Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Montana LLC Foreign Registration in California

An LLC formed in Montana that wants to do business in California files Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also wants Montana's Certificate of Existence ($5), dated within 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your Montana records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

Montana and California side by side

	Montana formed here	California registering here
Document	Montana Certificate of Existence	Form LLC-5
State fee	$5	$70 at order
How it is handled	Montana: online	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Montana Secretary of State, Business Services	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	biz.sosmt.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $20, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	April 15	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Late yearly filing	$15 late fee	$250 late fee
Agent	Your Montana registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

How Montana companies register with California

Order the Montana certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($5) is ordered from Montana separately; it is not part of our California order. California counts 180 days from the day Montana 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 Montana name and formation date and the certificate attached. The Montana certificate comes first; then the California filing goes in. Once California approves it, the Montana company can do business there.

First-year cost, Montana to California

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$70
Certificate of Existence, paid to Montana	$5
Our service, with a year of California agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total, Montana certificate included	$274

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

Your Montana name and California's rules

California accepts your Montana name if it includes limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC. If the Montana name already ends in LLC, it meets the rule. If California's records show it taken, you can use an alternate name for the Montana company. California can hold a name for 60 days for $10 before you file.

Agents: California and Montana

California calls it an agent for service of process; Montana says registered agent. California papers come to us; Montana's agent is unchanged.

Yearly filings: California and Montana

Montana wants the Annual Report every year ($20); 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, Montana to California

A corporation formed in Montana files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Montana's Annual Report (no fee) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

The other way: California into Montana

An LLC formed in California that registers with Montana files Montana's registration (no form number) with $70 in state fees; no California certificate is needed. See that filing.

Questions Montana owners ask about California

Does my Montana company need to register in California?

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

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

$269 at checkout plus $5 to Montana for the Certificate of Existence, $274 in all (checkout is $70 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Montana's certificate of good standing?

Yes: California wants Montana's Certificate of Existence ($5), 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 Montana's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Montana and California?

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

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Montana name?

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

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

Official sources

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