South Dakota (SD) Secretary of State (SOS) LLC & Business Search

South Dakota Secretary of State’s Division of Business Services provides a search facility allowing users to search for businesses, business name availability and by registered agents. The business search facility provides a range of information about businesses that is publicly available.

You can search their database by:

• Business name
• Business ID
• Registered agent name

Search by business name

South Dakota’s Business Information Search offers the ability to search by the business name with the option to choose whether to search by starts with or contains. You can also select to search active entities only.

The search results will show a list of businesses that match the criteria, and it will detail the business ID, type, name, name type, filing date and status.

Further information about the businesses can be viewed by clicking on the business ID highlighted in blue. This will display the business record with the publicly available information including:

• Business type
• Business ID
• Name
• Foreign registered name
• Status
• Initial filing date
• Formed in
• Term of duration
• Next annual report due date
• Inactive date
• Principal office
• Mailing address
• Shares of stock
• Registered agent details
• Filing history

A range of actions are available including requesting certificates and certified copies, and filing documents if you are an authorised person.

Search by business ID

The South Dakota business database can be searched by business ID if you know the business’ unique number.

The search results should provide a single result for the business which details the business ID, type, name, name type, filing date and status. You can view more information about the business by clicking on the business ID in blue text which provides additional information such as addresses, agent details and filing history, plus more as listed above in search by business name.

Search by registered agent name

South Dakota also offers a separate search facility to search their business database by registered agent. You have the choice of searching by individual agent name with separate fields for each part of the name, agent number or agent business name.

The search results are displayed in a list with agent number, agent name, physical address, mail address and status.

You can view businesses that the agent represents and the agent’s details by clicking on the agent number in blue. The list of businesses includes business ID, business name, filing name and status. You can view any of the businesses by clicking on the business ID in blue text. This will display the business record which includes information including their addresses, agent details, filing history, and more details as listed in search by business name above.

Contact details

Website: https://sdsos.gov/

Phone: (605) 773-4550

Address: 215 E Prospect Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501, mailing address – Capitol Building, 500 East Capitol Avenue Ste 204, Pierre, SD 57501-5070

Hours: Monday-Friday 8.00am-5.00pm

Email: corpinfo@state.sd.us

How to register a business in South Dakota?

Are you starting a business in South Dakota? Then you will need to register it before you start operating and these steps below can help you:

1. Before you register your business you will need to decide what you are going to call your business and you should do a name availability search on the South Dakota Secretary of State website.
2. You will also need to decide which business structure you will be operating under as this will determine what forms you complete to register your business.
3. Once you have decided the above you can then register your business on the South Dakota Secretary of State website which you can do online or through the mail with additional $15 fee. The forms you complete will be different depending on your business structure:
   • Corporations complete Articles of Incorporation costing $150
   • Limited liability companies complete Articles of Organization costing $150
   • Limited liability partnerships complete a Certificate of Limited Partnership costing $125
   • General partnerships and sole proprietorships do not need to register but should register their business name.

How much does a South Dakota business entity search cost?

South Dakota Secretary of State does not charge for doing a business entity search on their Business Information Search database.

How can I get a business license in South Dakota?

South Dakota does not have a general business license but there are a wide variety of business licenses that might apply depending on your industry and activities, and to support businesses in their state they have produced a licensing list. Most businesses will also need a Sales and Use Tax permit from the Department of Revenue.

Local licenses and permits may also be required and you will need to contact your local office to find out if you need these licenses or permits before starting your business. Fees for licenses and permits vary depending on the type and location but can start at $25 and can go up to several hundred dollars.