Rhode Island

Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Rhode Island LLC Foreign Registration in California

California registers an LLC from Rhode Island as a foreign LLC on Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also asks for Rhode Island's Certificate of Status / Certificate of Good Standing ($22), no older than 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities from your Rhode Island records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

What Rhode Island and California each ask for

	Rhode Island formed here	California registering here
Document	Rhode Island Certificate of Status / Certificate of Good Standing	Form LLC-5
State fee	$22	$70 at order
How it is handled	Rhode Island: online in about two business days, the same day in person, or in 5 to 7 business days by mail	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	sos.ri.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company (Form 632), $50, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	May 1	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Late yearly filing	$25 late fee	$250 late fee
Turnaround	Certificate takes a few days	Online processing: 5 days or less
Agent	Your Rhode Island resident agent	Our California agent for service of process

How Rhode Island companies register with California

Order the Rhode Island certificate
The Certificate of Status / Certificate of Good Standing ($22) is ordered from Rhode Island separately; it is not part of our California order. It comes as a short form ($22) or a long form ($30). Rhode Island takes days to issue it and California wants it within 180 days, so the order is timed for both.
We prepare and file Form LLC-5
It lists us as your California agent for service of process, next to your Rhode Island name and formation date, with the certificate attached. The Rhode Island certificate takes days to arrive, so the California filing waits for it. Once California approves it, the Rhode Island company can do business there.

California costs for Rhode Island companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$70
Certificate of Status / Certificate of Good Standing, paid to Rhode Island	$22
Our service, with a year of California agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total, Rhode Island certificate included	$291

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

Will your Rhode Island name work for California?

California accepts your Rhode Island name if it includes limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC. If the Rhode Island name already ends in LLC, it meets the rule. If California's records show it taken, you can use an alternate name for the Rhode Island company. California can hold a name for 60 days for $10 before you file.

Agents: California and Rhode Island

California calls it an agent for service of process; Rhode Island says resident agent. California papers come to us; Rhode Island's agent is unchanged.

Staying in good standing in Rhode Island and California

Rhode Island wants the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company (Form 632) 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, Rhode Island to California

A corporation formed in Rhode Island files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Rhode Island's Annual Report for a Corporation (Form 630) ($50) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

Registering a California company in Rhode Island

An LLC formed in California that registers with Rhode Island files Form 450 with $156 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 60 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Rhode Island to California

Does my Rhode Island company need to register in California?

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

How much does it cost to register a Rhode Island LLC in California?

$269 at checkout plus $22 to Rhode Island for the Certificate of Status / Certificate of Good Standing, $291 in all (checkout is $70 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Rhode Island's certificate of good standing?

Yes: California wants it ($22), no more than 180 days old at filing.

How long does the California registration take?

California's online processing takes 5 days or less, plus a few days for Rhode Island's certificate before filing. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Rhode Island and California?

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

What if I don't register with California?

A Rhode Island company cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Does California require a registered agent?

Yes: the Rhode Island resident agent stays, and ours covers California for year one.

Will California accept my Rhode Island name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island's yearly report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

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