This filing is due by the first day of your LLC’s anniversary month, and it includes a filing fee of $50 (plus $15 if filing by paper).
Chances are, you’ll require at least one license or permit to operate your LLC in compliance with South Dakota state law. For more information about business licenses and more in this state, check out the South Dakota Secretary of State Division of Business Services.
The Secretary of State should be able to process your LLC’s formation immediately if you file online. Meanwhile, paper filings take 3-5 business days, not counting time in transit.
If you want more details about what these companies can offer in this state, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our guide to the best South Dakota registered agent services.
Unfortunately, not all businesses last forever. If the time comes when you need to close your LLC’s doors, you’ll need to do so in a manner consistent with the state’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to South Dakota LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.
If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in South Dakota. Instead, you’ll need to foreign-qualify the business in this state. This process is somewhat similar to LLC formation, but there are some crucial differences as well. Take a look at our guide to foreign qualifications in South Dakota for more information.
South Dakota Business Resources
Top LLC Formation Services in All 50 States
We've broken down the best LLC formation services in all 50 states. Select your state for more information.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by ZenBusiness Editorial Team
The ZenBusiness Editorial Team has more than 20 years of combined small business publishing experience and has helped over 850,000 entrepreneurs launch and grow their companies. Our writers and business formation experts are dedicated to providing accurate, practical, and trustworthy guidance so business owners can make confident decisions.
Choose ZenBusiness Today
Start Your South Dakota LLC