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ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
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Northwest Registered Agent
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The Best South Dakota Registered Agent Services
Compare Top Registered Agent Services
What Is a Registered Agent in South Dakota?
A registered agent is a representative or business that handles legal documents on behalf of your corporation. To qualify as a registered agent in South Dakota, you must maintain a physical address within the state and be on-site to sign during regular business hours.
Furthermore, these agents are required to create a limited liability company (LLC). You’ll need a registered agent before you can complete the Articles of Organization from the South Dakota Secretary of State, which is required to establish your organization. Once you’ve appointed your registered agent, you can file the document online and in person or by mail for a filing fee of $150.
South Dakota Registered Agent Requirements
Anyone over the age of 18 living in South Dakota can be a registered agent for your business. The registered agent must be able to sign for documents during typical business hours. It’s also possible to find registered agents in South Dakota who are also referred to by a number of names, including a commercial registered agent or noncommercial registered agent.
South Dakota also has a unique rule that your company must affirm that the registered agent you’ve appointed has consented to serve, rather than them consenting in writing.
While you are legally able to serve as your own registered agent in South Dakota if you meet the other state requirements, it’s not possible to make your company its own registered agent. For the sake of ease and overall quality, many organizations choose to hire a registered agent service rather than appoint an individual.
Featured Partners
1
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
2
Tailor Brands
$0 + state fee
Varies by State & Package
3
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
How To Choose a South Dakota Registered Agent Service
You’ll need a registered agent if you want to operate an LLC in South Dakota. While an attorney or CPA can act as your registered agent, countless people prefer professional registered agent services because they specialize in this area and provide added conveniences.
Price
A registered agent service will usually charge a fee ranging from $90 to $596 that covers one year of service. Some registered agent services also offer discounts of up to 33% if you prepay for multiple years upfront. Extras such as mail forwarding and document scanning may come at an additional cost.
When looking for a registered agent service in South Dakota, pay attention to the cost of the service and any additional features or benefits that come with it. Is it all-inclusive? Does the price increase after the initial term, or will it renew at the same cost?
Reputation
When selecting a registered agent service in South Dakota, examine online reviews and confirm if the company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Ensure you’re working with a reputable company that manages your documents and correspondence with care.
Features and Benefits
A registered agent service should provide added features and benefits that simplify business operations. Here are some to consider.
- Online account access: An efficient service will offer 24/7 access to your account, allowing you to view and download documents anytime.
- Scanning and forwarding: Many services will scan and forward documents within one business day, saving time, notably if you’re out of state.
- Online LLC formation: Some LLC services will guide you in forming your LLC online, offering a convenient one-stop solution.
Methodology
To identify the best registered agent services, we researched more than 15 providers and limited our focus to the 10 leading providers. We examined these across six primary categories for a total of 17 different metrics. The criteria were then weighted to favor features that are most important to small businesses.
Here are the metrics we used to assess the top registered agent services:
Pricing
We examined both the initial and renewal prices for registered agent services, along with any supplementary or unforeseen fees, including unexpected extras. We also considered any guarantees and extra perks. Pricing represents 20% of the final score.
General Features
Thirty percent of our review methodology investigated how providers organize documents, communicate the arrival of new correspondence and whether they inform you about important registration renewal deadlines and urgent documents.
Mobile App
Modern business often extends beyond a single office location. Many entrepreneurs depend on mobile technology to maintain smooth operations. We assessed whether services provide a mobile app, although this feature only represents 5% of the score because it does not affect the core services provided by the agent.
Service and Support
In contrast to mobile accessibility, we’ve found that being able to access live help at any time is a crucial part of a premium service. We looked into the customer support provided by each service, rating them on the variety of contact methods, the accessibility of 24/7 support and the presence of a self-help knowledge base. These elements account for 15% of a provider’s total score.
Ratings and Reviews
To gain an understanding of how users internationally regard each provider, we analyzed third-party user reviews and ratings. We considered the average rating for each provider and the volume of reviews they gathered. These ratings represent 10% of the total score.
Expert Score
Relying on our direct experience, we evaluated various metrics such as user-friendliness, feature quality and popularity to determine the best services. This expert review accounts for the remaining 20% of the total rating.
State Registered Agent Services Guides
Belle Wong, J.D., Jeff White, Katherine Haan and Natalie Cusson also contributed to this article.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need a registered agent for a South Dakota LLC?
In South Dakota, your business needs a registered agent. A registered agent is in charge of receiving and forwarding crucial legal documents on behalf of your business. These documents sometimes include service of process notices, tax forms and annual report notices.
Can I use myself as a registered agent in South Dakota?
Yes, you are allowed to serve as your own registered agent in South Dakota, as long as you maintain a physical address there. However, thoroughly think about whether you want to undertake this responsibility.
Know that you’ll be handling receiving crucial legal documents for your business. If you are frequently out, this role may not be fitting for you. And, receiving legal papers at your business could be awkward in front of staff and customers.
What should I do if my registered agent moves?
If your registered agent moves, they will typically submit a statement of change with the office where the LLC was originally filed. You may need to sign a form to authorize this change.
Can a registered agent in South Dakota have a virtual address?
Registered agents are required to possess a physical address capable for receiving mail during standard business hours.
