Foreign corporation registration
California Foreign Corporation Registration
A corporation formed in another state registers with California on Form S&DC-S/N, Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation. The $100 filing fee goes to California; our $199 covers preparing and filing it plus the first year of California agent for service of process, for $299 at checkout. California sets its own proof rule for foreign corporations.
California corporation registration at a glance
- Filing
- Form S&DC-S/N, Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation
- State fee
- $100 filing fee
- Total with us
- $299, first year of California agent for service of process included
- Online processing
- 5 days or less
- Home-state certificate
- Set by the state
- California yearly filing
- Statement of Information (Form SI-550), $25, every year
- Filed with
- California Secretary of State, Business Entities
What Form S&DC-S/N asks for
For Form S&DC-S/N, California needs:
- The exact name of your corporation as formed, or an alternate name if that name is taken there
- The state it was formed in and its date of formation
- A California agent for service of process with a street address there; we fill in ours
- A principal office address
Corporation into California, by home state
Every home state pays the same $299 at checkout for California.
| Formed in | Home-state certificate | First year |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Alaska | Certificate of Compliance, if asked | $299 |
| Arizona | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Arkansas | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Colorado | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Connecticut | Certificate of Legal Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Delaware | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Florida | Certificate of Status, if asked | $299 |
| Georgia | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Hawaii | Good Standing Certificate, if asked | $299 |
| Idaho | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Illinois | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Indiana | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Iowa | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Kansas | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Kentucky | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Louisiana | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Maine | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Maryland | Certificate of Status, if asked | $299 |
| Massachusetts | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Michigan | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Minnesota | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Mississippi | Certificate of Good Standing / Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Missouri | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Montana | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Nebraska | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Nevada | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| New Hampshire | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| New Jersey | Standing Certificate, if asked | $299 |
| New Mexico | Certificate of Good Standing and Compliance, if asked | $299 |
| New York | Certificate of Status, if asked | $299 |
| North Carolina | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| North Dakota | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Ohio | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Oklahoma | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Oregon | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Pennsylvania | Subsistence Certificate, if asked | $299 |
| Rhode Island | Certificate of Status / Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| South Carolina | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| South Dakota | Certificate of Good Standing/Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Tennessee | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Texas | Certificate of Fact - Status, if asked | $299 |
| Utah | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Vermont | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Virginia | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
| Washington | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| West Virginia | Certificate of Existence, if asked | $299 |
| Wisconsin | Certificate of Status, if asked | $299 |
| Wyoming | Certificate of Good Standing, if asked | $299 |
If you do business in California without registering
California penalties for unregistered business: $20 a day.
California agent for service of process rule
California requires every registered foreign corporation to keep an agent for service of process there (Corp. Code 17701.13). Our $199 includes the first year of California agent for service of process, then $149 a year.
California yearly filings
Once registered, your corporation files the California Statement of Information (Form SI-550) every year, at $25, due last day of the corporation's registration-anniversary month, annually. The California filing window opens 5 months before anniversary month and closes last day of anniversary month. Filing it late adds $250. From year two, keeping the California registration costs $174 a year with our agent for service of process.
How long California takes
We file Form S&DC-S/N with the California Secretary of State. California online processing: 5 days or less. California paper processing: 10+ days. Paid speed-ups: 24-hour $350, same-day $750; they are optional and not in the total.
Leaving California later
If your corporation stops doing business there, it ends the registration by filing Form CORP-SURC, Certificate of Surrender. Until that is filed, California's yearly filing stays due.
California foreign corporation questions
Do I have to register my corporation in California?
Yes, if it was formed in another state and does business there. An office, staff or regular sales there usually mean registering.
How much does foreign corporation registration in California cost?
$299 at checkout: the $100 filing fee plus our $199, which includes the first year of agent for service of process.
How long does the California registration take?
California's online processing takes 5 days or less; a paid 24-hour option costs $350.
What does it cost each year to stay registered in California?
$174 a year: $25 for the Statement of Information (Form SI-550) and $149 for our agent for service of process. The home state's own yearly filing stays separate.
What if I don't register with California?
California can charge a penalty of $20 a day.
Do I need a registered agent in California?
Yes. California requires one for every corporation registered there from another state. Ours is included for the first year, then $149 a year.
What if my company's name is taken in California?
California lets an out-of-state corporation register under an alternate name. A name can be held for 60 days for $10.
How do I withdraw from California later?
File Form CORP-SURC, Certificate of Surrender with the California Secretary of State.
Can I form a new California corporation instead?
It is possible, but that is a separate company that files California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25), while the original keeps its home-state filings. Registering keeps one company in both states.
Is the California filing the same for an LLC?
No: LLCs file Form LLC-5 ($70 in state fees), and corporations file Form S&DC-S/N.
Is this a certificate of authority?
California calls it registration; other states call the same step a certificate of authority or foreign qualification.
Official California sources
- California filing page (sos.ca.gov)
- California Form S&DC-S/N (sos.ca.gov)
- California Corporations Code 2203 (penalty for unauthorized intrastate business)
- California Corporations Code 17701.13 (agent for service of process)
- California Secretary of State, Form CORP-SURC (Certificate of Surrender)
- California yearly filing (sos.ca.gov)