Foreign registration · Form S&DC-S/N

Montana Corporation Foreign Registration in California

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

Montana vs California: the paperwork

	Montana formed here	California registering here
Document	Montana Certificate of Existence	Form S&DC-S/N, Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation
State fee	$5	$100 at order
How it is handled	Montana: online	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Montana Secretary of State, Business Services	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	biz.sosmt.gov	sos.ca.gov
Yearly filing	Annual Report, no fee, every year	Statement of Information (Form SI-550), $25, every year
Due	April 15	Last day of the corporation's registration-anniversary month, annually
Late yearly filing	$15 late fee	$250 late fee
Agent	Your Montana registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

How Montana 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 Montana name and formation date. If California wants the Montana certificate, it is ordered first. After approval, your Montana corporation is registered with California.

Will your Montana name work for California?

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

Agents: California and Montana

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

Staying in good standing in Montana and California

Each year your corporation files Montana's Annual Report (no fee) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). With our $149 agent for service of process renewal, Montana plus California comes to $174 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Montana to California

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

Registering a California company in Montana

A corporation formed in California that registers with Montana files Montana's registration (no form number) with $70 in state fees. See that filing.

Common questions: Montana to California

Does my Montana company need to register in California?

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

Is this a certificate of authority?

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

How much does the California registration cost?

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

What are the yearly costs for Montana and California?

$174 a year: our $149 agent for service of process renewal, nothing to Montana and $25 to California for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Montana name?

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

Can I form a new California corporation instead?

Yes, but Montana 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 Montana's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

Official sources

People also search

Corporation into California, by home state (48)

Montana into other states (41)

The same move for an LLC