Foreign registration · Form CF-1

Florida Corporation Foreign Registration in West Virginia

A corporation formed in Florida that wants to do business in West Virginia files Form CF-1, with $101 in state fees. West Virginia may ask for Florida's Certificate of Status ($8.75). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division using your Florida records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

Florida and West Virginia side by side

	Florida formed here	West Virginia registering here
Document	Florida Certificate of Status	Form CF-1, Application for Certificate of Authority
State fee	$8.75	$101 at order (filing fee $100 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	Florida: online, emailed as a PDF once payment goes through	Filed with West Virginia
Paid expedite		next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25, 2-hour $250, 1-hour $500
Office	Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), Registration Section	West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division
Official page	dos.fl.gov	sos.wv.gov
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $150, every year	Annual Report, $25, every two years
Due	May 1	July 1 each year
Late yearly filing	$400 late fee	$50 late fee
Turnaround	Certificate issued instantly online	Standard processing: standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days at no extra cost
Agent	Your Florida registered agent	Our West Virginia agent for service of process

How Florida companies register with West Virginia

We prepare and file Form CF-1
It lists us as your West Virginia agent for service of process, next to your Florida name and formation date. If West Virginia wants the Florida certificate, it is ordered first. Once West Virginia approves it, the Florida company can do business there.

Will your Florida name work for West Virginia?

If another West Virginia company uses the Florida name, an alternate name is allowed. We search West Virginia's records for Florida's name on file before anything is filed.

Agents: West Virginia and Florida

West Virginia calls it an agent for service of process; Florida says registered agent. Your current registered agent stays for Florida; ours takes West Virginia's papers and notices.

Staying in good standing in Florida and West Virginia

Florida wants the Annual Report every year ($150); West Virginia wants the Annual Report every two years ($25). The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, Florida to West Virginia

An LLC formed in Florida files Form LLF-1 with West Virginia ($151 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5)). After that come Florida's Annual Report ($138.75) and West Virginia's Annual Report ($25). See the LLC filing.

Registering a West Virginia company in Florida

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

Questions Florida owners ask about West Virginia

Does my Florida company need to register in West Virginia?

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

Is this a certificate of authority?

Yes: West Virginia issues one to Florida corporations once the form is approved.

How much does the West Virginia registration cost?

$300 at checkout; West Virginia may also want Florida's Certificate of Status, at extra cost.

How long does the West Virginia registration take?

West Virginia's standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days at no extra cost, plus time for Florida's certificate if West Virginia asks for it. Paid expedite: next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25.

What are the yearly costs for Florida and West Virginia?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Florida's report ($150) and West Virginia's report ($25, every two years).

Does West Virginia require a registered agent?

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

Will West Virginia 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 West Virginia corporation instead?

Yes, but Florida keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files West Virginia's Annual Report ($25), and the original keeps Florida's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from West Virginia later?

Florida companies leave by filing a withdrawal application; until then, West Virginia's report stays due alongside Florida's filings.

Official sources

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