Foreign registration · Form S&DC-S/N

Delaware Corporation Foreign Registration in California

California registers a corporation from Delaware as a foreign corporation on Form S&DC-S/N, with $100 in state fees. California may ask for Delaware's Certificate of Good Standing ($50). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities from your Delaware records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

What Delaware and California each ask for

	Delaware formed here	California registering here
Document	Delaware Certificate of Good Standing	Form S&DC-S/N, Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation
State fee	$50	$100 at order
How it is handled	Delaware: through the Division of Corporations request service, sent by first-class mail unless a FedEx or UPS account is supplied	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Delaware Department of State, Division of Corporations	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	corp.delaware.gov	sos.ca.gov
Yearly filing	Annual Franchise Tax Report, $50, every year	Statement of Information (Form SI-550), $25, every year
Due	March 1	Last day of the corporation's registration-anniversary month, annually
Late yearly filing	$200 late fee	$250 late fee
Turnaround	Certificate comes by mail	Online processing: 5 days or less
Agent	Your Delaware registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

From Delaware to California, step by step

We prepare and file Form S&DC-S/N
It lists us as your California agent for service of process, next to your Delaware name and formation date. If California wants the Delaware certificate, it is ordered first. After approval, your Delaware corporation is registered with California.

Your Delaware name and California's rules

If California's records show it taken, you can use an alternate name for the Delaware company. California can hold a name for 60 days for $10 before you file.

Your California agent and the Delaware one

California calls it an agent for service of process; Delaware says registered agent. California papers come to us; Delaware's agent is unchanged.

Yearly filings: California and Delaware

Each year your corporation files Delaware's Annual Franchise Tax Report ($50) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). With our $149 agent for service of process renewal, Delaware plus California comes to $224 a year. The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, Delaware to California

An LLC formed in Delaware files Form LLC-5 with California ($70 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($50)). After that come Delaware's Annual LLC Tax ($400) and California's Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) ($20). See the LLC filing.

Registering a California company in Delaware

A corporation formed in California that registers with Delaware files Delaware's registration (no form number) with $245 in state fees. See that filing.

Questions Delaware owners ask about California

Does my Delaware company need to register in California?

Yes, once a Delaware business operates there; California registers it as a foreign corporation.

Is this a certificate of authority?

California calls it registration for Delaware corporations; other states say certificate of authority.

How much does it cost to register a Delaware corporation in California?

$299 at checkout; California may also want Delaware's Certificate of Good Standing, at extra cost.

How long does the California registration take?

California's online processing takes 5 days or less, plus time for Delaware's certificate if California asks for it. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Delaware and California?

$224 a year: our $149 agent for service of process renewal, $50 to Delaware and $25 to California for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with California?

California can charge a Delaware company a penalty of $20 a day.

Does California require a registered agent?

Yes: the Delaware registered agent stays, and ours covers California for year one.

Will California accept my Delaware name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its Delaware name at home.

Can I form a new California corporation instead?

Yes, but Delaware keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25), and the original keeps Delaware's Annual Franchise Tax Report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

Delaware companies leave by filing Form CORP-SURC, Certificate of Surrender; until then, California's report stays due alongside Delaware's filings.

Official sources

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