State filing fee
$150
sdlegislature.gov (read October 2026)
LLC cost guide · South Dakota
South Dakota LLC Fees and Costs (2026): the Official Numbers and the 3 Best LLC Services
Our 2026 ranking for setting up an LLC in South Dakota reads Mainstay Filing ($199), South Dakota Registered Agent.co ($199) and SD Registered Agent.org ($199). On three-year state cost, South Dakota is number 31st of 50. The pieces: $150 to file, and $55 every year for the annual report.
South Dakota in figures
Annual report
$55 / yr
Due date, in the state's own words: due during the entity's anniversary month. sdlegislature.gov (read October 2026)
Penalty for filing late
$50
sdlegislature.gov (read October 2026)
State charges over 3 years
$260
Formation plus two years of reports
Ranked services for South Dakota
Weights are listed on the method page. Three-year fees and coverage count for the most.
1. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who would like the annual report filed by someone else
Year 1 $199; later years $199; state fee separate
Mainstay Filing ranks number one. The $199 price includes formation, a registered agent and the annual report, so nothing else is billed by the provider.
Compared with South Dakota Registered Agent.co, the three-year bill is $200 larger, and more filings are covered for it.
Mainstay Filing sends in the annual report; South Dakota's $55 is passed through at cost.
What the price takes in
- Files the formation papers for you
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Prepares and files the annual report
- Takes care of the EIN application
- You pay the state fee as set
In its favor
- One price per year, $199, with the annual report included
- $199 at renewal, with no increase
- The EIN filing carries no extra fee
Against it
- $100 more each year from year 2
2. South Dakota Registered Agent.co: best for low formation costs
$199 for formation; $99 for later years
South Dakota Registered Agent.co ranks number 2. A formation price of $199 above the state fee, then $99 for the agent from year 2.
The price does not include the annual report.
What the price takes in
- Handles the formation paperwork
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- Agent covered in year 1
- Then $99 yearly
- $199 above the state fee
Against it
- The annual report is outside the price
- The EIN application costs $99 more
3. SD Registered Agent.org: best for forming close to home
$199 for formation; $99 for later years
SD Registered Agent.org ranks number 3. A formation price of $199 above the state fee, then $99 for the agent from year 2.
The price does not include the annual report.
The prices are the same as South Dakota Registered Agent.co's.
What the price takes in
- Handles the formation paperwork
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- Then $99 yearly
- $199 above the state fee
- Agent covered in year 1
Against it
- The annual report is outside the price
- The EIN application costs $99 more
South Dakota ranking in one table
| No. | Provider | First year | Later years | Provider fees over 3 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | South Dakota Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit South Dakota Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | SD Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit SD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
We read each company's price page on November 13, 2026. The state's $150 is left out of the numbers above.
South Dakota LLC cost calculator
Choose a number of years and a provider. The state part follows the official fee schedule: $150 to form, then the annual report from year 2.
South Dakota and the states around it in the ranking
| Place | State | Three-year state fees |
|---|---|---|
| 29th | Vermont | $245 |
| 30th | New Jersey | $250 |
| 31st | South Dakota | $260 |
| 32nd | Connecticut | $280 |
| 33rd | Illinois | $300 |
For the other states, see LLC costs by state.
The South Dakota fee for forming an LLC
You pay $150 and file the Articles of Organization with the South Dakota Secretary of State. Each provider below adds this fee at cost. Plan for Paper 1 to 3 business days; online processed immediately.
Annual report: what it costs and when it is due
You must file the annual report every year and pay $55, due during the entity's anniversary month. If you are late, the state adds $50.
Why the first pick is first
In South Dakota, Mainstay Filing beat South Dakota Registered Agent.co on paperwork inside the price (28%).
Having the annual report filed within the price mattered more than the smaller three-year bill at South Dakota Registered Agent.co.
Frequently asked questions
How much does South Dakota charge to form an LLC?
South Dakota charges $150 to file. A provider adds $199.
What will filing the annual report cost in South Dakota?
It costs $55 and is due every year, due during the entity's anniversary month. A late filing draws $50.
Where does South Dakota stand on LLC costs?
South Dakota is number 31st of 50 on three-year state fees, at $260. The lowest total takes number 1.
How long does the state take to process a new LLC?
The state says to expect Paper 1 to 3 business days; online processed immediately.
Does South Dakota require a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which LLC service would you choose?
Put Mainstay Filing first (it charges $199 per year and does three jobs for it: the filing, the registered agent and the annual report), followed by South Dakota Registered Agent.co and SD Registered Agent.org.
Where these facts come from
- Each figure under South Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services / follows what sdsos.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in August 2026.
- Each figure under South Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services / follows what sosenterprise.sd.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in August 2026.
- Each figure under South Dakota yearly filing: Annual report: fee and follows what sdlegislature.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under South Dakota report due date follows what sdlegislature.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in August 2026.
- Each figure under SDCL 47-34A-203 follows what sdlegislature.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in August 2026.
- Each figure under South Dakota formation fee: Filing fee, official source follows what sdsos.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under South Dakota formation fee: Filing fee, official source follows what sdlegislature.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under South Dakota registered agent statute follows what sdlegislature.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under Vermont Secretary of State fee schedule follows what sos.vermont.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under Vermont formation fee: Filing fee, official source follows what legislature.vermont.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under New Jersey DORES, Getting Registered follows what nj.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under New Jersey formation fee: Filing fee, official source follows what pub.njleg.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services follows what njportal.com states, as that page read when we opened it in August 2026.
- Each figure under New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services follows what njportal.com states, as that page read when we opened it in August 2026.
- Each figure under Conn follows what cga.ct.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in August 2026.
- Each figure under Connecticut formation fee: Filing fee, official source follows what business.ct.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under Connecticut formation fee: Filing fee, official source follows what business.ct.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services Division follows what business.ct.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in August 2026.
- Each figure under Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services Division follows what business.ct.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in August 2026.
- Each figure under Connecticut yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source follows what business.ct.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under 805 ILCS 180/5-5 follows what ilga.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in August 2026.
- Each figure under Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, official source follows what ilga.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, official source follows what ilsos.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- Each figure under Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services follows what ilsos.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in August 2026.
- Each figure under Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services follows what ilsos.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in August 2026.
- Each figure under Processing, official source follows what sdsos.gov states, as that page read when we opened it in October 2026.
- South Dakota service page at Mainstay Filing, from the company website, read November 13, 2026
- Pricing page at South Dakota Registered Agent.co, from the company website, read November 13, 2026
- Pricing page at SD Registered Agent.org, from the company website, read November 13, 2026