South Dakota is a haven for businesses with financial stability at the top of their priorities, with their ever-evolving economic views. But, how do you begin making your business dreams a reality?
To help you delegate the first crucial steps of starting your business, we have put together a guide to take you through the process of registering your South Dakota business name.
We cover essential preparation steps, registration policies and procedures, the benefits of doing business in your state and how to check your desired business name is available for you to use!
Generate Business Name Ideas
Prepare For Your South Dakota Business Name Search
Before starting your South Dakota business name search, it is a great idea to prepare yourself and your ideas. Some ways you can prepare;
- Familiarize yourself with the state of South Dakota – get to know landmarks and popular locations with potential customers.
- Don’t be afraid to make it personal – if you want to have your name combined with your business name, give it a go!
- Use a thesaurus to make sure your word choices are exciting.
Once you have thought of unique keywords, the next step is to put them into our Business Name Generator! Here, you will be able to receive fast results that you can refine with our filters.
How To Search Available Names In South Dakota
To find an available business name in South Dakota, you need to visit the Division of Business Services on the South Dakota Secretary of State website.
Select the ‘Business Name Availability Search‘ to start this process.
You can enter the business name you would like to use, and the exact results contained within the database will be retrieved. To add an extra step of certainty to your search, check abbreviations and variations that could be used too.
Please note that this search is for preliminary measures, and name availability will be officially reviewed again once you register.
How to Register Your Business Name In South Dakota
It wouldn’t make sense to have a domain different from your business name, so check if there is a domain available in that same name before registering your business name.
To do this quickly, you can use our instant domain check!
Once you are ready with your business name and domain, you can register your business name on the South Dakota Secretary of State’s website.
In the Division of Business Services section, you can see options for registering a DBA or registering a new business. You can choose either option but keep in mind that they are not the same.
South Dakota Business Name Registration Policies And Procedures
When undergoing the business name registration process in South Dakota, there are various policies and procedures that you should be aware of. To help you better understand these, here are a few;
- If you are a foreign business partnership, you must register your business before you are legally permitted to transact business within the South Dakota state.
- You must disclose your business structure within your business name in most instances. For example, Limited Partnership names should contain ‘LP’ or ‘Limited Partnership’.
- Your name must not imply that you are transacting any business practices that differ from those outlined in your certificate.
- Your name needs to be distinguishable from those already on record within the State of Dakota, whether they are non-profit or profit.
- If you wish to adopt your business name at a later date, you can apply for a name reservation.
South Dakota Business Registration Office
| Website: | https://sdos.gov |
| Phone: | 605.773.3537 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| Hours: | 8am – 5pm, Monday – Friday |
How To Use An Online Portal To Register Business Names In South Dakota
Suppose you wish to register your South Dakota business name using an online portal. In that case, you can do so by visiting the Division of Business Services on South Dakota’s Secretary of State.
Here, you can proceed with registration in a few ways, but the following form is recommended;
Click on ‘Start/Register A New Business‘. Although this is going to register your entire business, rather than just the name, it is the easiest way to officially register your name and everything else you need to get your business up and running. The first step of this process is filing your business structure and name, so come prepared with this information!
How Costly Is It To Register Business Name In South Dakota
South Dakota has a section dedicated to filing fees, which is incredibly useful for reading and becoming acquainted with prior to filling out documentation. Here are a few pricings listed for registrations depending on business structure;
- Domestic & Foreign business Corporations – $25
- Domestic & Foreign LLC – $25 per year
- Reservation of a business name – $25 for 120 days
All registrations can be done online, but you won’t be charged any extra if you wish to post your form.
You can request a faster turnaround service for any application. However, this will cost you a further $50.
Why Should I Register A Business Name In South Dakota
South Dakota is a great state to register a business name, as they have progressive views on economics that reflect the brutal reality of life for many small businesses. For example, they do not tax personal or corporate income, meaning you take home all the money you earn.
And another commendable part of South Dakota’s economic state is their transparency. All tax information is available through the South Dakota Governor’s Office Of Economic Development website. In addition, you can use their services, including a wage calculator and state comparisons complete with statistic backing results.
On a more personal level, it is essential to register your business name to ensure you can use business resources. For example, registering a business name guarantees you access to services such as business banking and support directly from the government, such as Economic Development Partnership Program.
Support When Registering A Business Name In South Dakota
When registering a South Dakota business name, you can guarantee that there will be support services available for you to use.
A full list of these services, including funding, training programs, investments and advice, is available on The Economic Development website.
If you require funding to get your business up off the ground, the MicroLOAN Program could be an excellent place to look first. This program is tailored toward small businesses.
Conclusion
Post-reading this guide, we hope you feel ready to begin registering your South Dakota business name and are sure where to find help available to you at this critical time in your career.
Suppose you are curious about business name registration in other US states. In that case, you can browse the other articles on our website regarding how to register a business name in various locations!