Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Massachusetts LLC Foreign Registration in California

An LLC formed in Massachusetts that wants to do business in California files Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also asks for Massachusetts's Certificate of Good Standing ($25), no older than 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your Massachusetts records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

Massachusetts and California side by side

	Massachusetts formed here	California registering here
Document	Massachusetts Certificate of Good Standing	Form LLC-5
State fee	$25	$70 at order
How it is handled	Massachusetts: online, by mail or in person, delivered by mail or email depending on the certificate	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	sec.state.ma.us	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Limited Liability Company Annual Report, $520, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	On or before the anniversary date of filing of the certificate of organization	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Agent	Your Massachusetts resident agent	Our California agent for service of process

How Massachusetts companies register with California

Order the Massachusetts certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing ($25) is ordered from Massachusetts separately; it is not part of our California order. It comes as a short form ($12) or a long form ($25). California counts 180 days from the day Massachusetts issues it, so the order goes in shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form LLC-5
It lists us as your California agent for service of process, next to your Massachusetts name and formation date, with the certificate attached. Once Massachusetts's certificate is in hand, California's filing goes in. After approval, your Massachusetts LLC is registered with California.

California costs for Massachusetts companies

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

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

Will your Massachusetts name work for California?

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

Your California agent and the Massachusetts one

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

Staying in good standing in Massachusetts and California

Massachusetts wants the Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year ($520); 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, Massachusetts to California

A corporation formed in Massachusetts files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Massachusetts's Annual Report ($125) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

Registering a California company in Massachusetts

An LLC formed in California that registers with Massachusetts files Massachusetts's registration (no form number) with $520 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 90 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Massachusetts to California

Does my Massachusetts company need to register in California?

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

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

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

Do I need Massachusetts'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 Massachusetts's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Massachusetts and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Massachusetts's report ($520) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

Yes: the Massachusetts resident agent stays, and ours covers California for year one.

Will California accept my Massachusetts name?

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

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

Official sources

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