Foreign registration · Form MBCA-12

Louisiana Corporation Foreign Registration in Maine

To do business in Maine, a corporation formed in Louisiana registers there on Form MBCA-12, with $250 in state fees and a $50 required expedite. Maine may ask for Louisiana's Certificate of Good Standing ($25). We file it with the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions using your Louisiana records and act as your registered agent there for the first year.

Louisiana and Maine side by side

	Louisiana formed here	Maine registering here
Document	Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing	Form MBCA-12, Application for Authority to do Business
State fee	$25	$250 at order
How it is handled	Louisiana: online or by mail	Filed with Maine
Required expedite		$50 at order (24 hours)
Faster options		same-day $100
Office	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division	Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions
Official page	sos.la.gov	maine.gov
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $30, every year	Annual Report, $150, every year
Due	On or before the anniversary of the date of incorporation	June 1
Agent	Your Louisiana registered agent	Our Maine registered agent

From Louisiana to Maine, step by step

We prepare and file Form MBCA-12
It lists us as your Maine registered agent, next to your Louisiana name and formation date. If Maine wants the Louisiana certificate, it is ordered first. Once Maine approves it, the Louisiana company can do business there.

Will your Louisiana name work for Maine?

We search Maine's records for Louisiana's name on file before anything is filed.

Your Maine agent and the Louisiana one

Louisiana and Maine both call it a registered agent. Maine papers come to us; Louisiana's agent is unchanged.

Staying in good standing in Louisiana and Maine

Each year your corporation files Louisiana's Annual Report ($30) and Maine's Annual Report ($150). With our $149 registered agent renewal, Louisiana plus Maine comes to $329 a year. The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, Louisiana to Maine

An LLC formed in Louisiana files Form MLLC-12 with Maine ($250 in state fees and the $50 required expedite, the same, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($25)). After that come Louisiana's Annual Report ($40) and Maine's Annual Report ($150). See the LLC filing.

Registering a Maine company in Louisiana

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

Common questions: Louisiana to Maine

Does my Louisiana company need to register in Maine?

Yes, once a Louisiana business operates there; Maine law lists 13 activities that do not count on their own.

Is this a certificate of authority?

Yes: Maine issues one to Louisiana corporations once the form is approved.

How much does the Maine registration cost?

$499 at checkout, including the $50 required expedite; Maine may also want Louisiana's Certificate of Good Standing, at extra cost.

How long does the Maine registration take?

24 hours with Maine's required expedite, plus time for Louisiana's certificate if Maine asks for it. Faster state options: same-day $100.

What are the yearly costs for Louisiana and Maine?

$329 a year: our $149 registered agent renewal, $30 to Louisiana and $150 to Maine for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with Maine?

A Louisiana company cannot sue in court there until it registers, and Maine can add up to $500 for each year or part of a year.

Does Maine require a registered agent?

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

Can I form a new Maine corporation instead?

Yes, but Louisiana keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Maine's Annual Report ($85), and the original keeps Louisiana's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from Maine later?

Louisiana companies leave by filing an Application of Withdrawal; until then, Maine's report stays due alongside Louisiana's filings.

Official sources

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