South Dakota Business Entity Search

A South Dakota business entity search is done in the Business Information Search, a free tool run by the South Dakota Secretary of State. You can find a company by name or by its business ID, see whether it is active and check when its next annual report is due. Viewing and printing a record costs nothing. This guide covers the search, what the results mean and how to form an LLC in South Dakota.

How to search South Dakota business records

1. Go to the Business Information Search on the Secretary of State Business Services site.
2. Choose Search Name to look up a company by name, or Business ID if you have its state number.
3. For a name search, pick Starts With or Contains. Contains is better when you only know part of the name.
4. Tick Active Entities Only if you want to hide old and closed records. Leave it clear when you are checking history.
5. Click Search and open the business you want.

The tool does not have a separate field for a registered agent or an officer. To find who runs a company, open its record and read the agent and the latest annual report. If you need every record at once, the office sells a download of the full business database for a fee. The Business Services division page links to all of these tools.

What a South Dakota business record shows

A record lists the legal name, business ID, entity type, the date it was filed, the registered agent and the principal office. It shows the current status and the filing history. It also shows when the next annual report is due, which helps owners avoid late fees.

• Active means the entity exists and its reports are current.
• Delinquent means a report is past due. The business can still catch up, but a $50 late fee is added to each overdue report.
• Dissolved or Revoked means the state has ended the entity's right to operate, often after reports went unfiled. The owner must go through reinstatement to return to good standing.

Check if a business name is available

The Secretary of State has an online name availability check in the Business Services system. Run your idea there and also search the Business Information Search with Contains to catch close matches. Final approval comes when the office reviews your filing.

To hold a name before you file, submit a reservation of name. The state fee is $25. A reservation keeps the name for you while you prepare, but it does not form the company.

Order a certificate of good standing

South Dakota issues a Certificate of Good Standing, also called a Certificate of Existence. Owners request it through the Business Services system. The official fee schedule lists these state charges:

Paper filings carry a $15 processing charge for any document that could have been filed online. That is why most paper prices are higher.

How to form an LLC in South Dakota

1. Choose a name that is free and that ends with an LLC term such as Limited Liability Company or LLC.
2. Pick a registered agent with a physical address in South Dakota.
3. File Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $150 online or $165 on paper. The LLC forms page has the paper version.
4. Write an operating agreement and keep it with your records.
5. Get an EIN and register with the South Dakota Department of Revenue if you will collect sales tax.

Annual report. Every South Dakota LLC files an annual report with the Secretary of State. The search record shows the due date. You can file online by card or mail a paper report with the $15 paper charge added. The current report fee is on the official fee schedule. File through the annual report page. A late report adds $50, and a long gap can lead to administrative dissolution.

Need help with the bigger picture? Read how to start a business or draft your plan with our business plan template.

Common problems with a South Dakota business search

• No results. Clear the Active Entities Only box and switch to Contains. Drop LLC, Inc. and punctuation from your search.
• Trade name, not legal name. In South Dakota, a DBA is filed with the Secretary of State through the Business Services site, not with a county. If the name on a storefront does not appear as an entity, it may be a DBA owned by a company or a person with a different legal name.
• Delinquent status. Ask the owner to file the missing report. If the business shows as dissolved or revoked, it needs to reinstate before it is back in good standing.
• Company formed in another state. It appears only if it registered to do business in South Dakota. Check its home state as well through our all states business entity search hub.