Foreign registration · Form LLF-1

North Dakota LLC Foreign Registration in West Virginia

An LLC formed in North Dakota that wants to do business in West Virginia files Form LLF-1, with $151 in state fees. West Virginia also wants North Dakota's Certificate of Good Standing ($20). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division using your North Dakota records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

North Dakota vs West Virginia: the paperwork

	North Dakota formed here	West Virginia registering here
Document	North Dakota Certificate of Good Standing	Form LLF-1, West Virginia Application for Certificate of Authority of Limited Liability Company
State fee	$20	$151 at order (filing fee $150 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	North Dakota: online	Filed with West Virginia
Paid expedite		next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25, 2-hour $250, 1-hour $500
Office	North Dakota Secretary of State	West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division
Official page	firststop.sos.nd.gov	sos.wv.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Must be current
Name endings	the words limited liability company, or LLC or L.L.C.	limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC, with limited abbreviated Ltd. and company abbreviated Co.
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $50, every year	Annual Report, $25, every year
Due	November 15	July 1 each year
Late yearly filing	$50 late fee	$50 late fee
Agent	Your North Dakota registered agent	Our West Virginia agent for service of process

How North Dakota companies register with West Virginia

Order the North Dakota certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing ($20) is ordered from North Dakota separately; it is not part of our West Virginia order. West Virginia wants the North Dakota certificate current, so it is ordered close to the filing date.
We prepare and file Form LLF-1
It lists us as your West Virginia 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, West Virginia's filing goes in. Once West Virginia approves it, the North Dakota company can do business there.

First-year cost, North Dakota to West Virginia

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$151
Certificate of Good Standing, paid to North Dakota	$20
Our service, with a year of West Virginia agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total, North Dakota certificate included	$370

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

Will your North Dakota name work for West Virginia?

West Virginia accepts your North Dakota name if it includes limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC, with limited abbreviated Ltd. and company abbreviated Co.. 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 West Virginia's records show it taken, you can use an alternate name for the North Dakota company. We check your exact North Dakota name against West Virginia's records before filing.

Your West Virginia agent and the North Dakota one

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

Staying in good standing in North Dakota and West Virginia

Each year your LLC files North Dakota's Annual Report ($50) and West Virginia's Annual Report ($25). With our $149 agent for service of process renewal, North Dakota plus West Virginia comes to $224 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, North Dakota to West Virginia

A corporation formed in North Dakota files Form CF-1 with West Virginia ($101 in state fees). After that come North Dakota's Annual Report ($25) and West Virginia's Annual Report ($25). See the corporation filing.

The other way: West Virginia into North Dakota

An LLC formed in West Virginia that registers with North Dakota files North Dakota's registration (no form number) with $135 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Existence ($10). See that filing.

Common questions: North Dakota to West Virginia

Does my North Dakota company need to register in West Virginia?

Yes, once a North Dakota business operates there; West Virginia law lists 12 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does it cost to register a North Dakota LLC in West Virginia?

$350 at checkout plus $20 to North Dakota for the Certificate of Good Standing, $370 in all (checkout is $151 in state fees plus our $199).

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

Yes: West Virginia wants it ($20), current at filing.

How long does the West Virginia registration take?

West Virginia's standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days at no extra cost, once North Dakota's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25.

What are the yearly costs for North Dakota and West Virginia?

$224 a year: our $149 agent for service of process renewal, $50 to North Dakota and $25 to West Virginia for the yearly reports.

Does West Virginia require a registered agent?

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

Will West Virginia 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. West Virginia names must include limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC, with limited abbreviated Ltd. and company abbreviated Co.; “limited liability company” works in both states.

Can I form a new West Virginia LLC instead?

Yes, but North Dakota keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files West Virginia's Annual Report ($26), and the original keeps North Dakota's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from West Virginia later?

North Dakota companies leave by filing a withdrawal application; until then, West Virginia's report stays due alongside North Dakota's filings.

Official sources

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