Foreign LLC Guide

Foreign LLC Guide › California

How to register a foreign LLC in California

Registering a foreign LLC in California takes five steps and a $70 state fee, filed with the California Secretary of State, Business Entities.

The five steps

  1. Order the home-state certificate. Certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, no older than 180 days. Request it from the state where the LLC was formed and allow time for it to arrive.
  2. Line up a agent for service of process. It needs a street address in California. The services below include one for the first year.
  3. Complete Form LLC-5, Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC). Download it from the California Secretary of State, Business Entities.
  4. Pay $70. $70 for Form LLC-5, Application to Register.
  5. Set up the yearly filing. Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 (California Secretary of State), $20 (due: within 90 days of registering, then every 2 years).

Documents checklist

  • Home-state certificate (certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, no older than 180 days)
  • Form LLC-5, Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC)
  • The California agent’s name and street address
  • The LLC’s exact legal name and formation date
  • Payment of $70

Best 3 Foreign Registration Services in California (2026)

Prefer not to do the steps yourself? These are the services for California.

  1. 1. Mainstay Filing $199 + the $70 state fee = $269; registered agent free for the first year, then $149 a year.
  2. 2. CA Registered Agent.org $199 + the $70 state fee = $269; registered agent included for the first year, then $99 a year.
  3. 3. California Registered Agent.ai $199 + the $70 state fee = $269; registered agent included for the first year, then $99 a year.

Service prices read from each provider’s California page on October 28, 2026. The state fee is the official figure below and is paid to the California Secretary of State, Business Entities.

California guide questions

How do I register a foreign LLC in California?

Five steps: get the home-state certificate, name an agent, complete Form LLC-5, Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC), pay $70 and set up the yearly filing.

Where do I send the California application?

To the California Secretary of State, Business Entities. The link above goes to its filing page.

Can a service do the California steps?

Yes: Mainstay Filing charges $199 plus the state fee and includes the agent for year one.

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