When do I need the Pennsylvania good standing certificate?

Banks, other states, landlords, and government contracts ask for the Pennsylvania good standing certificate before they will open an account, register your company, or sign a large contract.

How much does the Pennsylvania certificate of good standing cost?

The Pennsylvania Department of State charges $40 for an LLC. ClearFormation charges $79 to place the order. The state fee is added on top.

How do I order the Pennsylvania certificate of good standing?

Have the file number and the legal name exactly as the Pennsylvania Department of State has them. ClearFormation submits the order and uploads the PDF to your dashboard. When the company is active, the state usually issues it the same day.

What if Pennsylvania will not issue the certificate?

The Pennsylvania Department of State will not issue it while a Annual report is overdue, the registered agent has resigned, or the company is dissolved. File the missing report, appoint an agent, and order again after the record shows active.

Will a PDF work, or do I need a paper certificate?

A PDF from the Pennsylvania Department of State is what most banks and other states accept. Order a mailed paper copy only when the recipient asks for one.

Is the Pennsylvania certificate of good standing the same as a certified copy?

No. The Certificate of Subsistence confirms the company is active today. A certified copy is a stamped copy of the formation documents.

Does ClearFormation order the Pennsylvania certificate?

Yes. ClearFormation places the order with the Pennsylvania Department of State and uploads the PDF to your dashboard.

PA · Official SOS certificate

Pennsylvania Certificate Of Good Standing

Q: What is the Pennsylvania certificate of good standing?

Pennsylvania calls it a Certificate of Subsistence. The Pennsylvania Department of State issues it to show your LLC or corporation is active and has not been dissolved. It is not a tax clearance, and it is not a copy of your formation documents.

Q: How recent must the Pennsylvania certificate of good standing be?

Banks and other states usually want a certificate issued within the last 30 to 90 days. Order it close to the day you will send it.

Q: Can I use the Pennsylvania certificate to qualify in another state?

Yes. The other state usually asks for a recent Certificate of Subsistence from the Pennsylvania Department of State when you register a company formed in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania certificate of good standing from the Pennsylvania Department of State costs $40 for an LLC. ClearFormation orders it and uploads the PDF to your dashboard.

Pennsylvania COGS

$79service fee

+ $40 PA state certificate fee

Ordered directly from the state
Digital PDF delivery
Typical turnaround in a few business days
Saved to your compliance documents

Order PA certificate

What is the Pennsylvania certificate of good standing?

The Pennsylvania certificate of good standing shows that your company is active with the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Pennsylvania calls this document a Certificate of Subsistence. People also call it the Pennsylvania good standing certificate. It is not a tax clearance, and it is not a certified copy of your formation documents.

When you need one

A bank, lender, or merchant account asks for proof the company is active
Another state asks for it before you register to do business there
A landlord, vendor, or government contract asks for it before they will sign

Those recipients usually want a certificate issued within the last 30 to 90 days. Order it close to the day you will send it.

How to order the Pennsylvania certificate of good standing

1
Confirm the company is active
- The Pennsylvania Department of State issues a Certificate of Subsistence only when the company is active.
- If a report is overdue or the registered agent resigned, fix that before you order.
2
Gather the legal name and file number
- The file number is the ID the Pennsylvania Department of State assigned when the company was formed.
- States also call it an entity number or document number.
- It is on the formation approval and on the state's business search.
- Use that number and the legal name exactly as the state has them.
3
Place the order
- ClearFormation submits the request and uploads the PDF to your dashboard.
- The service fee is $79, plus the state fee.
4
Receive the certificate
- The Pennsylvania Department of State issues the PDF.
- ClearFormation uploads it to your dashboard so you can download it.

Order your Pennsylvania certificate

We order the Certificate of Subsistence from the Pennsylvania Department of State and upload the PDF to your dashboard.

Order my Pennsylvania certificate

If the state will not issue it

The Pennsylvania Department of State issues a Certificate of Subsistence only when the company is active. These are the usual reasons an order is refused:

A missed Annual report
A resigned Pennsylvania registered agent
Administrative dissolution, or a revoked registration

File the missing report, appoint an agent, and order the certificate after the record shows active. That update often takes 1 to 5 business days after payment clears.