Foreign LLC requirements by state
Compare what all 50 states require from an LLC formed elsewhere: whether you need a good-standing certificate, how recent it must be, the fee and what you file every year. Pick a state for the detail and our three picks, Mainstay Filing first.
The requirements matrix
| State | Fee | Good-standing certificate | Newest it may be | Yearly filing | Agent called |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $150 | Not required | Not applicable | No fee | registered agent |
| Alaska | $350 | Required | No limit stated | $200 | registered agent |
| Arizona | $150 | Required | 60 days | No fee | statutory agent |
| Arkansas | $270 | Required | 30 days | $150 | registered agent |
| California | $70 | Required | 180 days | $20 | agent for service of process |
| Colorado | $100 | Not required | Not applicable | $25 | registered agent |
| Connecticut | $120 | Required | 90 days | $80 | registered agent |
| Delaware | $200 | Required | 180 days | $400 | registered agent |
| Florida | $125 | Required | 90 days | $138.75 | registered agent |
| Georgia | $235 | Not required | Not applicable | $60 | registered agent |
| Hawaii | $51 | Required | 60 days | $12.50 | registered agent |
| Idaho | $100 | Required | 90 days | No fee | registered agent |
| Illinois | $150 | Required | 60 days | $75 | registered agent |
| Indiana | $105 | Required | 60 days | $32 | registered agent |
| Iowa | $100 | Required | 90 days | $30 | registered agent |
| Kansas | $115 | Not required | Not applicable | $90 | resident agent |
| Kentucky | $90 | Not required | Not applicable | $15 | registered agent |
| Louisiana | $185 | Required | 90 days | $35 | registered agent |
| Maine | $250 | Required | 90 days | $150 | registered agent |
| Maryland | $100 | Required | 60 days | $300 | resident agent |
| Massachusetts | $500 | Required | 90 days | $500 | resident agent |
| Michigan | $50 | Required | 30 days | $25 | resident agent |
| Minnesota | $185 | Not required | Not applicable | No fee | registered agent |
| Mississippi | $250 | Required | 180 days | $250 | registered agent |
| Missouri | $105 | Required | 60 days | No fee | registered agent |
| Montana | $70 | Not required | Not applicable | No fee | registered agent |
| Nebraska | $100 | Required | No limit stated | $25 | agent for service of process |
| Nevada | $75 | Not required | Not applicable | $350 | registered agent |
| New Hampshire | $100 | Not required | Not applicable | $100 | registered agent |
| New Jersey | $100 | Required | No limit stated | $75 | registered agent |
| New Mexico | $100 | Required | 30 days | No fee | registered agent |
| New York | $250 | Required | 365 days | $9 | registered agent |
| North Carolina | $250 | Required | 180 days | $200 | registered agent |
| North Dakota | $135 | Required | No limit stated | $50 | registered agent |
| Ohio | $99 | Not required | Not applicable | No fee | statutory agent |
| Oklahoma | $300 | Required | 60 days | $25 | registered agent |
| Oregon | $275 | Not required | Not applicable | $275 | registered agent |
| Pennsylvania | $250 | Not required | Not applicable | $7 | registered office |
| Rhode Island | $150 | Required | 60 days | $50 | resident agent |
| South Carolina | $110 | Required | 30 days | No fee | agent for service of process |
| South Dakota | $750 | Required | No limit stated | $55 | registered agent |
| Tennessee | $300 | Required | 60 days | $300 | registered agent |
| Texas | $750 | Not required | Not applicable | No fee | registered agent |
| Utah | $59 | Required | 90 days | $18 | registered agent |
| Vermont | $155 | Required | 90 days | $170 | registered agent |
| Virginia | $100 | Required | 365 days | $50 | registered agent |
| Washington | $180 | Required | 60 days | $70 | registered agent |
| West Virginia | $150 | Required | No limit stated | $25 | agent for service of process |
| Wisconsin | $100 | Not required | Not applicable | $65 | registered agent |
| Wyoming | $150 | Required | 60 days | $60 | registered agent |
Download: CSV.
Questions
Which states require a good-standing certificate for a foreign LLC?
36: 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.
How old can the certificate be?
30 of those states state a limit, and it varies by state; the table shows each one.
Where do I file a foreign LLC application?
With each state’s own office, linked on its page. Mainstay Filing prepares and files it for $199 plus the state fee.