Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

New Hampshire LLC Foreign Registration in California

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

New Hampshire vs California: the paperwork

	New Hampshire formed here	California registering here
Document	New Hampshire Certificate of Good Standing	Form LLC-5
State fee	$5	$70 at order
How it is handled	New Hampshire: online	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	quickstart.sos.nh.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $102, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	April 1	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Late yearly filing	$50 late fee	$250 late fee
Agent	Your New Hampshire registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

From New Hampshire to California, step by step

Order the New Hampshire certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing ($5) is ordered from New Hampshire separately; it is not part of our California order. It comes as a short form ($5) or a long form ($10). California accepts it within 180 days of New Hampshire'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 New Hampshire name and formation date and the certificate attached. Once New Hampshire's certificate is in hand, California's filing goes in. After approval, your New Hampshire LLC is registered with California.

California costs for New Hampshire companies

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

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

Will your New Hampshire name work for California?

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

Agents: California and New Hampshire

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

Staying in good standing in New Hampshire and California

New Hampshire wants the Annual Report every year ($102); California wants the Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) every two years ($20). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, New Hampshire to California

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

The other way: California into New Hampshire

An LLC formed in California that registers with New Hampshire files Form FLLC-1 with $102 in state fees; no California certificate is needed. See that filing.

Questions New Hampshire owners ask about California

Does my New Hampshire company need to register in California?

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

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

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

Do I need New Hampshire's certificate of good standing?

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

What are the yearly costs for New Hampshire and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), New Hampshire's report ($102) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

A New Hampshire company cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my New Hampshire name?

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

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

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