Arizona

Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Arizona LLC Foreign Registration in California

To do business in California, an LLC formed in Arizona registers there on Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also asks for Arizona's Certificate of Good Standing ($10), no older than 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities from your Arizona records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

Arizona vs California: the paperwork

	Arizona formed here	California registering here
Document	Arizona Certificate of Good Standing	Form LLC-5
State fee	$10	$70 at order
How it is handled	Arizona: online as a PDF through the Arizona Business Center, by mail or in person	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	ecorp.azcc.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	No annual report	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due		Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Agent	Your Arizona statutory agent	Our California agent for service of process

How Arizona companies register with California

Order the Arizona certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing ($10) is ordered from Arizona separately; it is not part of our California order. California accepts it within 180 days of Arizona's issue date, so it is ordered shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form LLC-5
It lists us as your California agent for service of process, next to your Arizona name and formation date, with the certificate attached. Once Arizona's certificate is in hand, California's filing goes in. Once California approves it, the Arizona company can do business there.

California costs for Arizona companies

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

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

Your Arizona name and California's rules

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

Your California agent and the Arizona one

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

Staying in good standing in Arizona and California

Arizona has no annual report for LLCs; California wants the Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) every two years ($20). The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, Arizona to California

A corporation formed in Arizona files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Arizona's Annual Report and Certificate of Disclosure ($45) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

Registering a California company in Arizona

An LLC formed in California that registers with Arizona files Form L025 with $153.30 in state fees and a $35 required expedite, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 60 days. See that filing.

Questions Arizona owners ask about California

Does my Arizona company need to register in California?

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

How much does the California registration cost?

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

Do I need Arizona's certificate of good standing?

Yes: California wants it ($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, once Arizona's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Arizona and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), no Arizona yearly report and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

Yes: the Arizona statutory agent stays, and ours covers California for year one.

Will California accept my Arizona name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its Arizona 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 Arizona keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files California's Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) ($20), and Arizona has no yearly report for the original.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

Official sources

People also search

LLC into California, by home state (48)

Arizona into other states (47)

The same move for a corporation