Last Updated on January 30, 2024
The Business Services division of the South Dakota Secretary of State maintains the Business Corporation registry. Along with filing and registering business entities and corporations in the state, it also has a well-maintained record of every detail of every entity that is registered with the Secretary of State of South Dakota. The database has information regarding the following types of corporations in the state:
- Corporations
- Limited Liability Companies
- Limited Companies
- Limited Partnerships
- Limited Liability Partnerships
How To Do A South Dakota Business Entity Search
The online business entity search tool provided by the Secretary of State of South Dakota lets you search the database for any business entities incorporated in South Dakota.
Also see: How to form an LLC in South Dakota
If you are into the same, here is a detailed guideline for the same:
First of all, to begin your search, you need to know at least one of the following:
- Corporate Name
- Corporate Identity
- Entity Details
- Registered Agent
Ready to get a clearer picture of the search process?
Quick Links
Search by Business Name
Step 1 – Visit the South Dakota Secretary of State website, Business Information Search page, to begin searching registered entities in South Dakota. Each entity must have a name that is not similar to other registered entities in the state. If you are starting a new entity, you can use this page to search to see if your desired business name is available. The search page looks similar to the screenshot below.
Step 2 – A search can be done by choosing “Starts With” or “Contains.” The “Starts WIth” option will be the most restrictive. In this example, we will look for entities that start with “Clock Tower.”
Step 3 – Click on search, and the result page with a list of business entities given along with their brief details like ID, status, type, and standing will appear as shown in the screenshot below.
Step 4 – By clicking on a small business entity, more details are available such as:
- Business ID
- Entity Name
- Status (Active, Dissolved, etc.)
- State of Formation
- Term of Duration
- Principal Office Address
- Initial Filing Date
- Registered Agent Information
Additionally, on this page, some documents, such as the Articles of Incorporation (Corporation), Articles of Organization (Limited Liability Company), and more, can be downloaded. For a small fee, a Certificate of Good Standing can be ordered.
Search by Business ID
If you have the Business ID number the Secretary of State assigned, you can search for a business entity.
Business Licenses
The business name registration is different from a business license in South Dakota. The South Dakota Department of Revenue, Business Tax Division has more information regarding South Dakota business licenses.
Also see: How to do a South Dakota UCC search
Information on SOS South Dakota (SD)
Office :
The Secretary of State of South Dakota is an elected constitutional officer in the US state of South Dakota. It is an executive position that looks after the various matters of the state.
The current Secretary of State of South Dakota is Steve Barnett.
Functionalities :
The Secretary of State of South Dakota maintains the public documents. He also registers state lobbyists and administers rules and policies to corporations. The various divisions of the state that the Secretary of State of South Dakota serves are as follows:
- Business Services Division
- Administrative Division
- Elections Division
Secretary of State Contact Information
215 E. Prospect Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
605.773.4845
corpinfo@state.sd.us
State Business Name Search Instructions
How much does it cost to do a business search in South Dakota?
There is no cost to search for businesses using the South Dakota business search database.