Foreign registration · Form S&DC-S/N

Iowa Corporation Foreign Registration in California

To do business in California, a corporation formed in Iowa registers there on Form S&DC-S/N, with $100 in state fees. California may ask for Iowa's Certificate of Existence ($5). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your Iowa records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

What Iowa and California each ask for

	Iowa formed here	California registering here
Document	Iowa Certificate of Existence	Form S&DC-S/N, Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation
State fee	$5	$100 at order
How it is handled	Iowa: online as a printable PDF right after payment	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	sos.iowa.gov	sos.ca.gov
Yearly filing	Biennial Report, $60, every two years	Statement of Information (Form SI-550), $25, every year
Due	April 1 of even-numbered years	Last day of the corporation's registration-anniversary month, annually
Turnaround	Certificate issued instantly online	Online processing: 5 days or less
Agent	Your Iowa registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

How Iowa companies register with California

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

Will your Iowa name work for California?

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

Your California agent and the Iowa one

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

Staying in good standing in Iowa and California

Iowa wants the Biennial Report every two years ($60); California wants the Statement of Information (Form SI-550) every year ($25). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Iowa to California

An LLC formed in Iowa files Form LLC-5 with California ($70 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Existence ($5)). After that come Iowa's Biennial Report ($30) and California's Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) ($20). See the LLC filing.

The other way: California into Iowa

A corporation formed in California that registers with Iowa files Form 635_0110A with $100 in state fees. See that filing.

Questions Iowa owners ask about California

Does my Iowa company need to register in California?

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

Is this a certificate of authority?

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

How much does it cost to register an Iowa corporation in California?

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

How long does the California registration take?

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

What are the yearly costs for Iowa and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Iowa's report ($60, every two years) and California's report ($25).

What if I don't register with California?

California can charge an Iowa company a penalty of $20 a day.

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Iowa name?

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

Can I form a new California corporation instead?

Yes, but Iowa 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 Iowa's Biennial Report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

Official sources

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