Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

West Virginia LLC Foreign Registration in California

California registers an LLC from West Virginia as a foreign LLC on Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also asks for West Virginia's Certificate of Existence ($10), no older than 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your West Virginia records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

What West Virginia and California each ask for

	West Virginia formed here	California registering here
Document	West Virginia Certificate of Existence	Form LLC-5
State fee	$10	$70 at order
How it is handled	West Virginia: in about 5 to 10 business days, with 24-hour, 2-hour and 1-hour expedite options	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	sos.wv.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Name endings	limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC, with limited abbreviated Ltd. and company abbreviated Co.	limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $26, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	July 1 each year	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Late yearly filing	$50 late fee	$250 late fee
Turnaround	Certificate takes a few days	Online processing: 5 days or less
Agent	Your West Virginia agent for service of process	Our California agent for service of process

How West Virginia companies register with California

Order the West Virginia certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($10) is ordered from West Virginia separately; it is not part of our California order. West Virginia 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 West Virginia name and formation date, with the certificate attached. Allow for the days West Virginia takes to send the certificate before the California filing goes in. Once California approves it, the West Virginia company can do business there.

First-year cost, West Virginia to California

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

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

Your West Virginia name and California's rules

California accepts your West Virginia name if it includes limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC. West Virginia's list (limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC, with limited abbreviated Ltd. and company abbreviated Co.) 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 West Virginia company. California can hold a name for 60 days for $10 before you file.

Your California agent and the West Virginia one

West Virginia and California both call it an agent for service of process. Your current agent for service of process stays for West Virginia; ours takes California's papers and notices.

Staying in good standing in West Virginia and California

West Virginia wants the Annual Report every year ($26); 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, West Virginia to California

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

The other way: California into West Virginia

An LLC formed in California that registers with West Virginia files Form LLF-1 with $151 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5). See that filing.

Questions West Virginia owners ask about California

Does my West Virginia company need to register in California?

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

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

$269 at checkout plus $10 to West Virginia for the Certificate of Existence, $279 in all (checkout is $70 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need West Virginia's certificate of good standing?

Yes: California wants West Virginia'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, plus a few days for West Virginia's certificate before filing. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for West Virginia and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), West Virginia's report ($26) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

A West Virginia company cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Does California require a registered agent?

Yes: the West Virginia agent for service of process stays, and ours covers California for year one.

Will California accept my West Virginia name?

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

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

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