Alaska

Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Alaska LLC Foreign Registration in California

An LLC formed in Alaska that wants to do business in California files Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also wants Alaska's Certificate of Compliance ($10), dated within 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities from your Alaska records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

Alaska vs California: the paperwork

	Alaska formed here	California registering here
Document	Alaska Certificate of Compliance	Form LLC-5
State fee	$10	$70 at order
How it is handled	Alaska: online or by mail, usually in 10 to 15 business days and longer from October to February	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	commerce.alaska.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Biennial Report, $100, every two years	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	January 2 of the filing year	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Late yearly filing	$37.50 late fee	$250 late fee
Turnaround	Certificate takes a few days	Online processing: 5 days or less
Agent	Your Alaska registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

From Alaska to California, step by step

Order the Alaska certificate
The Certificate of Compliance ($10) is ordered from Alaska separately; it is not part of our California order. With Alaska taking days and California counting 180 days from issue, the order is timed for both.
We prepare and file Form LLC-5
It names us as your California agent for service of process, with your Alaska name and formation date and the certificate attached. Allow for the days Alaska takes to send the certificate before the California filing goes in. After approval, your Alaska LLC is registered with California.

California costs for Alaska companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$70
Certificate of Compliance, paid to Alaska	$10
Our service, with a year of California agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total, Alaska certificate included	$279

California's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Will your Alaska name work for California?

California accepts your Alaska name if it includes limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC. If the Alaska name already ends in LLC, it meets the rule. If California's records show it taken, you can use an alternate name for the Alaska company. California can hold a name for 60 days for $10 before you file.

Your California agent and the Alaska one

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

Staying in good standing in Alaska and California

Alaska wants the Biennial Report every two years ($100); California wants the Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) every two years ($20). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Alaska to California

A corporation formed in Alaska files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Alaska's Biennial Report ($100) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

Registering a California company in Alaska

An LLC formed in California that registers with Alaska files Form 08-0497 with $350 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5). See that filing.

Questions Alaska owners ask about California

Does my Alaska company need to register in California?

Yes, once an Alaska business operates there; California law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does it cost to register an Alaska LLC in California?

$269 at checkout plus $10 to Alaska for the Certificate of Compliance, $279 in all (checkout is $70 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Alaska's certificate of good standing?

Yes: California wants Alaska's Certificate of Compliance ($10), no more than 180 days old at filing.

How long does the California registration take?

California's online processing takes 5 days or less, plus a few days for Alaska's certificate before filing. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Alaska and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Alaska's report ($100, every two years) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

An Alaska company cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Alaska name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its Alaska name at home. California names must include limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC.

Can I form a new California LLC instead?

Yes, but Alaska keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files California's Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) ($20), and the original keeps Alaska's Biennial Report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

Alaska companies leave by filing Form LLC-4/7 (no state fee); until then, California's report stays due alongside Alaska's filings.

Official sources

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