South Dakota LLC Registered Agent

South Dakota LLC Registered Agent
LLC Information
Registered Agent

These are persons or entities that agree to accept service of process and official mailings on behalf of your South Dakota LLC.


When you are sued against, Service of Process or legal papers will be sent to your Registered Agent for LLC. The state may also send reminders and notices to your LLC via the Registered Agent.

A South Dakota Registered Agent is required to provide a normal business hours (9-5) M- F address.

You can have the address of someone at the law firm on records and designate this person as a registered agent if you wish; other states allow P, O. Box for LLC Registered Agents but not South Dakota No PO Box Addresses.

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Do You Need a Registered Agent in South Dakota?

South Dakota requires all business entities to have a Registered Agent when forming an LLC. Also, keep in mind that a Registered Agent has to stay on file with the state as long as you have an LLC.

Why Do You Need a Registered Agent in South Dakota?

A Registered Agent handles the service of process when your company is sued and will see to it that the LLC receives proof of delivery for legal documents.

Thus, all companies such as corporations and LLCs are obligated to have a Registered Agent on file with the state.

Or the Registered Agent of your LLC if you want to get someone involved in legal stuff. South Dakota requires an LLC to name a Registered Agent for each one so that courtroom files can be accurately served and tracked.

💡 Tip:

Choosing a professional Registered Agent Service can help keep your address private and off public records.

Who can serve as my South Dakota Registered Agent?

South Dakota Registered Agent: You have 3 options for who your registered agent will be.

  • You
  • A friend or family member.
  • South Dakota Registered Agent Service

While it may be cheaper to act as your Registered Agent, doing so does have its drawbacks.

What are the risks?

If you do decide to act as your own South Dakota Registered Agent, there are many pitfalls you may encounter such as:

  • Missing vital state notifications
  • Subject to administrative dissolution
  • Service of Process (Loose Legal Cannon)

The problem is worse if you:

  • Move without updating your residential address with the state
  • You often travel or are away from home for many hours
  • No address you can trust
  • Neglect to observe your mail daily
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Not posting an important notice from the state

The Secretary of State of South Dakota or other agencies in the state are going to need a fast way to send important notices to your business.

These notices will often require certain actions by your LLC on specific deadlines. Not meeting these deadlines could result in costly penalties and fees.

Administrative Dissolution

If your LLC is dissolved by the South Dakota Secretary of State, this will lead to numerous consequences.

The state does not peek at your LLC every day, but if it finds that you are overdue for renewal and unable to reach you due to an incorrect address listed on the record.

Default Judgment

The process server will make several attempts of service to your business, in case it involves an LLC lawsuit.

This indicates that the assumption from which we were referring earlier — also known as piercing of the corporate veil, it gives rise to an expectation that doing so is easier than previously believed — applies in reverse and can lead someone who has brought litigation against your LLC on his behalf defenselessly. Typically, your LLC gets slapped with a default judgment as well.

The person you are suing with your LLC does not need to defend itself in the presence of yourself. This generally ends in a summary judgment against you as well as your LLC.

Contempt of Court

If you have an LLC that is involved in a lawsuit, expect to receive a subpoena. Requesting your testimony or records.

And if you fail to reply, you can be held in contempt of court. This approach can result in fees or the issuance of a bench warrant, through which the sheriff gets your data IOR makes you go to court.

📝 Note:

Your Registered Agent's information is part of the public record, which means your address could appear on multiple websites.

Do YOU need to be your Registered Agent?

In South Dakota, you are allowed to be your Registered Agent. When there are risks, they tend to be rare and you should pay for savings with a bit more time penning the index directly.

However, there are benefits to a professional Registered Agent Service as well, such as keeping your home address private.

South Dakota Registered Agent Information is Public

You can just as easily appoint a friend or family member to be the Registered Agent of your LLC. However, that means the public can soon stroll up to your front door.

The information you provide in your Articles of Organization, including the Registered Agent address will be held on file with the South Dakota Secretary of State and available to anyone that wants it.

Listing your address as the LLCs Registered Agent Address will make it public and can be potentially to multiple websites.

Once this info pops up on another site – it propagates, by now your address can be slammed into Google.

We can assist in hiding your address if you do not wish for it to be publicly known.

Exclusive Offer

🔔 Special Offer!

Set up your LLC with Northwest Registered Agent for $39+ state fees and get a free year of Registered Agent service.

(Discover why Northwest is a top choice check out our Northwest Registered Agent review)

Protect Our Address from Public Records

While in many cases business owners throughout South Dakota work from their homes, remember that the address of your Registered Agent (if you use a service) will be visible on public records via the address listed on LLC Articles of Organization.

Hire a South Dakota Registered Agent Service to keep away your residential address Your address will not necessarily appear on the public record for your Articles of Organization (just theirs, if they are available.

Which is the Best South Dakota Registered Agent?

Which South Dakota Registered Agent is best for your business depends on a few different factors.

You:

If you meet all of the following requirements to be your Registered Agent in South Dakota.

  • You live in South Dakota
  • You use a South Dakota physical address
  • Just remember, your address will be displayed on public records.

Why choose this? The same is a good option to save some money as you do not have to pay for Registered Agent Service.

Friend or Family:

Anyone Can Be Your South Dakota Registered Agent if you are:

  • They live in South Dakota
  • They are relatively new (not always) and have an address on a street in South Dakota.
  • They must also be willing to disclose their address on public records.

Why choose this? That is a great thing to take advantage of if you do not live in South Dakota and want to save some money by skipping the Registered Agent Service hiring process.

South Dakota Resident Agent Service:

The price of membership with such services tends to fall in the $100-$300/year range. They will then forward the mail they receive to you or, in some cases (if digital), upload it directly to an online account.

Why choose this option? It's a good choice if you:

  • Don't live in South Dakota
  • No Friend Or Family Whose Address You Can Use
  • Unavailability for normal business hours mail delivery
  • Do Not Want Your Address Listed in the Articles of Organization

💡 Tip:

Choosing a Registered Agent Service not only ensures compliance but also helps you maintain privacy and avoid legal complications.

South Dakota Registered Agent FAQs

How much does a Registered Agent cost in South Dakota?

If you or a friend or family member acts as your Registered Agent, there is no associated cost. However, if you prefer to hire a Registered Agent Service, expect to pay between $100 and $300 per year.

Can a family member be a Registered Agent in South Dakota?

Yes, a family member can serve as your Registered Agent in South Dakota, provided they meet the legal criteria. This includes having a physical address in South Dakota (PO Boxes are not allowed) and being available at that address during regular business hours.

What is the best Registered Agent Service in South Dakota?

After reviewing various options, we recommend the following Registered Agent Services in South Dakota:


  • Northwest Registered Agent - Our top choice for privacy.
  • ZenBusiness
  • MyCompanyWorks
  • Harbor Compliance
  • IncFile
  • Rocket Lawyer
  • LegalZoom

For a detailed comparison, check out our guide on the Best Registered Agent Services in South Dakota. If you’re looking to save money, you can also serve as the Registered Agent for your South Dakota LLC.