South Dakota Articles of Incorporation
South Dakota articles of incorporation are filed to create a corporation.
Preparing and filing your articles of incorporation is the first step in starting your business corporation. Approval of this document secures your corporate name and creates the legal entity of the corporation. Only after this approval can the corporation apply for tax IDs, obtain business licenses, sign contracts, and otherwise conduct business.
Benefits
Incorporating provides many important benefits:
- Limits the liability of directors, officers, and shareholders
- Fulfills statutory requirements to register your business name
- Provides governance and adds credibility
Fast Facts
For Domestic Corporations:
| Agency: | South Dakota Secretary of State |
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
| Agency Fee: | $150 + optional $50 expedite fee. |
| Turnaround: | ~3-5 business days. Expedited service is defined as completion sooner than the normal course of business upon request. |
| Law: | |
| Notes: | Submit original and one copy. |
Other Helpful South Dakota Facts
As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to South Dakota.
South Dakota Directors
- Number: One or more required.
- Qualifications: None.
- Quorum: Majority of directors, unless bylaws or articles of incorporations fix a different number. No less than one third.
South Dakota Officers
- As stated in the bylaws, but a minimum of one. One person may hold multiple offices. One officer is required to be responsible for maintaining corporate records.
South Dakota Bylaws
- Required: Yes.
South Dakota Annual Shareholder Meeting
- Required: Yes.
- Action by written consent: Allowed if by all shareholders entitled to vote on the action.
South Dakota Shareholders
- Qualifications: N/A
- Stock Certificate: Not required.
- Voting Trusts Allowed: Yes.
