Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Connecticut LLC Foreign Registration in California

To do business in California, an LLC formed in Connecticut registers there on Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also asks for Connecticut's Certificate of Legal Existence ($50), no older than 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your Connecticut records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

What Connecticut and California each ask for

	Connecticut formed here	California registering here
Document	Connecticut Certificate of Legal Existence	Form LLC-5
State fee	$50	$70 at order
How it is handled	Connecticut: online, with an express version, or by mail	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	business.ct.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $80, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	On or before March 31	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Agent	Your Connecticut registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

From Connecticut to California, step by step

Order the Connecticut certificate
The Certificate of Legal Existence ($50) is ordered from Connecticut separately; it is not part of our California order. It comes as a short form ($50) or a long form ($100). California accepts it within 180 days of Connecticut's issue date, so it is ordered shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form LLC-5
It names us as your California agent for service of process, with your Connecticut name and formation date and the certificate attached. The Connecticut certificate comes first; then the California filing goes in. After approval, your Connecticut LLC is registered with California.

California costs for Connecticut companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$70
Certificate of Legal Existence, paid to Connecticut	$50
Our service, with a year of California agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total, Connecticut certificate included	$319

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

Will your Connecticut name work for California?

California accepts your Connecticut name if it includes limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC. If the Connecticut name already ends in LLC, it meets the rule. If another California company uses the Connecticut name, an alternate name is allowed. California can hold a name for 60 days for $10 before you file.

Your California agent and the Connecticut one

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

Staying in good standing in Connecticut and California

Connecticut wants the Annual Report every year ($80); California wants the Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) every two years ($20). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Connecticut to California

A corporation formed in Connecticut files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Connecticut's Annual Report ($150) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

Registering a California company in Connecticut

An LLC formed in California that registers with Connecticut files Connecticut's registration (no form number) with $120 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 90 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Connecticut to California

Does my Connecticut company need to register in California?

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

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

$269 at checkout plus $50 to Connecticut for the Certificate of Legal Existence, $319 in all (checkout is $70 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Connecticut's certificate of good standing?

Yes: California wants Connecticut's Certificate of Legal Existence ($50), 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 Connecticut's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Connecticut and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Connecticut's report ($80) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

A Connecticut company cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Connecticut name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

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