North Carolina

Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

North Carolina LLC Foreign Registration in California

An LLC formed in North Carolina that wants to do business in California files Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also asks for North Carolina's Certificate of Existence ($10), no older than 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities from your North Carolina records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

North Carolina vs California: the paperwork

	North Carolina formed here	California registering here
Document	North Carolina Certificate of Existence	Form LLC-5
State fee	$10	$70 at order
How it is handled	North Carolina: online as a downloadable electronic certified document, or on paper	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	sosnc.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Name endings	limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC	limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $203, 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
Agent	Your North Carolina registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

From North Carolina to California, step by step

Order the North Carolina certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($10) is ordered from North Carolina separately; it is not part of our California order. California accepts it within 180 days of North Carolina's issue date, so it is ordered shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form LLC-5
It lists us as your California agent for service of process, next to your North Carolina name and formation date, with the certificate attached. Once North Carolina's certificate is in hand, California's filing goes in. Once California approves it, the North Carolina company can do business there.

First-year cost, North Carolina to California

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

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

Your North Carolina name and California's rules

California accepts your North Carolina name if it includes limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC. North Carolina uses the same endings, so it already fits. If another California company uses the North Carolina name, an alternate name is allowed. California can hold a name for 60 days for $10 before you file.

Agents: California and North Carolina

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

Staying in good standing in North Carolina and California

North Carolina wants the Annual Report every year ($203); California wants the Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) every two years ($20). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, North Carolina to California

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

Registering a California company in North Carolina

An LLC formed in California that registers with North Carolina files Form L-09 with $253 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 180 days. See that filing.

Questions North Carolina owners ask about California

Does my North Carolina company need to register in California?

Yes, once a North Carolina 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 North Carolina for the Certificate of Existence, $279 in all (checkout is $70 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need North Carolina's certificate of good standing?

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

What are the yearly costs for North Carolina and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), North Carolina's report ($203) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

A North Carolina company cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my North Carolina name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its North Carolina name at home. California names must include limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC, the same endings North Carolina uses.

Can I form a new California LLC instead?

Yes, but North Carolina 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 North Carolina's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

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