Experts say that South Dakota’s economy will slow in the next few years, but there’s no cause for worry. In fact, they say that there are no red flags, which means that business opportunities in the state are still abundant.
This should be music to your ears, especially if you’re aiming to join the ranks of small business owners. If you jump in now, then you’ll seize chances that won’t be available to others in the near future.
Got a company name in mind already? Don’t charge ahead just yet; carry out a South Dakota business entity search first. It’ll show you whether someone’s already thought of the same thing.
In this post, we’ll go over a few ways you can do a South Dakota business search so you do your due diligence.
Do a South Dakota Secretary of State Business Entity Search
Your first stop should be with the Secretary of State. This government official takes care of all business records in the state, so you should familiarize yourself with them. Not only can you do a thorough search of the records, but you can also register your business with the Secretary of State.
There are two ways you can do a search here, and you’ll find both on the Business Services page.
Search for a Business
When you click on “Search for a business,” you’ll get a page with two blanks for a business search in ND. The first is for the name, and the second is for the business ID.
Type in your desired company name, and then select “Starts with” or “Contains.” We suggest using “Contains” since it’ll give you more partial matches.
You can check the box for “Active entities only” if you’re only concerned with operating businesses. Then click on “Search.”
The page will then reload with any results displayed below the search bars. Here’s the information shown:
- Business ID
- Type
- Name
- Name type
- Filing date
- Status
Click on any of the business IDs to see more. The next page will show the company’s:
- Business ID
- Name
- Foreign registered name (if applicable)
- Business type
- Status
- Initial filing date
- Formed in (state)
- Term of duration
- Next annual report due date
- Inactive date
- Principal office
- Mailing address
- Managed by
You can also find the registered agent’s name, physical address, and mailing address.
At the very bottom of the page is the business’s history. Click on any of the document links to view them.
Name Availability Search
“Name Availability Search” is also handy, but do note that it’s an exact name search. So while it’ll tell you whether or not your potential company name is free, it won’t tell you if similar ones are already in use.
To use this page, simply type in the exact business name into the blank spot. Click on “Search” and if there’s a hit, it’ll be displayed underneath. The information given is:
- Business ID
- Entity type
- Entity name
- Name type
- State/country of formation
If you click on the business ID, it’ll give you a more detailed page like with the “Search for a business” page.
Try Search Engines
Search engines are readily accessible, so they’re great if you want to do a state of South Dakota business entity search. You might find some names that haven’t been registered yet, but are already in use.
Enter your potential business name with “South Dakota” and any specific city names if you feel they’re relevant. You don’t have to do it all in one query either; take the time to do separate ones to see what turns up.
As you go through the results pages, check out which domain names and social media handles are taken too. If you find that everything’s available, it may be the optimal time to reserve these things so branding’s easier later on.
Utilize the Business Anywhere Search Tool
We at Business Anywhere have a business registration service that’s free, minus the state fees. This makes company formation very affordable.
Of course, you can also add other services you’re interested in, such as operating agreement formation or banking resolution. All of our additional services are clearly listed with their prices so there’s no confusion about how much you’ll have to pay.
Another free service we have is our business search tool; go back to the top of the page and you’ll see it. Enter the business name and select either PLLC, LLC, or corporation, and then hit “Check availability.”
In an instant, you’ll know whether or not you can use the desired business name. If not, then keep trying until you get something you’re happy with.
There are no obligations to use our search tool, so you can perform queries and click off when you like. But if you’d like to take advantage of our services, then give us your contact details on the results page. You’ll hear back from us shortly after submitting the form.
Try a South Dakota Business Entity Search First
When you’re interested in forming a company in South Dakota, it’s vital that you take all the right steps beforehand to ensure a smooth process. Part of that is carrying out a South Dakota business entity search, which shows you which company names are already taken.
By performing this essential step, you’ll have a better idea of what’s available. And as a result, you can confidently pick a business name that you’re sure is truly your own.
Sign up with Business Anywhere to start using our comprehensive services. Our exclusive dashboard is intuitive and easy to use.
