Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Missouri LLC Foreign Registration in California

An LLC formed in Missouri that wants to do business in California files Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also wants Missouri's Certificate of Good Standing ($10), dated within 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities from your Missouri records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

Missouri and California side by side

	Missouri formed here	California registering here
Document	Missouri Certificate of Good Standing	Form LLC-5
State fee	$10	$70 at order
How it is handled	Missouri: online with a verification number anyone can check, or by mail	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	sos.mo.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	No annual report	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due		Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Agent	Your Missouri registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

From Missouri to California, step by step

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

First-year cost, Missouri to California

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

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

Your Missouri name and California's rules

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

Your California agent and the Missouri one

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

Staying in good standing in Missouri and California

Missouri has no annual report for LLCs; California wants the Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) every two years ($20). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Missouri to California

A corporation formed in Missouri files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Missouri's Corporate Registration Report ($15) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

Registering a California company in Missouri

An LLC formed in California that registers with Missouri files Form LLC 4 with $105 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 60 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Missouri to California

Does my Missouri company need to register in California?

Yes, once a Missouri 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 Missouri for the Certificate of Good Standing, $279 in all (checkout is $70 in state fees plus our $199).

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

What are the yearly costs for Missouri and California?

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

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Missouri name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its Missouri 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 Missouri keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files California's Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) ($20), and Missouri has no yearly report for the original.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

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