Search and verify licenses
  1. Home
  2. South Dakota License Lookup
  3. South Dakota Business License
  4. South Dakota Secretary of State
South Dakota Secretary of State

South Dakota Secretary of State

The South Dakota Secretary of State (SOS) is a qualified official in charge of state administration tasks like licensing and business registration. The SOS is in charge of ensuring the security and integrity of the state's elections, as well as acting as the chief election authority. The office supervises voter registration, monitors the conduct of elections, and certifies election results.  

Furthermore, to make residents' lives easier, the SOS has developed the South Dakota Secretary of State Business Search tool, which allows them to verify that their company is legally registered with the state and in good standing. The Business Search feature can provide information on a company's legal status, registered agents, and other vital information.

The South Dakota Secretary of State business search is open to the public and free of charge. To conduct a lookup, go to the SOS website, fill out the required fields, and you will be granted access to the available data.

Now let’s get acquainted with the step-by-step guide on how to run a business search and what info you will need during this process. 

First of all, you should enter the website and head to the "Business Services" tab at the top of the menu. This will enable you to get access to various company-related services offered by the Secretary of State's office.

Then, you should choose "Search Business Database." You can look for details on companies that have registered with the Secretary of State's office. 

Here, you will have several options to choose from. You can run the lookup by entity name, registered agent name, or filing number. Once you have selected how you want to run a lookup, you will be asked to fill in the required fields and select “submit”. That’s it. Now, you are granted access to public data. 

To search, you must have at least one of these pieces of information to later enter into the website:  

  • Entity name

  • Registered Agent Name

  • Filing Number  

The SOS lookup tool allows you to find information about enterprises, such as corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), partnerships, and sole proprietorships. That is, you can find information on any company that is legally registered in South Dakota.

 

The outcome of the search will provide you with the following data:  

  • Name of the entity 

  • Name and contact information for the registered agent 

  • The legal status of a company (e.g., active, inactive, dissolved) 

  • Incorporation or registration date 

  • Type of entity (e.g., corporation, LLC, partnership) 

  • Identification number for a company (e.g., Secretary of State filing number, federal tax ID number) 

  • Names and addresses of officers and directors (for corporations)

  • Names and addresses of members and managers (for LLCs)  

The data will therefore vary based on the type of information you enter. If you enter "ABC Corporation," for instance, you will see the name, registered agent, date of incorporation, business entity type, and status of the entity among the search results.  

If you search for an LLC by name, the results may include the entity's name, registered agent, date of registration, business entity type, and status. It may also display the members' and managers' names and addresses.  

Finally, the search by filing number will grant you access to all of the information on file for that specific entity, such as:  

  • entity name

  • registered agent

  • date of incorporation or registration, etc. 

The next step is to figure out what the results mean. When you receive the results, you are more likely to see the company's status as "active," "inactive," and so on.  

If the company status is "active," it means that the corporate entity is in good standing with the Secretary of State's office. The "inactive" status indicates that the company is no longer active but has not been dissolved or withdrawn. 

The status "dissolved" or "name reservation" may also appear. The latter indicates that the company has reserved the name but has yet to file its articles of incorporation or registration.

South Dakota’s SOS also enables users to benefit from features such as registered agent search, UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) search, and Business Name Availability Search.

UCC search makes it possible to look for filings made under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), such as documents related to secured transactions like loans or leases, and it can offer important details about the financial background of a specific company. 

The availability of business names is another issue. With its search option, you may look up South Dakotan company names that are available. Thus, you may reserve a name for your new legal entity. When launching a new company and searching for a distinctive and accessible business name, this can be helpful.

How Much Does a Business License Cost in South Dakota?

There is no set fee for a business license in South Dakota, as the state does not require a general permit. Yet, you may need additional permits based on company type, location, etc.

However, if we try to give an estimated cost, it would normally range from $20 to $400. So, if your company only needs a sales tax license, you are good to go with $20. Yet, if you need professional permits like contractors, lawyers, etc, it may cost hundreds of dollars. 

Contact Information

You can reach out to the SD SOS via paying a visit, calling, or writing an email. Below you can find available contact info.  

South Dakota Secretary of State's office

500 East Capitol Avenue in Pierre

South Dakota 57501. 

Tel: 605-773-3537 

Fax: 605-773-6580 

Email: [email protected] 

To Sum Up…  

South Dakota’s Secretary of State is in charge of business registration, elections, and so on. Moreover, its website is also a good tool for establishing a company or working with one. It allows you to get info about registered agents, UCC filings as well as if the company is legal. So, if you are launching a company, you can use the name search tool to check if the name you want is available or not.  

Amalik B

Amalik B

Amalik is a junior content writer. She has graduated from YSU as a pedagogy philologist of the French language. During a year of her experience as a content writer, Amalik has written content for several websites and took part in some social media campaigns. Since 2017, she has been a volunteer in PAVU being an interpreter in various events. Nowadays she is also volunteering in Children of Regions, and in the frames of some projects teaches English and French.

Table of contents

License Lookup © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

DISCLAIMER: LicenseLookup.org is not a "consumer reporting agency" per FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This website does not provide "consumer reports" under the FCRA. LicenseLookup.org unambiguously prohibits the user of search results and information contained within (1) to discriminate against any consumer, (2) for the purposes of decision making on consumer’s eligibility for insurance or personal credit, housing, employment, or a government license or benefit; or (3) otherwise to impact a consumer’s financial or economic status or standing.

Information obtained on our website is not verified and/or may not be up to date, even though we do our best to keep it fresh. We do not guarantee, verify or create this information. Availability and/or accuracy of this information depends on the public sources that our platform utilizes. By using our services you agree to our FCRA disclaimer, terms or service and privacy policy. You may not use our services or information contained within for an unlawful purposes (stalking, harassing, investigating public officials or celebrities, etc.). Violators may be subject to criminal and civil litigation and penalties.