Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Louisiana LLC Foreign Registration in California

To do business in California, an LLC formed in Louisiana registers there on Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also asks for Louisiana's Certificate of Good Standing ($25), no older than 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities from your Louisiana records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

Louisiana and California side by side

	Louisiana formed here	California registering here
Document	Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing	Form LLC-5
State fee	$25	$70 at order
How it is handled	Louisiana: online or by mail	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	sos.la.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $40, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	On or before the anniversary date of organization	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Agent	Your Louisiana registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

How Louisiana companies register with California

Order the Louisiana certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing ($25) is ordered from Louisiana separately; it is not part of our California order. California accepts it within 180 days of Louisiana'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 Louisiana name and formation date and the certificate attached. Once Louisiana's certificate is in hand, California's filing goes in. Once California approves it, the Louisiana company can do business there.

California costs for Louisiana companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$70
Certificate of Good Standing, paid to Louisiana	$25
Our service, with a year of California agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total, Louisiana certificate included	$294

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

Will your Louisiana name work for California?

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

Agents: California and Louisiana

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

Staying in good standing in Louisiana and California

Louisiana wants the Annual Report every year ($40); California wants the Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) every two years ($20). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Louisiana to California

A corporation formed in Louisiana files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Louisiana's Annual Report ($30) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

The other way: California into Louisiana

An LLC formed in California that registers with Louisiana files Form 972 with $190 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 90 days. See that filing.

Questions Louisiana owners ask about California

Does my Louisiana company need to register in California?

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

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

$269 at checkout plus $25 to Louisiana for the Certificate of Good Standing, $294 in all (checkout is $70 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Louisiana's certificate of good standing?

Yes: California wants it ($25), 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 Louisiana's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Louisiana and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Louisiana's report ($40) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Louisiana name?

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

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

Official sources

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