North Carolina

Foreign registration · Form CF-1

North Carolina Corporation Foreign Registration in West Virginia

To do business in West Virginia, a corporation formed in North Carolina registers there on Form CF-1, with $101 in state fees. West Virginia may ask for North Carolina's Certificate of Existence ($10). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division from your North Carolina records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

What North Carolina and West Virginia each ask for

	North Carolina formed here	West Virginia registering here
Document	North Carolina Certificate of Existence	Form CF-1, Application for Certificate of Authority
State fee	$10	$101 at order (filing fee $100 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	North Carolina: online as a downloadable electronic certified document, or on paper	Filed with West Virginia
Paid expedite		next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25, 2-hour $250, 1-hour $500
Office	North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division	West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division
Official page	sosnc.gov	sos.wv.gov
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $25, every year	Annual Report, $25, every two years
Due	15th day of the 4th month following the close of the fiscal year	July 1 each year
Agent	Your North Carolina registered agent	Our West Virginia agent for service of process

How North Carolina companies register with West Virginia

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

Your North Carolina name and West Virginia's rules

If another West Virginia company uses the North Carolina name, an alternate name is allowed. We search West Virginia's records for North Carolina's name on file before anything is filed.

Agents: West Virginia and North Carolina

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

Staying in good standing in North Carolina and West Virginia

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

LLC or corporation, North Carolina to West Virginia

An LLC formed in North Carolina files Form LLF-1 with West Virginia ($151 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Existence ($10)). After that come North Carolina's Annual Report ($203) and West Virginia's Annual Report ($25). See the LLC filing.

Registering a West Virginia company in North Carolina

A corporation formed in West Virginia that registers with North Carolina files Form B-09 with $253 in state fees. See that filing.

Common questions: North Carolina to West Virginia

Does my North Carolina company need to register in West Virginia?

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

Is this a certificate of authority?

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

How much does it cost to register a North Carolina corporation in West Virginia?

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

What are the yearly costs for North Carolina and West Virginia?

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

Does West Virginia require a registered agent?

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

Will West Virginia accept my North Carolina name?

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

Can I form a new West Virginia corporation instead?

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

How do I withdraw from West Virginia later?

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

Official sources

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