Foreign Qualification by State

Foreign Qualification by State › California

Foreign qualification in California: the requirements

To qualify a foreign LLC in California, file Form LLC-5, Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) and pay the $70 fee, with a registered agent in the state.

California checklist

  • The application: Form LLC-5, Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC), filed with the California Secretary of State, Business Entities.
  • The fee: $70. $70 for Form LLC-5, Application to Register.
  • From your home state: Certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, no older than 180 days.
  • A local agent: A agent for service of process with a street address in California. Each service below supplies one for the first year.
  • Afterward: Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 (California Secretary of State), $20 (due: within 90 days of registering, then every 2 years).

Best 3 Foreign Registration Services in California (2026)

The three ways we would handle the California filing.

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.

How California compares

California is 4th of 50 by fee (median $142.50). It is one of 36 states that want a home-state certificate: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

California questions

What does California require for foreign qualification?

Form LLC-5, Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC), the $70 fee and a agent for service of process in California, plus a certificate from the LLC’s home state.

Is California stricter than other states?

It is 4th cheapest by fee, and one of the 36 states that want home-state paperwork.

Which service is best for California?

Mainstay Filing, at $199 plus the state fee.

Sources