Foreign registration · Form S&DC-S/N

Florida Corporation Foreign Registration in California

To do business in California, a corporation formed in Florida registers there on Form S&DC-S/N, with $100 in state fees. California may ask for Florida's Certificate of Status ($8.75). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your Florida records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

Florida and California side by side

	Florida formed here	California registering here
Document	Florida Certificate of Status	Form S&DC-S/N, Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation
State fee	$8.75	$100 at order
How it is handled	Florida: online, emailed as a PDF once payment goes through	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), Registration Section	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	dos.fl.gov	sos.ca.gov
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $150, every year	Statement of Information (Form SI-550), $25, every year
Due	May 1	Last day of the corporation's registration-anniversary month, annually
Late yearly filing	$400 late fee	$250 late fee
Turnaround	Certificate issued instantly online	Online processing: 5 days or less
Agent	Your Florida registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

From Florida to California, step by step

We prepare and file Form S&DC-S/N
It names us as your California agent for service of process, with your Florida name and formation date. If California wants the Florida certificate, it is ordered first. Once California approves it, the Florida company can do business there.

Will your Florida name work for California?

If another California company uses the Florida name, an alternate name is allowed. California can hold a name for 60 days for $10 before you file.

Agents: California and Florida

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

Staying in good standing in Florida and California

Each year your corporation files Florida's Annual Report ($150) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). With our $149 agent for service of process renewal, Florida plus California comes to $324 a year. The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, Florida to California

An LLC formed in Florida files Form LLC-5 with California ($70 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5)). After that come Florida's Annual Report ($138.75) and California's Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) ($20). See the LLC filing.

The other way: California into Florida

A corporation formed in California that registers with Florida files Form CR2E007 with $70 in state fees. See that filing.

Questions Florida owners ask about California

Does my Florida company need to register in California?

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

Is this a certificate of authority?

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

How much does the California registration cost?

$299 at checkout; California may also want Florida's Certificate of Status, at extra cost.

How long does the California registration take?

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

What are the yearly costs for Florida and California?

$324 a year: our $149 agent for service of process renewal, $150 to Florida and $25 to California for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Florida name?

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

Can I form a new California corporation instead?

Yes, but Florida 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 Florida's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

Official sources

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