Foreign registration · Form S&DC-S/N

Louisiana Corporation Foreign Registration in California

A corporation formed in Louisiana that wants to do business in California files Form S&DC-S/N, with $100 in state fees. California may ask for Louisiana's Certificate of Good Standing ($25). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your Louisiana records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

Louisiana and California side by side

	Louisiana formed here	California registering here
Document	Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing	Form S&DC-S/N, Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation
State fee	$25	$100 at order
How it is handled	Louisiana: online or by mail	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	sos.la.gov	sos.ca.gov
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $30, every year	Statement of Information (Form SI-550), $25, every year
Due	On or before the anniversary of the date of incorporation	Last day of the corporation's registration-anniversary month, annually
Agent	Your Louisiana registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

How Louisiana 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 Louisiana name and formation date. If California wants the Louisiana certificate, it is ordered first. Once California approves it, the Louisiana company can do business there.

Your Louisiana name and California's rules

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

Your California agent and the Louisiana one

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

Staying in good standing in Louisiana and California

Each year your corporation files Louisiana's Annual Report ($30) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). With our $149 agent for service of process renewal, Louisiana plus California comes to $204 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Louisiana to California

An LLC formed in Louisiana files Form LLC-5 with California ($70 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($25)). After that come Louisiana's Annual Report ($40) and California's Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) ($20). See the LLC filing.

The other way: California into Louisiana

A corporation formed in California that registers with Louisiana files Form 326 with $160 in state fees. See that filing.

Common questions: Louisiana to California

Does my Louisiana company need to register in California?

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

Is this a certificate of authority?

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

How much does the California registration cost?

$299 at checkout; California may also want Louisiana'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 Louisiana's certificate if California asks for it. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Louisiana and California?

$204 a year: our $149 agent for service of process renewal, $30 to Louisiana and $25 to California for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Louisiana name?

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

Can I form a new California corporation instead?

Yes, but Louisiana 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 Louisiana's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

Official sources

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