Short answer. Anyone regularly doing business in the state under a fictitious name files a statement electronically with the Secretary of State or on paper with any county register of deeds (SDCL 37-11-1). A name that shows each owner's true surname, or that is already on file in a required business filing, is exempt. Cost: $10 for each new filing and renewal (SDCL 37-11-1). Renew every fifth year after filing. The statute lets the statement be filed electronically with the Secretary of State.
At a glance
- Called
- fictitious name statement
- Where to file
- Depends on the owner
- Filing fee
- $10 for each new filing and renewal (SDCL 37-11-1).
- Local fees vary
- No
- How long it lasts
- 5 years
- Online filing
- The statute lets the statement be filed electronically with the Secretary of State.
Renewal, with dates
Renew every fifth year after filing.
Setting up the books for the new name? A free bookkeeping health check.
For a registration filed on Wednesday, November 25, 2026:
- Sole proprietor or partnership: expires Tuesday, November 25, 2031
Your own date: open the calculator set to South Dakota.
Not stated on the pages we read: a newspaper notice.
Official sources
- SDCL 37-11-1: Fictitious name statement (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Checked November 2026 against the pages above. Fees and forms change, and a county or town office can add its own steps, so confirm with the filing office before you file. We don't file DBAs or trade names for anyone.
Questions people ask
Where is a DBA filed in South Dakota?
It's called a fictitious name statement. Anyone regularly doing business in the state under a fictitious name files a statement electronically with the Secretary of State or on paper with any county register of deeds (SDCL 37-11-1). A name that shows each owner's true surname, or that is already on file in a required business filing, is exempt.
What does it cost to register a business name in South Dakota?
$10 for each new filing and renewal (SDCL 37-11-1).
How long does a South Dakota fictitious name statement last?
Renew every fifth year after filing.
Can the filing be done online in South Dakota?
The statute lets the statement be filed electronically with the Secretary of State.
All states: DBA registration by state · Rhode Island · Texas