Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Wyoming LLC Foreign Registration in California

An LLC formed in Wyoming that wants to do business in California files Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also asks for Wyoming's Certificate of Good Standing (free), no older than 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your Wyoming records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

What Wyoming and California each ask for

	Wyoming formed here	California registering here
Document	Wyoming Certificate of Good Standing	Form LLC-5
State fee	No fee	$70 at order
How it is handled	Wyoming: online as an instant PDF with a certificate ID anyone can validate	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	wyobiz.wyo.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $61.44, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	First day of the LLC's anniversary month	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Turnaround	Certificate issued instantly online	Online processing: 5 days or less
Agent	Your Wyoming registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

From Wyoming to California, step by step

Order the Wyoming certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing (free) is ordered from Wyoming separately; it is not part of our California order. An instant Wyoming certificate reaches California only hours old, well inside the limit of 180 days.
We prepare and file Form LLC-5
It names us as your California agent for service of process, with your Wyoming name and formation date and the certificate attached. Wyoming issues the certificate instantly, so the California filing can go in the same day. After approval, your Wyoming LLC is registered with California.

California costs for Wyoming companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$70
Certificate of Good Standing, paid to Wyoming	No fee
Our service, with a year of California agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total, Wyoming certificate included	$269

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

Your Wyoming name and California's rules

California accepts your Wyoming name if it includes limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC. If the Wyoming name already ends in LLC, it meets the rule. If another California company uses the Wyoming name, an alternate name is allowed. California can hold a name for 60 days for $10 before you file.

Your California agent and the Wyoming one

California calls it an agent for service of process; Wyoming says registered agent. Your current registered agent stays for Wyoming; ours takes California's papers and notices.

Staying in good standing in Wyoming and California

Wyoming wants the Annual Report every year ($61.44); 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, Wyoming to California

A corporation formed in Wyoming files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Wyoming's Annual Report ($60) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

Registering a California company in Wyoming

An LLC formed in California that registers with Wyoming files Wyoming's registration (no form number) with $150 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 60 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Wyoming to California

Does my Wyoming company need to register in California?

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

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

$269 at checkout, plus Wyoming's Certificate of Good Standing, which is free.

Do I need Wyoming's certificate of good standing?

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

How long does the California registration take?

California's online processing takes 5 days or less; Wyoming'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 Wyoming and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Wyoming's report ($61.44) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

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

Does California require a registered agent?

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

Will California accept my Wyoming name?

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

How do I withdraw from California later?

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

Official sources

People also search

LLC into California, by home state (48)

Wyoming into other states (47)

The same move for a corporation