New Mexico

Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

New Mexico LLC Foreign Registration in California

California registers an LLC from New Mexico as a foreign LLC on Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also wants New Mexico's Certificate of Good Standing and Compliance, dated within 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities from your New Mexico records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

What New Mexico and California each ask for

	New Mexico formed here	California registering here
Document	New Mexico Certificate of Good Standing and Compliance	Form LLC-5
State fee	Set by the state	$70 at order
How it is handled	New Mexico: online	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	New Mexico Secretary of State, Business Services Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	enterprise.sos.nm.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 New Mexico registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

How New Mexico companies register with California

Order the New Mexico certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing and Compliance is ordered from New Mexico separately; it is not part of our California order. California counts 180 days from the day New Mexico 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 New Mexico name and formation date, with the certificate attached. The New Mexico certificate comes first; then the California filing goes in. After approval, your New Mexico LLC is registered with California.

California costs for New Mexico companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$70
Our service, with a year of California agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total	$269

Plus the Certificate of Good Standing and Compliance, priced by New Mexico. California's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Your New Mexico name and California's rules

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

Agents: California and New Mexico

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

Staying in good standing in New Mexico and California

New Mexico has no annual report for LLCs; 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, New Mexico to California

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

The other way: California into New Mexico

An LLC formed in California that registers with New Mexico files New Mexico's registration (no form number) with $100 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 30 days. See that filing.

Common questions: New Mexico to California

Does my New Mexico company need to register in California?

Yes, once a New Mexico 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 New Mexico's Certificate of Good Standing and Compliance.

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

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

What are the yearly costs for New Mexico and California?

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

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my New Mexico name?

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

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

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