Foreign registration · Form LLF-1

Louisiana LLC Foreign Registration in West Virginia

An LLC formed in Louisiana that wants to do business in West Virginia files Form LLF-1, with $151 in state fees. West Virginia also wants Louisiana's Certificate of Good Standing ($25). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division using your Louisiana records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

Louisiana vs West Virginia: the paperwork

	Louisiana formed here	West Virginia registering here
Document	Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing	Form LLF-1, West Virginia Application for Certificate of Authority of Limited Liability Company
State fee	$25	$151 at order (filing fee $150 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	Louisiana: online or by mail	Filed with West Virginia
Paid expedite		next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25, 2-hour $250, 1-hour $500
Office	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division	West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division
Official page	sos.la.gov	sos.wv.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Must be current
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $40, every year	Annual Report, $25, every year
Due	On or before the anniversary date of organization	July 1 each year
Agent	Your Louisiana registered agent	Our West Virginia agent for service of process

How Louisiana companies register with West Virginia

Order the Louisiana certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing ($25) is ordered from Louisiana separately; it is not part of our West Virginia order. West Virginia wants the Louisiana certificate current, so it is ordered close to the filing date.
We prepare and file Form LLF-1
It names us as your West Virginia agent for service of process, with your Louisiana name and formation date and the certificate attached. Once Louisiana's certificate is in hand, West Virginia's filing goes in. After approval, your Louisiana LLC is registered with West Virginia.

West Virginia costs for Louisiana companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$151
Certificate of Good Standing, paid to Louisiana	$25
Our service, with a year of West Virginia agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total, Louisiana certificate included	$375

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

Your Louisiana name and West Virginia's rules

West Virginia accepts your Louisiana name if it includes limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC, with limited abbreviated Ltd. and company abbreviated Co.. If the Louisiana name already ends in LLC, it meets the rule. If another West Virginia company uses the Louisiana name, an alternate name is allowed. We search West Virginia's records for Louisiana's name on file before anything is filed.

Your West Virginia agent and the Louisiana one

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

Yearly filings: West Virginia and Louisiana

Each year your LLC files Louisiana's Annual Report ($40) and West Virginia's Annual Report ($25). With our $149 agent for service of process renewal, Louisiana plus West Virginia comes to $214 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Louisiana to West Virginia

A corporation formed in Louisiana files Form CF-1 with West Virginia ($101 in state fees). After that come Louisiana's Annual Report ($30) and West Virginia's Annual Report ($25). See the corporation filing.

The other way: West Virginia into Louisiana

An LLC formed in West Virginia that registers with Louisiana files Form 972 with $190 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Existence ($10) dated within 90 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Louisiana to West Virginia

Does my Louisiana company need to register in West Virginia?

Yes, once a Louisiana business operates there; West Virginia law lists 12 activities that do not count on their own.

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

$350 at checkout plus $25 to Louisiana for the Certificate of Good Standing, $375 in all (checkout is $151 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Louisiana's certificate of good standing?

Yes: West Virginia wants it ($25), current at filing.

How long does the West Virginia registration take?

West Virginia's standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days at no extra cost, once Louisiana's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25.

What are the yearly costs for Louisiana and West Virginia?

$214 a year: our $149 agent for service of process renewal, $40 to Louisiana and $25 to West Virginia for the yearly reports.

Does West Virginia require a registered agent?

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

Will West Virginia 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. West Virginia names must include limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC, with limited abbreviated Ltd. and company abbreviated Co..

Can I form a new West Virginia LLC instead?

Yes, but Louisiana keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files West Virginia's Annual Report ($26), and the original keeps Louisiana's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from West Virginia later?

Louisiana companies leave by filing a withdrawal application; until then, West Virginia's report stays due alongside Louisiana's filings.

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