Foreign registration · Form CF-1

Louisiana Corporation Foreign Registration in West Virginia

To do business in West Virginia, a corporation formed in Louisiana registers there on Form CF-1, with $101 in state fees. West Virginia may ask for Louisiana's Certificate of Good Standing ($25). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division from your Louisiana records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

Louisiana vs West Virginia: the paperwork

	Louisiana formed here	West Virginia registering here
Document	Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing	Form CF-1, Application for Certificate of Authority
State fee	$25	$101 at order (filing fee $100 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	Louisiana: online or by mail	Filed with West Virginia
Paid expedite		next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25, 2-hour $250, 1-hour $500
Office	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division	West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division
Official page	sos.la.gov	sos.wv.gov
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $30, every year	Annual Report, $25, every two years
Due	On or before the anniversary of the date of incorporation	July 1 each year
Agent	Your Louisiana registered agent	Our West Virginia agent for service of process

From Louisiana to West Virginia, step by step

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

Your Louisiana name and West Virginia's rules

If West Virginia's records show it taken, you can use an alternate name for the Louisiana company. We check your exact Louisiana name against West Virginia's records before filing.

Your West Virginia agent and the Louisiana one

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

Staying in good standing in Louisiana and West Virginia

Louisiana wants the Annual Report every year ($30); West Virginia wants the Annual Report every two years ($25). The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, Louisiana to West Virginia

An LLC formed in Louisiana files Form LLF-1 with West Virginia ($151 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($25)). After that come Louisiana's Annual Report ($40) and West Virginia's Annual Report ($25). See the LLC filing.

The other way: West Virginia into Louisiana

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

Questions Louisiana owners ask about West Virginia

Does my Louisiana company need to register in West Virginia?

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

Is this a certificate of authority?

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

How much does the West Virginia registration cost?

$300 at checkout; West Virginia may also want Louisiana's Certificate of Good Standing, 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 Louisiana's certificate if West Virginia asks for it. Paid expedite: next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25.

What are the yearly costs for Louisiana and West Virginia?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Louisiana's report ($30) and West Virginia's report ($25, every two years).

Does West Virginia require a registered agent?

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

Will West Virginia 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 West Virginia corporation instead?

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

How do I withdraw from West Virginia later?

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

Official sources

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