How to Conduct a South Dakota Business Search

If no other business is using the name you’ve searched for, then that name is likely available for you to use.

If there are names in the search results that are similar or the same, then you may need to perform another search to find a business name that’s available to use.

If the name you want to use is returned in the search results but is registered to a business that is inactive, it still may not be available to use. You can apply to use the name or call the business filings department of the South Dakota Secretary of State.

Reserve your business name

If you find a business name that appears to be available and that fits your business, your next step will either be to register your business or reserve your business name.

In South Dakota, you can reserve a business name for up to 120 days. To reserve your business name, you’ll submit the name reservation form to the Secretary of State and pay a $25 filing fee.

A name reservation holds an available business name for your use only. Reserving a business name can give you time to complete any plans you need to wrap up before starting your business.

Why conduct a South Dakota entity search or LLC lookup?

There are a few different reasons you might want to conduct a business name or entity search. You might want to:

• Discover if a business name is available to use for your new business
• Search for a specific business to find out what type of entity it is
• Find your business’s business ID number or file annual reports

Important naming guidelines in South Dakota

When choosing a potential name for your business, it’s important to keep these naming guidelines in mind.

• Distinguishability: Your name business name must be unique from other business’ names. This distinguishability ensures that customers aren’t mixing up two different businesses. This makes it easier for all businesses to market their services and bring in profit.
• Business entity designation: Registered businesses must use their business entity designation in legal documentation and naming. For example, if you choose to register your business as a Limited Liability Company, you’ll need to use “LLC” at the end of your business name.
• Prohibited terms: Unless your business is approved to do so, you won’t be able to use terms such as “bank” and “insurance.”

Other naming considerations

If you’ve completed your business name search and found a name you want to use, there are a few more steps you should consider before registering your South Dakota business. 

Check social media and domain availability

One of the most important marketing tools a business has is its online presence. This includes your social media channels and website.

Before settling on a final business name and registering your business, you’ll want to make sure you can get the social media handles and domain name or URL that you want.

Conduct a trademark search

Another protection you can offer your business is trademark registration. This becomes especially important if you want to expand your business across state lines.

If you think you may want to trademark your business name, you can perform a trademark search before registering the name. You can do a trademark search for free on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website.