Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

North Dakota LLC Foreign Registration in California

To do business in California, an LLC formed in North Dakota registers there on Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also asks for North Dakota's Certificate of Good Standing ($20), no older than 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities from your North Dakota records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

North Dakota vs California: the paperwork

	North Dakota formed here	California registering here
Document	North Dakota Certificate of Good Standing	Form LLC-5
State fee	$20	$70 at order
How it is handled	North Dakota: online	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	North Dakota Secretary of State	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	firststop.sos.nd.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Name endings	the words limited liability company, or LLC or L.L.C.	limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $50, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	November 15	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Late yearly filing	$50 late fee	$250 late fee
Agent	Your North Dakota registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

How North Dakota companies register with California

Order the North Dakota certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing ($20) is ordered from North Dakota separately; it is not part of our California order. California counts 180 days from the day North Dakota 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 North Dakota name and formation date, with the certificate attached. Once North Dakota's certificate is in hand, California's filing goes in. After approval, your North Dakota LLC is registered with California.

First-year cost, North Dakota to California

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$70
Certificate of Good Standing, paid to North Dakota	$20
Our service, with a year of California agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total, North Dakota certificate included	$289

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

Will your North Dakota name work for California?

California accepts your North Dakota name if it includes limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC. North Dakota's list (the words limited liability company, or LLC or L.L.C.) is not the same, but an ending such as “limited liability company” works in both states. If California's records show it taken, you can use an alternate name for the North Dakota company. California can hold a name for 60 days for $10 before you file.

Your California agent and the North Dakota one

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

Staying in good standing in North Dakota and California

North Dakota wants the Annual Report every year ($50); 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 Dakota to California

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

Registering a California company in North Dakota

An LLC formed in California that registers with North Dakota files North Dakota's registration (no form number) with $135 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5). See that filing.

Common questions: North Dakota to California

Does my North Dakota company need to register in California?

Yes, once a North Dakota 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 $20 to North Dakota for the Certificate of Good Standing, $289 in all (checkout is $70 in state fees plus our $199).

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

Yes: California wants it ($20), 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 Dakota's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for North Dakota and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), North Dakota's report ($50) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my North Dakota name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its North Dakota name at home. California names must include limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC; “limited liability company” works in both states.

Can I form a new California LLC instead?

Yes, but North Dakota 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 Dakota's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

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