Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Michigan LLC Foreign Registration in California

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

Michigan vs California: the paperwork

	Michigan formed here	California registering here
Document	Michigan Certificate of Good Standing	Form LLC-5
State fee	$10	$70 at order
How it is handled	Michigan: online, emailed to the MiLogin for Business account	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	michigan.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Annual Statement, $25, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	February 15	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Late yearly filing	$10 late fee	$250 late fee
Agent	Your Michigan resident agent	Our California agent for service of process

How Michigan companies register with California

Order the Michigan certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing ($10) is ordered from Michigan separately; it is not part of our California order. California counts 180 days from the day Michigan 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 Michigan name and formation date and the certificate attached. Once Michigan's certificate is in hand, California's filing goes in. Once California approves it, the Michigan company can do business there.

First-year cost, Michigan to California

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

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

Will your Michigan name work for California?

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

Agents: California and Michigan

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

Staying in good standing in Michigan and California

Michigan wants the Annual Statement every year ($25); 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, Michigan to California

A corporation formed in Michigan files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Michigan's Annual Report, Form CSCL/CD-2500 ($25) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

Registering a California company in Michigan

An LLC formed in California that registers with Michigan files Form CSCL/CD 760 with $50 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 30 days. See that filing.

Questions Michigan owners ask about California

Does my Michigan company need to register in California?

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

How much does the California registration cost?

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

Do I need Michigan's certificate of good standing?

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

What are the yearly costs for Michigan and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Michigan's report ($25) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Michigan name?

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

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

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