If you’ve decided to start a limited liability company (LLC) in South Dakota, you’re one step closer to becoming a business owner. There are several steps to take, with some being more complicated than others. Keep reading to learn how to create an LLC in South Dakota.

We can help you form your South Dakota LLC in just minutes. More than 300,000 entrepreneurs have used our formation services, which start at just $49 + state fees. Simply click the “Start Your LLC Now” button below.

If you want to start an LLC in South Dakota on your own, you need to file your Articles of Organization through the Secretary of State’s website. Before you do so, decide on a name for your business and appoint a registered agent. You’ll also need to decide on creating an operating agreement (even though it isn’t a requirement in South Dakota). Follow our steps for more information on South Dakota LLC formation.

Starting a South Dakota Limited Liability Company

This step-by-step guide will break down the LLC formation process so that you can get a handle on it. Along the way, we’ll show you how our South Dakota LLC formation services can make things even easier by cutting through the red tape.

Step 1: Name your South Dakota LLC

Naming your business is the first step in creating your South Dakota LLC. Start by creating a list of alluring and captivating options that will give your future customers some idea of what you do and what kind of company culture to expect.

South Dakota Laws on Naming your LLC

South Dakota also has set laws on naming LLCs. As your business will be designated an LLC, it’s mandatory to place a form of “Limited Liability Company” on the end of your business name. You do have some choices about how you would like this designator to appear on all official documents. The following list represents all versions of the LLC title that can be legally applied to your business name:

• Limited Liability Company
• Limited Company
• Ltd. Liability Company
• Limited Liability Co.
• Ltd. Liability Co.
• L.L.C.
• LLC
• L.C.
• LC

Further, the state bans the use of certain terms in an LLC name. You can’t use designators for other formal entities like “Corporation,” “Limited Partnership,” “Incorporated,” “Inc.,” or “Cooperative.” You must also avoid words that would associate your business with a government agency, like “FBI,” “federal,” “government,” and “city.” 

Last but not least, your LLC name must be one of a kind. One tip during this process is to key in your names with just their fundamental portions. For instance, if you are considering “Janet’s Ice Cream Parlor,” search for “ice cream” first.

Narrow your list to names that differ as much as possible from existing names. South Dakota law provides that a business name be “distinguishable on record” to be utilized for a new business entity. Slight changes in spelling, punctuation, or chosen suffix are not enough to form a unique and acceptable name.

Check to see if your LLC name by following the directions on our South Dakota business name search page. 

Reserve a Business Name for Your South Dakota LLC

Once you’ve found an available name, you’ll need to determine if you’re ready to file right away or if reserving the name is in your best interest. If you’re not quite ready to finish up the paperwork, you can reserve your chosen name for up to 120 days for a fee.

If you’d rather not deal with this process yourself, we have a business name reservation service that can handle it for you. As part of the service, we also check to see if your desired name is available.

File a DBA in South Dakota

If you plan to use an alternate name for your LLC, you’ll need to complete this process twice. Known as a fictitious name or “Doing Business As” (DBA) name, you’ll need to check that your DBA name is available and compliant with South Dakota’s requirements. 

DBA Name Requirements

Unlike your LLC’s official name, your DBA name should not have any business entity suffix, including “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” The DBA name should also not include any words relating to financial institutions, such as “bank,” “trust company,” “credit union,” or other similar words or phrases.

Once you’ve found an acceptable DBA name, register it on the South Dakota Secretary of State’s website. You will need your business’s Secretary of State ID and the name and address of the business’s owner. You will be required to pay a filing fee to register and another filing fee annually to renew your DBA.

Our South Dakota DBA Service

To simplify the process and save you from completing all of the paperwork, we have a South Dakota DBA service you can take advantage of.

You’ll also want to visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office website to see whether your LLC name or logo is federally trademarked. Trademarks can also happen at the state level. To find out if your desired LLC name is already trademarked, go to the South Dakota Secretary of State website.

Secure a Domain Name for your LLC

When you’re coming up with a business name, it’s wise to consider whether you can secure a matching domain name so that your future website can be easily found online. We have a tool to help you do a preliminary domain name search. Our domain name registration service can help you secure the online name that will best serve your company.

Step 2: Appoint a registered agent in South Dakota

South Dakota requires every LLC to have a registered agent who is acting as the point of contact for all legal matters. This individual’s contact information must be provided when filing the South Dakota LLC Articles of Organization. All necessary legal notices, as well as correspondence from the Secretary of State, will be delivered to your registered agent.

As the owner, you can act as your South Dakota registered agent. While serving as your own registered agent might seem like a straightforward solution, it’s actually not always the best idea. The registered agent needs to provide a physical address, not just a P.O. box. If you use your business address, you risk having sensitive paperwork like lawsuits delivered in front of clients.

Use a Registered Agent Service in South Dakota

Instead, you may benefit from using our registered agent service in South Dakota. This way, you can rest easy knowing that your privacy is protected through our third Party partner, and you have a reliable point of contact for essential documents.

Step 3: File South Dakota Articles of Organization

Next you need to file Articles of Organization and register your LLC with the South Dakota Secretary of State. Filing official government documents like this can be intimidating for many people, which is why we’re here. With our business formation plans, we handle the filing for you to make sure it’s done correctly the first time. But, although we can handle this for you, we’ll show you how the process works below.

South Dakota Articles of Organization Requirements

You’ll need to complete your Articles of Organization and file them with the South Dakota Secretary of State. To accurately fill out this form, you’ll need the following:

Principal mailing address

This is the address of your place of business. If you have a store or office, it would be that location. If you work from home, it would be your home address.

Name and address of registered agent

Make sure that the person or entity you list as the registered agent is consistently available during standard business hours. Include your commercial registered agent’s CRA number on the form if applicable.

Name(s) and address(es) of the organizer(s) forming the LLC

This refers to you. If other members (owners) of the LLC are joining you in creating your company, their names should be listed here. If there are more than four, list them on separate pages and attach them. You will have the opportunity to upload or add attachments as you come near the form’s end. Every organizer listed will need to sign at the end of the document.

Management structure

This section asks if your LLC will be managed by its members or if the members will appoint a manager or managers to run the company. If you check the box for manager-managed, you’ll need to list the names and addresses of the manager(s).

Effective date

You can choose to have your business officially start when the Articles of Organization is filed by leaving “Yes” selected. If you would prefer the business to begin on another date, you may specify that date.

Email notification

You will have the opportunity to select whether you wish to receive email notifications from the Secretary of State’s office about events, due dates, and any other items pertaining to your business.

Member liability

You will be asked whether any LLC member is to be held liable for any debts or liabilities the LLC may incur. You likely do not want this. One of the benefits of an LLC is the added protection it gives members.

Ready to file your Articles of Organization? Follow our step-by-step guide on how to file your South Dakota Articles of Organization.

Mail or Submit Paperwork Online to the South Dakota Secretary of State

You can fill out the document on paper and mail it or use the online portal to submit your paperwork. If you choose to file your South Dakota LLC Articles of Organization by mail, it is slightly more expensive. Submissions require a nonrefundable fee to file online. Although, mail submissions also require a similar non-refundable fee.

Send your documents by mail to:

Secretary of State Office
500 East Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501

Digitally Store your South Dakota LLC Documents

If you have us handle filing your South Dakota LLC Articles of Organization, once the state approves your LLC, your paperwork will be available from your ZenBusiness dashboard, where you can keep it and other important paperwork digitally organized. 

Once you get your physical paperwork back from the state approving your new LLC, you’ll want to keep it in a safe location along with your other important documents, such as your operating agreement, member certificates, contracts, compliance checklists, transfer ledger, etc. We offer a customized business kit to help you keep your LLC’s formation documents organized and looking professional.

Step 4: Create an operating agreement

Although South Dakota doesn’t require LLCs to have an operating agreement, it’s in your and your company’s best interest to adopt this internal document. A well-drafted operating agreement can do wonders for your business and set your LLC up for success. 

The following are benefits of drafting a South Dakota operating agreement for your LLC: 

• Avoids South Dakota’s default LLC rules. Your LLC can create its own internal rules in the operating agreement, which can fit your business’s individual needs.
• Adds another layer of protection between the owners’ personal assets and liability and those of the business. 
• Helps secure funding from investors and lenders. 
• Outlines acceptable actions for the business, including the authority of the LLC’s members and managers.
• Creates a succession plan should the owner leave the business or become incapacitated.
• Provides guidelines for adding and removing members to the LLC. 

Because the state of South Dakota doesn’t require an LLC operating agreement, there is no form to fill out and file with the South Dakota Secretary of State. We offer a customizable template if you’re unsure as to how to begin creating an operating agreement for your LLC.

Step 5: Apply for an EIN

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) allows the IRS to identify your LLC on financial paperwork, like your annual tax filing. Your nine-digit Employer Identification Number is unique, and no other LLC will share it. 

If you are the only member in your LLC and don’t have any employees, you may not be required to have an EIN. You may still want one, though. You will need it if you hire employees down the line, for example — or if you want to open a business bank account. 

Get your South Dakota LLC’s EIN through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, by mail, or by fax, but if you’re not fond of dealing with that particular government agency, we can get it for you. Our EIN service is quick and eliminates the hassle.

Open a Business Bank Account for a South Dakota LLC

Once you’ve secured an EIN, you’ll be able to open a business bank account. Having separate accounts for your business and your personal banking is critical for sorting out your finances at tax time and helps you avoid commingling funds. Commingling funds can not only make your taxes more difficult, but it could also be used against you if someone takes you to court to challenge whether you and your LLC are truly separate entities.

We offer a discounted bank account for your new business. This allows for unlimited transactions, online banking, a debit card, and more. When you want to authorize others in your business to use the account, we offer a banking resolution template to simplify the process.

For further help managing your new business’s finances, try the ZenBusiness Money App. It can help you create invoices, receive payments, transfer money, and manage clients all in one place.