ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
Compare the best South Dakota Registered Agent services below as reviewed by ZenBusiness.
Starts at $119
Since opening in 2017, ZenBusiness has already found a number of ways to stand out from the pack. So far, we’ve already formed 700,000+ businesses. Take a look at what we have to offer for registered agent service!
Next up is Northwest Registered Agent, a company that offers personalized customer support. Northwest no longer provides free mail forwarding service with its registered agent offering, which used to be a cornerstone of its service. However, it still has plenty of intriguing attributes.
How does Northwest Registered Agent stack up to the competition?
Northwest Registered Agent’s calling card is its personalized customer support. Instead of outsourcing its support network to a generic call center with questionably trained representatives, Northwest keeps its support team in-house.
Northwest offers a year of registered agent service in South Dakota with any business formation service purchase. However, at $225, the price point for this package is higher than most competitors, especially when compared to the free LLC formation package we offer at ZenBusiness.
We appreciate Northwest’s volume discounts for registered agent service, although these are only applicable for larger companies that operate in several states. They’ll slash your rate from $125 to $100 annually if you require service in at least five states. In addition, they receive strong customer reviews and offer free ongoing compliance reminders.
Overall, if you prioritize personalized customer support, Northwest’s advantages may outweigh its disadvantages. That said, if affordability is your priority, you might want to look elsewhere.
Like ZenBusiness, IncFile Registered Agent Service offers a free business formation service. IncFile provides registered agent service at an annual rate of $119, which is a solidly competitive price point.
With more than 30,000 reviews available online, IncFile maintains high average rating scores, making them a popular pick for registered agent service in South Dakota.
However, one drawback of using IncFile is how they can be rather relentless with upsell attempts. IncFile has plenty of add-on features available, and it will certainly remind you of that fact several times as you work your way through their order form. It can also take IncFile a while to respond to customer support messages, especially via email.
Overall, IncFile is a good option for registered agent service, albeit without some of the bells and whistles you’ll find with some competitors.
Rocket Lawyer is one of the industry’s biggest names, with millions of customers served and a robust advertising budget that gets its name out. Rocket Lawyer’s pricing is a bit high, but if you’re looking for ongoing legal assistance, it has an interesting offer.
Rocket Lawyer has a few thousand reviews available, with mostly positive scores. While its registered agent pricing doesn’t jump off the page, subscribers to Rocket Lawyer’s $39.99/month legal services program receive 25% off registered agent service, making its pricing for this service a bit more competitive.
We don’t have any major complaints about Rocket Lawyer’s support network, as its representatives are responsive and helpful. Rocket Lawyer offers extended support availability from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every weekday. If you’re willing to spend a bit more in exchange for a company with tons of experience, or if you’re interested in Rocket Lawyer’s legal services subscription, they could be worth a look.
LegalZoom Registered Agent Service is similar to Rocket Lawyer in that it’s a company with millions of customers served and offers advanced legal services. LegalZoom will charge $199 per year for a South Dakota registered agent service. You can add on this service with any business formation package, as it is not included.
We are impressed by LegalZoom’s 100% satisfaction guarantee, which is nearly identical to the ZenBusiness refund policy. Also, they have extended support hours, with 14 hours per day of weekday availability and nine hours on weekends, too.
That said, LegalZoom does have a high price tag for a registered agent service. Seeing as this company also excludes valuable features from its business formation packages, the other options in this guide all have better value propositions than LegalZoom.
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Every business entity in the state of South Dakota is required to have a registered agent. In fact, you won’t be allowed to finish the formation process for your company until you designate your registered agent.
In South Dakota, there are three types of registered agents: noncommercial registered agents, commercial registered agents, and office holders of the organization. The only difference between noncommercial and commercial registered agents is that commercial registered agents pay a registration fee of $100 to be listed with the Secretary of State. This makes them easier to find and gives them a better chance of being located by businesses in need of new agents. Meanwhile, an office holder of the organization is the registered agent for a corporation in which one of the corporation’s officers handles this role.
The most important aspect of this role is receiving document deliveries from the state government and process servers, then alerting your business of the delivery before forwarding the documents to you. The role of the registered agent is so important because it establishes a point of contact for your business with the state and others so that they have a reliable place to get in touch with an official representative of your company at any time.
The South Dakota Secretary of State provides a comprehensive list of all commercial registered agents currently serving in the state. It might sound overwhelming, but it’s actually a pretty manageable list since it includes only commercial agents. Please note that the list is in alphabetical order — not a ranking — and the state is not endorsing these agents, simply providing their information.
Each state has its own rules and regulations surrounding registered agents. For the most part, these laws are fairly similar, but it’s always worth taking a look to see what South Dakota requires.
In South Dakota, we’ll need to take a look at the South Dakota Model Registered Agents Act, which says:
All of the companies we discussed above meet these regulations and are options for South Dakota registered agent service. When you’ve made your choice, you can indicate your registered agent’s name and address on your Articles of Organization.
As you’ve probably noticed, the registered agent services we’ve listed here serve businesses across the country. But if you Google “South Dakota Registered Agent,” you’ll probably see results for local services, too. These can be local entrepreneurs with a knack for clerical tasks, offices dedicated to serving businesses in their counties, or statewide companies.
On one hand, using a local service can have its advantages. Some will be cheaper than nationwide firms (but not always!). And each state has its own nuances for business compliance requirements, South Dakota included. A registered agent service that services South Dakota alone may have detailed knowledge about those requirements. Granted, most national services do an excellent job of understanding local requirements. But they might not give you the same “homegrown South Dakota” feeling as a local agent service.
That said, national businesses like ZenBusiness give you streamlined solutions. Let’s say you’re using a local South Dakota-only registered agent service, but it’s time to add locations in North Dakota. You could search for an additional agent that services North Dakota businesses. But that’s going to require a lot of additional paperwork, including new receipts, new automatic payments, more emails…you get the idea. But if you’re using a national service, you can cut down the “new” paperwork and focus on what really matters: growing your business.
Ultimately, the choice is up to you, and there’s no “wrong” answer. The most important thing is that you appoint one so you can run a compliant South Dakota business.
The role of a South Dakota registered agent is critical to your company’s compliance and legal standing. This position requires dealing with seemingly simple tasks, yet if they’re handled incorrectly, they could cost you a considerable amount of money in fines and could even potentially see the state dissolve your business.
While you can always change your registered agent down the line, we think it’s essential to pick the right registered agent for your business starting at the formation phase. You should also keep an eye on your compliance standing to ensure nothing goes awry along the way.
With ZenBusiness, you can purchase reliable registered agent service at an affordable rate, leaving this role in the hands of experts while you focus on growing your business.
Recommended: Get a North Dakota Registered Agent
FAQs About South Dakota's Best Registered Agent Services
Who can serve as a registered agent in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, there aren’t many complicated requirements for registered agent eligibility. Any individual or business entity authorized to conduct business in the state can serve as your company’s registered agent. The only requirements are that they have a permanent address in South Dakota and that your company itself can’t serve as its own registered agent (although you or one of your co-owners may assume this role individually).
South Dakota is a bit unusual because it maintains a system of commercial and noncommercial registered agents. But let’s be clear: commercial and noncommercial agents accomplish the exact same thing. A commercial registered agent simply registers with the Secretary of State to be included on the state database of agents (usually because they offer it as a business service). Noncommercial agents are appointed on a private basis.
Must my registered agent be located in South Dakota?
Yes. If your registered agent is an individual, that person must live in South Dakota. If your agent is a business entity, that company must either be a domestic South Dakota business or one with the authority to conduct business in the state.
How can I change my registered agent in South Dakota?
South Dakota keeps the process of changing your registered agent pretty simple. All you have to do is download the Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent or Both form, fill it out, and submit it to the Secretary of State. You can also file this form online. If you file online, it costs just $10; South Dakota upcharges an additional $15 for paper documents.
How does the South Dakota registered agent resignation process work?
If your registered agent chooses to resign and no longer serves as your agent, they will inform both you and the Secretary of State by filing a Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent form. The resignation is not effective until 31 days after it’s filed. That gives you plenty of time to find a replacement agent.
How much does it cost to change my South Dakota registered agent?
If you want to keep your costs as low as possible, you’ll need to file the form online and submit it in a timely fashion. If you file it late, you could cause a lapse in your registered agent coverage, which puts you at risk for additional penalties and fees. But filing online (and on time) ensures your costs stay at just $10.
What are my options if I don’t want to hire a South Dakota registered agent service?
One common option is to serve as your company’s own registered agent or enlist the assistance of a trusted friend or family member. The other route is to hire an attorney or accountant to handle this role. Maybe you prefer the added professionalism these people can provide, maybe you have an existing relationship with an attorney or accountant you trust, etc.
Where can I find more information on forming an LLC in South Dakota?
The best place to learn more about forming a South Dakota LLC is our comprehensive step-by-step guide. You might also be interested in checking out our list of the best best South Dakota LLC formation service.
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 Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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