“Texas wanted a certificate from Delaware. They ordered it and filed the application.”
Lauren H.
SaaS Founder
Required by the new state
The state you formed in does not cover the next one.
01 · What it is
A registration, not a new company
The same LLC or corporation files for a certificate of authority in a second state. “Foreign” means out of state, not international.
02 · Why it is required
Doing business there triggers it
An office, employees, or ongoing operations in that state. Occasional sales to customers there usually do not. The state sets the line.
03 · If you skip it
Fines, and no access to that court
The state can charge back fees and penalties. The company can be barred from suing in that state’s courts.
What the application does not spell out.
- You still need an agent there
- Every state requires a registered agent with a street address in that state. The first year is included. After that it renews at $149 a year.
- Most states want a home-state certificate
- A Certificate of Good Standing from the formation state, often dated within 30 to 90 days. We obtain it when the filing asks for it.
- The name has to be free
- If another company already has that name in the new state, the filing is rejected. We check before we submit.
- The home state does not go away
- Annual reports, franchise tax, and the original agent still belong to the state of formation. The new state adds its own.
Testimonials
“I hired someone in Colorado. The application and the agent were the same order.”
Kevin B.
E-commerce Owner
“Our name was already taken in Florida. They caught it before the state rejected the form.”
Diana M.
Consulting Firm Owner
FAQ
File in the next state.
Forming the company too? Start with formation. You can add this filing once the company exists.
