Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Idaho LLC Foreign Registration in California

California registers an LLC from Idaho as a foreign LLC on Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also wants Idaho's Certificate of Existence ($10), dated within 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your Idaho records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

Idaho vs California: the paperwork

	Idaho formed here	California registering here
Document	Idaho Certificate of Existence	Form LLC-5
State fee	$10	$70 at order
How it is handled	Idaho: online or by mail	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Idaho Secretary of State, Business Services	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	sosbiz.idaho.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, no fee, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	Last day of the entity's anniversary month	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Agent	Your Idaho registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

From Idaho to California, step by step

Order the Idaho certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($10) is ordered from Idaho separately; it is not part of our California order. California counts 180 days from the day Idaho issues it, so the order goes in shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form LLC-5
It names us as your California agent for service of process, with your Idaho name and formation date and the certificate attached. Once Idaho's certificate is in hand, California's filing goes in. After approval, your Idaho LLC is registered with California.

First-year cost, Idaho to California

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

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

Your Idaho name and California's rules

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

Your California agent and the Idaho one

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

Staying in good standing in Idaho and California

Idaho wants the Annual Report every year (no fee); 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, Idaho to California

A corporation formed in Idaho files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Idaho's Annual Report (no fee) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

Registering a California company in Idaho

An LLC formed in California that registers with Idaho files Idaho's registration (no form number) with $103.50 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 90 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Idaho to California

Does my Idaho company need to register in California?

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

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

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

Do I need Idaho's certificate of good standing?

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

What are the yearly costs for Idaho and California?

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

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Idaho name?

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

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

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