Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Washington LLC Foreign Registration in California

An LLC formed in Washington that wants to do business in California files Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also wants Washington's Certificate of Existence ($20), dated within 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your Washington records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

Washington vs California: the paperwork

	Washington formed here	California registering here
Document	Washington Certificate of Existence	Form LLC-5
State fee	$20	$70 at order
How it is handled	Washington: online as an instant Express download, also emailed	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	ccfs.sos.wa.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $70, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	Last day of the entity's anniversary month	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Late yearly filing	$25 late fee	$250 late fee
Turnaround	Certificate issued instantly online	Online processing: 5 days or less
Agent	Your Washington registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

How Washington companies register with California

Order the Washington certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($20) is ordered from Washington separately; it is not part of our California order. Ordered from Washington on filing day, it easily meets California's limit of 180 days.
We prepare and file Form LLC-5
It lists us as your California agent for service of process, next to your Washington name and formation date, with the certificate attached. Washington issues the certificate instantly, so the California filing can go in the same day. After approval, your Washington LLC is registered with California.

California costs for Washington companies

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

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

Your Washington name and California's rules

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

Your California agent and the Washington one

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

Yearly filings: California and Washington

Washington wants the Annual Report every year ($70); 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, Washington to California

A corporation formed in Washington files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Washington's Annual Report ($70) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

Registering a California company in Washington

An LLC formed in California that registers with Washington files Washington's registration (no form number) with $200 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 60 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Washington to California

Does my Washington company need to register in California?

Yes, once a Washington 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 Washington for the Certificate of Existence, $289 in all (checkout is $70 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Washington's certificate of good standing?

Yes: California wants Washington's Certificate of Existence ($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; Washington's certificate is an instant download, so there is no wait before filing. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Washington and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Washington's report ($70) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

A Washington company cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Washington name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

Official sources

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