How to Start a South Dakota Series LLC
To form a South Dakota Series LLC, you will first need to file your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. Be aware that filing articles for a Series LLC requires a different document from a traditional LLC, and is a little more costly ($200 versus $150). However, creating a Series LLC may save you more money over time.
Once you file your articles you will have created your Series LLC, but there are some additional steps to take before you can start conducting business and creating your individual series.
South Dakota Series LLC Guide:
- Understand the South Dakota Series LLC
- Submit SD Series LLC Articles of Organization
- Submit SD Certificate of Designation
- Create an SD Series LLC Operating Agreement
- Get Federal EINs from the IRS
- Open bank accounts for your Series LLC
- Obtain any required business licenses
- File the SD Series LLC Annual Report
What is a South Dakota Series LLC?
A South Dakota Series LLC is a business structure that allows for a limited liability company (or “parent LLC”) to branch out into smaller LLCs, called series (or “child LLCs”). This structure not only protects the parent LLC from liability, it protects the assets within each child LLC from each other as well. In other words, a Series LLC is a collection of companies all organized under the initial creation of one LLC—which can ultimately save businesses money over time.
To learn more about Series LLCs and which states recognize them, see our Series LLC Guide.
South Dakota Series LLC Articles of Organization Requirements
To form a South Dakota Series LLC, you must first submit your Articles of Organization & Qualification of Master Series to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s office. You will also need to submit a Certificate of Designation for each series, which you can read more about in Section 3. See the document below to look through South Dakota’s Articles of Organization, or click on any number to read more about each step in the process.
Most states, South Dakota included, require you to include the term “limited liability company” or “LLC” in your company name. This is to distinguish it from other types of businesses, like corporations.
Here, you can write a general purpose, such as “conducting a legally permitted business in the state of South Dakota," or a specific purpose, such as “real estate” or “vehicle restoration.” No need to go into great detail, or write anything at all—this section is optional.
This is the official address for your business, which must be a street address (not a P.O. Box). You’ll also be asked to include an email address, though this is optional. Because this document will be part of the public record, anything you include here will be made public.
Every business that files articles in South Dakota must include the name of a person (or entity) that can accept legal notices on its behalf. This registered agent must have a physical address in South Dakota and be available during normal business hours.
When filling our your articles, you’ll be asked whether you’re using a noncommercial registered agent, or a commercial registered agent (e.g. Northwest Registered Agent). If using a commercial agent, you will need to include a CRA#, which you can get from your agent.
The “organizer” is simply the person who signs and files your articles with the state. This person doesn’t have to be part of your LLC, just someone authorized to do business on behalf of your company.
If you intend for your company to be temporary, you would put the company’s end date here. If you don’t have an intended end date for your company, skip this section.
You’ll need to decide whether your company will be “member-managed” or “manager-managed.” In other words, are all the owners of your company (a.k.a. “members”) running day-to-day operations, or will your company be managed by managers?
If your company will be manager-manged, you’ll need to list the names and addresses of all initial managers.
You’ll just need to tick the box to confirm you are authorizing your LLC to establish series under state law.
Here, you may include anything you might also have in your operating agreement. This is information that would not be required by the state, but might be helpful for outlining your company’s internal structure.
How much does it cost to register a South Dakota Series LLC?
It costs $200 to file Articles of Organization for a South Dakota Series LLC, and $50 for each additional series.
How long does it take to register a South Dakota Series LLC?
Though you may file your annual reports online, online filing is not yet available for filing Articles of Organization for a South Dakota Series LLC. Mail filings typically take 3-5 business days to process after the state receives them.
Does a South Dakota Series LLC need a registered agent?
Yes. All South Dakota LLCs are required to have a South Dakota registered agent to accept important documents and legal notices from the state on behalf of the business. Your registered agent must be available during normal business hours and have a physical address (not a P.O. Box) in South Dakota.
Does each series of a South Dakota Series LLC need its own registered agent?
Nope! Within a Series LLC, each series must use the same registered agent listed in the Articles of Organization filed by the parent LLC.
South Dakota Certificate of Designation Requirements
After you file your Articles of Organization, you’ll need to file a Certificate of Designation for each series in your South Dakota Series LLC. Since your articles already include information that pertains to both your parent LLC and each child LLC (i.e. resident agent info), filling out the Certificate of Designation is pretty simple.
1. Name of Series
Each individual series name must include the full name of the parent LLC and a word or phrase that distinguishes each series from one another. For example, if your parent LLC is called Dakota Series LLC, one series might be “Dakota Series LLC – North” and another “Dakota Series LLC – South.”
2. Name of Master LLC
This is the name of the parent LLC, which you will have already included in your Articles of Organization. You will also need to include the LLC’s business ID, which is something you’ll receive from the state once you file your articles.
3. Business Address
This is the address where your series LLC receives mail. It must be a physical address, not a P.O. Box.
4. Management
You will only need to fill out this section if your series is manager-managed. In this case, you would include the names and addresses of your series’s initial managers. Otherwise, leave this section blank.
South Dakota Series LLC Operating Agreement
An operating agreement is an internal document that lays out the internal structure of your company.
Why is an operating agreement important for a South Dakota Series LLC?
An operating agreement is required to create a South Dakota Series LLC. It’s what establishes your business structure, and ultimately allows a parent company to branch out into individual series.
Do I have to write the operating agreement?
An operating agreement can be nuanced and tricky to write, so it might be best to consult a lawyer. That said, Northwest provides free templates you may browse or use as a jumping-off point for writing your South Dakota Series LLC operating agreement.
Get Federal EINs from the IRS
Does my South Dakota Series LLC need an EIN?
Yes, most businesses need a federal employer identification number (FEIN or EIN). While South Dakota businesses are exempt from some taxes, an EIN is still required for hiring employees or filing taxes as an S-Corporation. You can obtain an EIN for free from the IRS.
Learn more about how to get a Federal EIN for your business.
Should I get a separate EIN for each series of my South Dakota Series LLC?
Chances are, yes. It’s important for each series to remain separate from one another financially, and the easiest way to do this is by setting up separate bank accounts for each series. In order to do that, each series will need its own EIN.
Open Bank Accounts for Your South Dakota Series LLC
To open a bank account for your South Dakota Series LLC, you will need to bring the following with you to the bank:
- A copy of your South Dakota Series LLC Articles of Organization
- Your Series LLC operating agreement
- Your South Dakota Series LLC’s EIN
If your South Dakota Series LLC has multiple members, you may want to bring an LLC resolution with you to show that the person opening the bank account has the authorization to do so.
Should I open separate bank accounts for each series?
It’s important to show that each series maintains its own assets completely separate from one another. Opening separate bank accounts is one of the best ways to keep each of your series separate.
You might encounter some difficulty—some banks are unfamiliar with series LLCs and may not be willing to open several bank accounts for what appears to be one company. It’s best to check in with your bank beforehand, explain your business structure, and make sure your bank will be able to accommodate you.
Obtain Any Required Business Licenses
South Dakota doesn’t issue a statewide business license. But certain cities—like Aberdeen, Rapid City and Sioux Falls—require licenses for certain businesses.
You will also need to register for a sales tax license if your business conducts retail sales and has “nexus” (meaning: taxable assets). You can obtain a South Dakota Sales Tax License for free through the South Dakota Department of Revenue with your EIN.
File South Dakota Series LLC Reports
What is the South Dakota Annual Report?
The South Dakota Annual Report is required of all South Dakota LLCs to make sure their business remains current with the state. The report—due each year at the end of whichever month your Series LLC was first created—requires you to update anything that may have changed within your business over the last year. If not much has changed, writing your annual report should be a breeze.
Do I have to submit an annual report for each series within my Series LLC?
No. According to SD Codified L § 59-11-24 (2020), the individual series within a Series LLC do not have to file their own annual report. Considering the report costs $50 to file online (or $65 with paper), this can mean big savings for your business.
Let Us Be Your Guide
Interested in forming a traditional South Dakota LLC instead of a Series LLC? At Northwest Registered Agent, we’ve spent years crafting our South Dakota LLC service. When you hire us, we’ll form your South Dakota LLC for $375 total and include:
- One year of registered agent service
- An LLC operating agreement, membership certificates and LLC resolutions
- Digital notifications
- South Dakota Annual Report reminders and directions for fast filing
- A secure online account filled with intuitive business maintenance tools and forms to make LLC upkeep simple
- Lifetime Corporate Guide Service—call us anytime and one of our Corporate Guides will help you navigate whatever business problem, task or curiosity you have
Northwest Registered Agent is the only national LLC formation service that is dedicated to your personal privacy. We don’t sell data to third-parties and we do everything we can to keep your personal information secure.
START YOUR SOUTH DAKOTA LLC FOR $375 TOTAL