Florida vs South Dakota: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Florida and South Dakota — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Florida vs South Dakota
| Metric | Florida | South Dakota | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $125 | $150 | Florida |
| Annual Report | $138.75 | $50 | South Dakota |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $125 | $150 | Florida |
Filing Fee
Florida is cheaper here
Annual Report
South Dakota is cheaper here
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
Florida is cheaper here
Florida: Annual report must be filed between January 1 and May 1 each year or a $400 late fee applies.
South Dakota: South Dakota's foreign qualification fee ($750) is one of the highest in the US — 5× the domestic fee.
Florida: No state income tax — major advantage for profitable LLCs.
South Dakota: No state income tax and no personal income tax.
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Small Claims Court: Florida vs South Dakota
| Metric | Florida | South Dakota | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $8,000 | $12,000 | South Dakota |
| Min Filing Fee | $55 | $24.84 | South Dakota |
| Contract SOL | 5 yrs | 6 yrs | South Dakota |
Max Claim Limit
South Dakota is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
South Dakota is cheaper here
Contract SOL
South Dakota is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Florida vs South Dakota
| Metric | Florida | South Dakota | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $400 | $95 | South Dakota |
| Sheriff Service | $40 | $30 | South Dakota |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
South Dakota is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
South Dakota is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Florida vs South Dakota
| Metric | Florida | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $10 | $10 |
| Jurat | $10 | $10 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $10 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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