 South Dakota |  Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| All-in to start with usOur $40 fee with the EIN, the registered agent for the first year, and the state fee. | $245 | $392 |
| State filing fee | $160 | $307 |
| Typical approval time | 1–3 business days | 3–5 business days |
| What the state asks each year | Annual report $50 | Franchise tax report (no tax under threshold) |
| Yearly state cost, about | $50 | $0 |
| Total over 5 years, aboutFormation, then four years of registered agent ($45) and state fees. Excludes bookkeeping and IRS filings, which are the same in every state. | $625 | $572 |
| State income tax on wages | None | None |
| Owners in the public formation document | Can be listed | Can be listed |
| Newspaper publication after formation | No | No |
South Dakota against Texas
Advantages
- Cheaper to form: $160 state fee against $307 in Texas.
- Faster approval: usually 1–3 business days, against 3–5 business days.
Disadvantages
- About $50 a year more to keep than Texas (annual report $50).
Texas against South Dakota
Advantages
- No yearly state fee (franchise tax report (no tax under threshold)), against about $50 a year in South Dakota.
- A large economy, and a name that reads well on an invoice.
Disadvantages
- Costs $147 more to form than South Dakota.
- Slower approval: usually 3–5 business days.
Which one to choose
For the lowest cost over time, Texas: about $53 less over five years.
If speed matters most, South Dakota is usually approved sooner (1–3 business days).
If your company will have staff, an office or a warehouse in one particular state, form it there: otherwise you register in that state anyway. Federal taxes and IRS filings are the same in every state.
General information about the states, not legal or tax advice. State fees change occasionally; the price at checkout is the price you pay.
South Dakota or Texas
Questions about this comparison
Is a South Dakota or a Texas LLC cheaper?
South Dakota is cheaper to form: $245 all-in with us, against $392. Each year after, South Dakota costs the state about $50 and Texas about $0, plus $45 for the registered agent.
Which is faster, South Dakota or Texas?
South Dakota usually approves an LLC in 1–3 business days, Texas in 3–5 business days. We file within 48 hours of payment in either state.
Can a non-US resident form an LLC in South Dakota or Texas?
Yes, in both. Neither state asks for citizenship or residency, and the registered agent we include provides the in-state address. The EIN is included without an SSN.
Another pair