Foreign registration · Form 972

West Virginia LLC Foreign Registration in Louisiana

An LLC formed in West Virginia that wants to do business in Louisiana files Form 972, with $190 in state fees. Louisiana also wants West Virginia's Certificate of Existence ($10), dated within 90 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division using your West Virginia records and act as your registered agent there for the first year.

West Virginia vs Louisiana: the paperwork

	West Virginia formed here	Louisiana registering here
Document	West Virginia Certificate of Existence	Form 972, Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company
State fee	$10	$190 at order (filing fee $185 plus charges collected at filing)
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 Louisiana
Paid expedite		24-hour $35, 2 to 4 hour $60
Office	West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Official page	sos.wv.gov	sos.la.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 90 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $26, every year	Annual Report, $35, every year
Due	July 1 each year	On or before the anniversary date of registration in Louisiana
Agent	Your West Virginia agent for service of process	Our Louisiana registered agent

How West Virginia companies register with Louisiana

Order the West Virginia certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($10) is ordered from West Virginia separately; it is not part of our Louisiana order. West Virginia takes days to issue it and Louisiana wants it within 90 days, so the order is timed for both.
We prepare and file Form 972
It names us as your Louisiana registered agent, with your West Virginia name and formation date and the certificate attached. The West Virginia certificate takes days to arrive, so the Louisiana filing waits for it. Once Louisiana approves it, the West Virginia company can do business there.

First-year cost, West Virginia to Louisiana

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$190
Certificate of Existence, paid to West Virginia	$10
Our service, with a year of Louisiana registered agent service	$199
First-year total, West Virginia certificate included	$399

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

Your West Virginia name and Louisiana's rules

We search Louisiana's records for West Virginia's name on file before anything is filed.

Your Louisiana agent and the West Virginia one

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

Yearly filings: Louisiana and West Virginia

Each year your LLC files West Virginia's Annual Report ($26) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($35). With our $149 registered agent renewal, West Virginia plus Louisiana comes to $210 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, West Virginia to Louisiana

A corporation formed in West Virginia files Form 326 with Louisiana ($160 in state fees). After that come West Virginia's Annual Report ($25) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($30). See the corporation filing.

The other way: Louisiana into West Virginia

An LLC formed in Louisiana that registers with West Virginia files Form LLF-1 with $151 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($25). See that filing.

Questions West Virginia owners ask about Louisiana

Does my West Virginia company need to register in Louisiana?

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

How much does the Louisiana registration cost?

$389 at checkout plus $10 to West Virginia for the Certificate of Existence, $399 in all (checkout is $190 in state fees plus our $199).

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

Yes: Louisiana wants West Virginia's Certificate of Existence ($10), no more than 90 days old at filing.

What are the yearly costs for West Virginia and Louisiana?

$210 a year: our $149 registered agent renewal, $26 to West Virginia and $35 to Louisiana for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with Louisiana?

A West Virginia company cannot sue in court there until it registers, and Louisiana can add a civil penalty of up to $1,000.

Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

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

Can I form a new Louisiana LLC instead?

Yes, but West Virginia keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Louisiana's Annual Report ($40), and the original keeps West Virginia's Annual Report.

What does a Louisiana company file to register in West Virginia?

It files Form LLF-1 with $151 in state fees, plus Louisiana's good standing certificate.

Official sources

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