How to Find the Best Registered Agent in South Dakota

The South Dakota Secretary of State requires a business to appoint a registered so that they know for sure that someone is physically available to receive legal notices and important documents that include:

• Articles of Organization – the document an LLC submits upon formation
• Articles of Incorporation – the formation documents for a corporation in South Dakota
• Annual report fee – due by November 15
• Certificate of Good Standing – a document required to open new business bank accounts
• South Dakota franchise tax – due within 15 days following the income tax return is due

You can appoint anyone who meets the South Dakota registered agent requirements for free, including:

• Trusted friend
• Family member
• Employee

Depending on the services required, a commercial registered agent service in South Dakota will cost a company between $50 and $500.

Article 3 of the South Dakota Articles of Organization form will ask you to provide resident agent information, including:

• Registered agent name
• Registered agent address
• Registered agent mailing address
• Registered agent email address

The statement of resignation of registered agent form asks for specific information.

• Business name and ID
• Name of registered agent
• Name of the person to send the resignation notice to
• Statement of resignation
• Date
• Name, title, signature

• It shields your liability protection

An LLC in South Dakota must submit the annual report and other dues in a timely manner to remain in good standing and keep liability protection in the state.

Professional registered agent services provide business owners access to a compliance calendar that helps them track critical due dates. An agent will assist in filing the proper documents and fees.

• A personal address remains out of the public record

A small business owner in South Dakota may work from a home address or private office. Appointing themselves as the registered agent puts their personal address at risk of becoming public records.

Anyone at any time can use the South Dakota Secretary of State website to search for a business address using the name, business ID, or keyword.

Commercial registered agent services are physically present in South Dakota, allowing you to use the service’s address to list in the Secretary of State database.

• It provides a business owner with peace of mind

South Dakota process servers can come to a business office without notifying the owner first.

The appointment of an outside registered agent gives a business owner the peace of mind that a process server won’t just show up to serve legal documents in front of customers.

• Your work schedule remains flexible

The Model Registered Agents Act requires that all registered agents be available during normal business hours to accept official correspondence from the Secretary of State, law firms, and the South Dakota Department of Revenue.

If you appoint yourself as your own registered agent, you must be available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 am.

A commercial registered agent service has residents available during those required times, so you can leave the office when you want.

• You get online access to the Certificate of Good Standing

In South Dakota, financial institutions will request that you show proof of good standing before allowing you to open a business bank account.

Professional registered agent services give you access to the Certificate of Good Standing and other formation documents when needed rather than when government offices are open.

• You can quickly expand into different states

Anytime you expand an LLC into other states, you are required to appoint a registered agent before the formation process.

If you have one elected already, you can begin the foreign LLC process immediately, and it remains straightforward.