Plain and short · South Dakota
3 Best LLC Services in South Dakota (2026) and What South Dakota Requires
The short version
- Filing fee
- $150, one time
- Afterward
- $55 yearly
- Registered agent
- Required: yes
- Ranked first
- South Dakota Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing then SD Registered Agent.org
Ranked in South Dakota
Why this order? The checks are explained here.1. South Dakota Registered Agent.co: best for staying local
Year one $199. Later years $99
South Dakota Registered Agent.co comes first because $199 forms the LLC, and the agent renews at $99.
It costs less than Mainstay Filing over three years. Cost carries the most weight.
The price leaves out the annual report.
Includes
- The LLC, filed
- Year-one agent
Good
- Formation fee $199
- $99 a year from year two
- The first agent year is included
Against
- Leaves the annual report on your desk
- EIN not included ($99)
2. Mainstay Filing: best for not filing the annual report
$199 yearly ($349 due at signup, state fee included)
Mainstay Filing ranks second. For $199 a year it handles formation, the registered agent and the annual report.
South Dakota Registered Agent.co is $200 less over three years. That decides the order.
You do not file the annual report. Only the state's $55 is added.
Includes
- LLC formation, filed
- Registered agent all year
- Annual report filed for you
- EIN application filed
- State fees at cost
Good
- A flat $199 a year
- EIN handled
- Renews at $199
Against
- $100 a year above South Dakota Registered Agent.co after year one
3. SD Registered Agent.org: best for single-state companies
Year one $199. Later years $99
Third place: SD Registered Agent.org, since $199 forms the LLC, and the agent renews at $99.
The price leaves out the annual report.
It charges what South Dakota Registered Agent.co charges.
Includes
- The LLC, filed
- Year-one agent
Good
- $99 a year from year two
- Formation fee $199
- The first agent year is included
Against
- Leaves the annual report on your desk
- EIN not included ($99)
Side by side
| # | Company | Year one | After year one | Three years | Includes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | The LLC, filed; Year-one agent | Visit South Dakota Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | LLC formation, filed; registered agent all year; annual report filed for you | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | SD Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | The LLC, filed; Year-one agent | Visit SD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Key questions
What does an LLC cost to form here?
The state charges $150. A service adds $199 in year one.
Over three years the state collects $260, filing included. from sdlegislature.gov, October 2026, kept short
Which form, and where?
You submit one filing, the Articles of Organization, to the South Dakota Secretary of State.
Expect: Paper 1 to 3 business days; online processed immediately. from sdlegislature.gov, October 2026, kept short
Must the LLC name a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A commercial registered agent listed with the state, a noncommercial agent (an individual or entity with a South Dakota address), or the title of an office in the company.
from sdlegislature.gov, October 2026, kept short
What comes after formation?
The annual report comes each year and costs $55. In the state's words the filing is due due during the entity's anniversary month. Note it early.
Miss the date and pay $50 more.
from sdlegislature.gov, October 2026, kept short
Is a service required?
A service is optional. State fees alone are $260 over three years.
A service adds $397 to $597 over three years. With Mainstay Filing the reports are included.
Why this order?
South Dakota Registered Agent.co scores best on three-year cost, which is 38% of the score.
Two checks carry most of the weight: three-year cost (38%) and work included (27%).
Take South Dakota Registered Agent.co and the three-year bill is $397, $200 less than with Mainstay Filing.
South Dakota: forming an LLC
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| LLC filing fee | $150 | from sdlegislature.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Registered agent | Required: yes | from sdlegislature.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Annual report | $55 every year | from sdlegislature.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Three-year state total | $260 | The rows above, added |
Questions
How long does the state take?
Paper 1 to 3 business days; online processed immediately.
Who files the EIN application?
Add-on prices for the EIN application: $99 from South Dakota Registered Agent.co, $99 from SD Registered Agent.org. Mainstay Filing includes it.
Is there a late fee?
A late report costs $50 more.
What are the three-year totals?
South Dakota Registered Agent.co is $397, while Mainstay Filing is $597, while SD Registered Agent.org is $397, with state fees on top.
Where do the figures come from?
State fees come from South Dakota's official documents. Service prices come from each company's price page. Both are dated here.
Which LLC service should I use in South Dakota?
Put South Dakota Registered Agent.co first, and Mainstay Filing and SD Registered Agent.org after.
References
- Entry for South Dakota Secretary of State: read at sdsos.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for South Dakota Secretary of State: read at sosenterprise.sd.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for South Dakota yearly filing: Annual: read at sdlegislature.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for South Dakota report due date: read at sdlegislature.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for SDCL 47-34A-203: read at sdlegislature.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for South Dakota formation fee: Filing: read at sdsos.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for South Dakota formation fee: Filing: read at sdlegislature.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for South Dakota registered agent statute: read at sdlegislature.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Processing, official source: read at sdsos.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- South Dakota Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing South Dakota service page, read November 13, 2026
- SD Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026