The right registered agent can help your business flourish and remain compliant with all the requirements of the state. If you goal is to open or expand your business in South Dakota and you’re looking for registered agent recommendations, you’re in the right place – our guide on the best South Dakota registered agent services will introduce you to various diverse options.
If you don’t want to read through every single recommendation, check out our summary table below.
Best South Dakota Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | South Dakota Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Watertown |
| North Dakota Registered Agent | $49 a year | Watertown |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Watertown |
| Registered Agent Net | $89 a year | Not stated |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Pierre |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Sioux Falls |
| MyCorporation | $120 a year | Not stated |
In addition to registered agent recommendations, we’ll also go over the steps required to form a business in South Dakota, and answer more questions in the FAQ section.
With that out of the way, let’s start by explaining the role of a registered agent.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent, often referred to as a statutory agent, is someone who is responsible for handling all the documents of your business and forwarding them to you. They have to meet certain requirements, like having a physical address and being over 18.
Does South Dakota Require a Registered Agent Service?
Yes, South Dakota requires all business entities to appoint a registered agent.
Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent Service
Let’s explore the benefits that come with hiring a registered agent.
- As a business owner, you’ll have more time and energy to dedicate to your business
- Your working hours will remain flexible
- You can travel freely without worrying about not being able to receive a document
- You can expand your business in other states
- You won’t have to risk being fined by the state
With that out of the way, let’s start with our first recommendation.
1. IncFile
Our top recommendation for a South Dakota registered agent service is IncFile, a company that’s helped over 800,000 businesses flourish. They’re a great option if you’re also looking to purchase a formation service, in which case their registered agent service will be complimentary and free of cost. Benefits include:
- Access to all your important correspondence in due time
- Automatic mail forwarding
- Access to said correspondence on your personal dashboard
- Customized email and text notifications
With IncFile, you’ll never encounter hidden fees or sneaky contracts.
Their pricing is incredibly affordable – a year of registered agent services will cost you $119.
Thanks to their timely compliance reminders, you’ll never have to worry about missing a deadline.
IncFile also provide the following services:
- Trademarking
- Amendment
- Foreign qualification
- Virtual address
- Tax consultations
- EIN Number
- Business licenses and permits
- Certificate of good standing
2. ZenBusiness
Coming in at number 2 on our guide on the best South Dakota registered agent services is ZenBusiness. This exceptional service encompasses everything you’ll ever need from a registered agent, including:
- Email notifications
- Expert handling of your documents
- Mail forwarding
- Document scanning
- Fast turnaround
- Access to a personalized dashboard
ZenBusiness have offered their services to more than 300,000 businesses, so you know your business will be in good hands.
Another reason why we recommend this service is their $5K Grant Program – a portion of their income finances the businesses of struggling entrepreneurs.
Customers also love how easy their set-up process is, which is espeacially useful for new business owners who’ve never used this type of service.
A year of registered agent services with ZenBusiness will cost you $199. Every customer has the option to upgrade this package to include additional perks, like annual support alerts and two filing changes a year.
ZenBusiness also offer:
- Incorporation
- LLC formation
- Domain name and website
- Annual reports
- Taxes and accounting
- Business license reports
- Worry-free compliance
- Operating agreement
- EIN Number
- Banking and finances
3. Northwest
Northwest is one of the most comprehensive and reliable registered agents in the United States. One of the main reasons why we recommend Northwest is their impeccable customer support. Their other perks include:
- Document storage
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report reminders
- Compliance alerts
- Scanned documents
- Pre-filled state forms
Their customer support team, which they refer to as Corporate Guides, is comprised of talented experts whose main mission is to help you with any compliance problem you may have.
During their first year of service, customers get free access to their compliance calendar.
On top of that, Northwest have an innovative Privacy by Default feature which helps protect your personal data and ensure that it’s never sold to third parties.
Their annual fee is $125. However, if you hire Northwest for more than four states, you can reduce your yearly fee to $100.
Northwest’s South Dakota office is located in Watertown.
They also have the following services:
- Trademarking
- Foreign qualification
- Mail forwarding
- Phone service
- Payment processing
- Annual report filings
- Virtual office
4. South Dakota Registered Agent
We also wanted to include an option for a South Dakota registered agent that will cost you less than $50 a year, and that is South Dakota Registered Agent. With their service, you can unlock perks such as:
- Annual report reminders
- Email notifications
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Online document storage
Sometimes, affordable services come at a cost. With North Dakota Registered Agent, you’ll never have to worry about encountering any additional charges apart from their yearly fee.
Their South Dakota office is located in Watertown.
Apart from hiring them as your registered agent, you can also hire them for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Filing services
5. Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance is an excellent choice for a registered agent if you want to combine affordability and efficacy. For just $99 a year, you’ll get to benefit from the following tools:
- Annual report reminders
- Pre-filled state forms
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
- Customizable notifications
Harbor Compliance will process all your documents in a timely manner, so missing a deadline will never be an issue for you.
Their South Dakota office is located in Watertown.
Besides a registered agent, they also offer:
- Registration
- Business licenses
- LLC formation
- Amendments
- Incorporation
6. Registered Agent Net
Another incredibly affordable registered agent service option for South Dakota entrepreneurs is Registered Agent Net. Costing only $87, they offer a well-rounded service comprising of:
- Access to their Compliance Calendar and their Compliance Entity Manager
- Same-day document delivery
- Two-year price guarantee
The complimentary compliance tools are excellent at helping you keep track of all your annual renewal filings. They’ll also keep you compliant by sending you an email to remind you of an upcoming deadline.
Not only is their pricing transparent, but you’ll also receive a two-year price guarantee for every purchase.
7. LegalZoom
LegalZoom is one of the most well-known agents in the state. Apart from offering amazing registered agent services, they also offer a plethora of legal services that will be of use to larger businesses. Hiring them as your agent gives you access to:
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Annual report reminders
- Mail alerts
- $1M in identity theft protection
Another reason to opt for LegalZoom is their offer to change your current agent for free if you’re not entirely satisfied with the service you’re receiving. They’ll also cover any fees in the process.
A year of registered agent services with LegalZoom will cost you $299. With that said, if you use their business formation package, the first year of registered agent services will cost you $249.
Their service might be pricier, but it’s a great investment for those with a bigger budget.
Besides registered agent services, they also offer:
- Business formation
- Incorporation
- Power of attorney
- Trademarking
- Taxation
- Foreign qualification
- Annual reports
- Copyright
- Business registration
- EIN Number
- Residential lease
8. CSC Global
Offering a premium nationwide service, CSC Global are more than deserving of a spot in our guide on the best South Dakota registered agent services. With every purchase, you will get:
- Same-day document scans
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
- Access to SOC-2 facilities
- Electronic delivery of documents
- Annual compliance reminders
One of the things CSC Global are experts in is protecting the personal data of their clients and providing a high level of data security. These features make them an excellent option for larger businesses who have a lot to lose from a privacy breach.
Their yearly fee is $318.
Their South Dakota office is located in Pierre.
Along with registered agent services, you can hire them for:
- Corporate filings
- Digital brand services
- UCC
- Entity management
- Legal management
- Real estate and erecording
9. InCorp
A renowned A+ rated service, InCorp is an ideal amalgamation of affordability and efficiency. They provide their customers with a plethora of features to stay compliant, including:
- Access to their Entity Management System
- Legal notifications
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report filings
Moreover, InCorp are known for their innovative EntityWatch technology, which enables amazing data protection and prevents identity theft.
If you use their multi-year deal, you will pay only $87 annually. Otherwise, their yearly fee is $129.
Their South Dakota office can be found in Sioux Falls.
Furthermore, InCorp offer:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Foreign qualification
- Trademarking
- UCC search
- Articles of amendment
- Copyright
- EIN Number
- DBA Filing
- Apostille service
10. MyCorporation
As our last pick for our guide, we recommend MyCorporation – a nationwide registered agent service that covers all the basics you need to avoid getting in trouble with the state of South Dakota, including:
- Completed filings
- Fast document delivery
- Expert handling of any paperwork
One of their strong suits is their rapid processing speed, which allows you to always meet your deadlines on time.
Your first year of registered agent services with MyCorporation will cost you $120. The fee is increased to $179 for every following year.
Other than registered agent services, you can also use them for:
- Annual reports
- Filings
- Amendment
- Copyright registration services
- Dissolution
How Do I Register a Business in South Dakota?
As promised, here are all the steps required for you to open a business in South Dakota.
Name Your Business
One of the first steps to registering a business is finding the right name for it.
You have a lot of freedom when it comes to choosing your business name, but you also have to comply with a few rules imposed by the state.
One of these rules is ensuring that your business has a unique name that’s not occupied by another business in the country. To help you determine this, you can do a business entity search on the South Dakota Secretary of State website.
You also have to insert a word in the name that indicates what kind of business entity your business has. For instance, corporations need to include “Incorporated”, “Inc.” or another abbreviation.
You can also reserve your name to ensure that nobody else in the state grabs hold of it.
Choose a Business Structure
Along with naming your business, you should also choose its business structure. In South Dakota, the main business structures are:
LLCs and corporations are ideal for people who have a larger budget and place a high value on limited liability – protection of the owner’s assets in case of a lawsuit or claim.
File Articles of Organization
If the option you’re going with is forming an LLC, you’ll need to file articles of organization with the South Dakota state. This document is indispensable in the formation of your business because it contains important information about your business, like your location and registered agent.
The fee for filing articles of organization is $150.
File Articles of Incorporation
Those who have decided to start a corporation will need to file articles of incorporation with the state. This document is similar to articles of organization, but it has additional information about certain aspects of the business that can’t be found in an LLC.
The filing fee for articles of incorporation is $150.
Get All the Necessary Licenses and Permits
To ensure that your business follows every regulation, you’ll need to check to see if you need any additional licenses and permits for your business to operate.
South Dakota doesn’t have a general business license, but there are some licenses you might need to get depending on what industry your business is in.
For instance, if your business includes selling services, you might need to obtain a sales tax license.
To check if you have all the required licenses and permits, you can always do a business license search online.
Get an Employee Identification Number
Last but not least, depending on your business, you might need to obtain an EIN.
Businesses that have hired employees and/or are taxed separately from their owners are required on a state level to get an EIN. For all the other businesses, it’s an optional step.
Even if your business doesn’t require it, there are many benefits to getting an EIN, such as making it easier for you to open a business bank account and do taxes.
You can apply for an EIN on the IRS website. The application is completely free and easy to complete.
FAQs
Where can I do a South Dakota Business Entity Search?
You can do a South Dakota business entity search on the South Dakota Secretary of State website.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in South Dakota?
The cost of starting a business in South Dakota is $150.
Final Thoughts
Finding a good registered agent can be massively beneficial for your business and ensure that you remain compliant with all the state regulations. We hope we gave you some ideas about potential options with our guide on the best South Dakota registered agent services.
If you don’t have any particular demands and you just want the best of the best, then IncFile, ZenBusiness, and Northwest are great options. All of these come with compliance tools like mail forwarding and document scans that will make it easier than ever to meet all the state requirements, at an affordable price.
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