Foreign registration · Form S&DC-S/N

Wisconsin Corporation Foreign Registration in California

California registers a corporation from Wisconsin as a foreign corporation on Form S&DC-S/N, with $100 in state fees. California may ask for Wisconsin's Certificate of Status ($10). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your Wisconsin records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

Wisconsin and California side by side

	Wisconsin formed here	California registering here
Document	Wisconsin Certificate of Status	Form S&DC-S/N, Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation
State fee	$10	$100 at order
How it is handled	Wisconsin: online, emailed as soon as it is requested	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	dfi.wi.gov	sos.ca.gov
Yearly filing	Domestic Business Corporation Annual Report, $25, every year	Statement of Information (Form SI-550), $25, every year
Due	End of the calendar quarter containing the anniversary of the articles' effective date	Last day of the corporation's registration-anniversary month, annually
Late yearly filing	$25 late fee	$250 late fee
Turnaround	Certificate issued instantly online	Online processing: 5 days or less
Agent	Your Wisconsin registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

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

Your Wisconsin name and California's rules

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

Your California agent and the Wisconsin one

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

Yearly filings: California and Wisconsin

Each year your corporation files Wisconsin's Domestic Business Corporation Annual Report ($25) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). With our $149 agent for service of process renewal, Wisconsin plus California comes to $199 a year. The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, Wisconsin to California

An LLC formed in Wisconsin files Form LLC-5 with California ($70 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($10)). After that come Wisconsin's Annual Report (Form 5 / CORP5) ($25) and California's Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) ($20). See the LLC filing.

Registering a California company in Wisconsin

A corporation formed in California that registers with Wisconsin files Form 21 with $100 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 60 days. See that filing.

Questions Wisconsin owners ask about California

Does my Wisconsin company need to register in California?

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

Is this a certificate of authority?

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

How much does the California registration cost?

$299 at checkout; California may also want Wisconsin's Certificate of Status, at extra cost.

How long does the California registration take?

California's online processing takes 5 days or less, plus time for Wisconsin's certificate if California asks for it. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Wisconsin and California?

$199 a year: our $149 agent for service of process renewal, $25 to Wisconsin and $25 to California for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Wisconsin name?

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

Can I form a new California corporation instead?

Yes, but Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin's yearly report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

Official sources

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