Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Nevada LLC Foreign Registration in California

An LLC formed in Nevada that wants to do business in California files Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also asks for Nevada's Certificate of Existence ($50), no older than 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your Nevada records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

Nevada vs California: the paperwork

	Nevada formed here	California registering here
Document	Nevada Certificate of Existence	Form LLC-5
State fee	$50	$70 at order
How it is handled	Nevada: online through SilverFlume, or by mail, with 1-hour, 2-hour and 24-hour expedite tiers	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Nevada Secretary of State, Commercial Recordings Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	nvsilverflume.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Periodic report, $350, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	Last day of the LLC's anniversary month	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Late yearly filing	$175 late fee	$250 late fee
Agent	Your Nevada registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

How Nevada companies register with California

Order the Nevada certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($50) is ordered from Nevada separately; it is not part of our California order. California accepts it within 180 days of Nevada's issue date, so it is ordered shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form LLC-5
It names us as your California agent for service of process, with your Nevada name and formation date and the certificate attached. The Nevada certificate comes first; then the California filing goes in. After approval, your Nevada LLC is registered with California.

California costs for Nevada companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$70
Certificate of Existence, paid to Nevada	$50
Our service, with a year of California agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total, Nevada certificate included	$319

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

Your Nevada name and California's rules

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

Your California agent and the Nevada one

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

Staying in good standing in Nevada and California

Nevada wants a periodic report every year ($350); California wants the Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) every two years ($20). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Nevada to California

A corporation formed in Nevada files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Nevada's Annual List of Officers, Directors and Registered Agent and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

The other way: California into Nevada

An LLC formed in California that registers with Nevada files Nevada's registration (no form number) with $425 in state fees; no California certificate is needed. See that filing.

Common questions: Nevada to California

Does my Nevada company need to register in California?

Yes, once a Nevada 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 $50 to Nevada for the Certificate of Existence, $319 in all (checkout is $70 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Nevada's certificate of good standing?

Yes: California wants Nevada's Certificate of Existence ($50), 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 Nevada's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Nevada and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Nevada's report ($350) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Nevada name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its Nevada 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 Nevada 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 Nevada's periodic report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

Official sources

People also search

LLC into California, by home state (48)

Nevada into other states (47)

The same move for a corporation