Foreign registration · no form number

California LLC Foreign Registration in North Dakota

North Dakota registers an LLC from California as a foreign LLC on an online registration (no form number), with $135 in state fees. North Dakota also wants California's Certificate of Status ($5). We file it with the Secretary of State from your California records, then serve as your registered agent there for year one.

California and North Dakota side by side

	California formed here	North Dakota registering here
Document	California Certificate of Status	Foreign Business Limited Liability Company Certificate of Authority Application (no form number)
State fee	$5	$135 at order
How it is handled	California: online as a PDF within minutes, or on paper by mail or drop-off in Sacramento	Filed online with North Dakota
Office	California Secretary of State, Business Entities	North Dakota Secretary of State
Official page	bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov	sos.nd.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Must be current
Name endings	limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC	the words limited liability company, or LLC or L.L.C.
Yearly filing	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years	Annual Report, $50, every year
Due	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially	November 15
Late yearly filing	$250 late fee	$50 late fee
Agent	Your California agent for service of process	Our North Dakota registered agent

From California to North Dakota, step by step

Order the California certificate
The Certificate of Status ($5) is ordered from California separately; it is not part of our North Dakota order. North Dakota wants the California certificate current, so it is ordered close to the filing date.
We prepare and file the registration
It names us as your North Dakota registered agent, with your California name and formation date and the certificate attached. With the certificate issued on the spot, nothing from California delays the North Dakota filing. Once North Dakota approves it, the California company can do business there.

North Dakota costs for California companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$135
Certificate of Status, paid to California	$5
Our service, with a year of North Dakota registered agent service	$199
First-year total, California certificate included	$339

Will your California name work for North Dakota?

North Dakota accepts your California name if it includes the words limited liability company, or LLC or L.L.C.. California's list (limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC) is not the same, but an ending such as “limited liability company” works in both states. We check your exact California name against North Dakota's records before filing.

Your North Dakota agent and the California one

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

Yearly filings: North Dakota and California

California wants the Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) every two years ($20); North Dakota wants the Annual Report every year ($50). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, California to North Dakota

A corporation formed in California files its own registration with North Dakota ($145 in state fees). After that come California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25) and North Dakota's Annual Report ($25). See the corporation filing.

The other way: North Dakota into California

An LLC formed in North Dakota that registers with California files Form LLC-5 with $70 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($20) dated within 180 days. See that filing.

Common questions: California to North Dakota

Does my California company need to register in North Dakota?

Yes, once a California business operates there; North Dakota does not count a one-off deal finished within 30 days.

How much does it cost to register a California LLC in North Dakota?

$334 at checkout plus $5 to California for the Certificate of Status, $339 in all (checkout is $135 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need California's certificate of good standing?

Yes: North Dakota wants California's Certificate of Status ($5), current at filing.

What are the yearly costs for California and North Dakota?

Our registered agent renewal ($149 a year), California's report ($20, every two years) and North Dakota's report ($50).

What if I don't register with North Dakota?

North Dakota can charge a California company a civil penalty of up to $5,000.

Does North Dakota require a registered agent?

Yes: the California agent for service of process stays, and ours covers North Dakota for year one.

Will North Dakota accept my California name?

Yes, if no company there already uses it and it includes the words limited liability company, or LLC or L.L.C.; “limited liability company” works in both states.

Can I form a new North Dakota LLC instead?

Yes, but California keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files North Dakota's Annual Report ($50), and the original keeps California's Statement of Information (Form LLC-12).

How do I withdraw from North Dakota later?

California companies leave by filing an Application for withdrawal of a foreign limited liability company; until then, North Dakota's report stays due alongside California's filings.

Official sources

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