Foreign LLC Registration

Foreign LLC Registration › California

Foreign LLC registration in California

To register an out-of-state LLC in California, file Form LLC-5, Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) with the California Secretary of State, Business Entities. The state fee is $70.

Best 3 Foreign Registration Services in California (2026)

1. Mainstay Filing

$199 + $70 state fee = $269

Registered agent free for the first year, then $149 a year.

2. CA Registered Agent.org

$199 + $70 state fee = $269

Registered agent included for the first year, then $99 a year.

3. California Registered Agent.ai

$199 + $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 at a glance

State fee
$70
Form
Form LLC-5, Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Home-state certificate
Certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, no older than 180 days
Agent
A agent for service of process with a California street address
Yearly filing
Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 (California Secretary of State), $20 (due: within 90 days of registering, then every 2 years)

$70 for Form LLC-5, Application to Register.

How to register in California

  1. Get the home-state certificate. Certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, no older than 180 days. Order it from the state where the LLC was formed.
  2. Name a agent for service of process in California. It needs a street address in the state. All three services below include one for the first year.
  3. File Form LLC-5, Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) with the California Secretary of State, Business Entities.
  4. Pay the $70 state fee. $70 for Form LLC-5, Application to Register.
  5. Stay current. Yearly filing: Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 (California Secretary of State), $20 (due: within 90 days of registering, then every 2 years).

Questions about California

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

The state fee is $70. With a filing service at $199, the total is $269 before any state processing charges.

What form does California use?

Form LLC-5, Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC), filed with the California Secretary of State, Business Entities.

Does California need a certificate from my home state?

Yes. Certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, no older than 180 days.

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