Sun Document Filings, LLC makes it easy to file a foreign LLC in California. First, we can obtain a Certificate of Status, sometimes called a Certificate of Existence or Certificate of Good Standing from your home state. Second, we can check name availability with the California Secretary of State to make sure the foreign LLC's name is available. Third, you will fill out the foreign LLC Application for Registration. Fourth, you will sign and fax the foreign LLC Application for Registration to us. Finally, we will file the Application for Registration in Sacramento at the Secretary of State California foreign LLC counter. We will obtain a California LLC file number from the Secretary of State for your foreign limited liability company. We will obtain two certified copies of the Application for Registration and a Certificate of Registration for all foreign LLC filings at no extra charge. Simply follow our Step by Step process.SAME DAY AND 24 HOUR RUSH OPTIONS AVAILABLE!

Step 1: Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from home state or country: If you have already obtained a Certificate of Good Standing from the company's home state that is less then 6 months old or are in the process of obtaining one, please skip this step. If you need assistance in obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing from your home state, we can assist you for an additional service and state fees.

Note: If the foreign LLC is from outside the United States and is in a different language, you will have to have it translated before you can register the foreign LLC. Please contact the Secretary of State to make sure they will accept your translated Certificate of Good Standing before sending your document for filing.

Step 2: Check name availability: Skip this step if you have already checked name availability. A foreign LLC name must be available in California or the LLC will have to conduct business under a DBA. Before contacting us, please determine at least two alternate choices from your current LLC name. Sometimes, adding the home state in front of the name will make it available. Please download our name availability order form in PDF format.

Step 3: Prepare the form: Prepare the California form LLC-5 Application for Registration. The form is provided in PDF format. For your convenience, you may download a copy of the form including detailed instructions prepared by the California Secretary of State in PDF format below. The form provided can be viewed and printed from your computer using the most current version of the Adobe Reader (available for free from Adobe's Website).

Download Form LLC-5 Application for Registration

Please note that we provide registered agent services for $159.00 a year. Please contact us if you are interested and we will assist you in designating the registered agent correctly on the Application for Registration. For more information about California Registered Agent, click here.

Please read helpful tips to avoid document rejection by clicking here.

Step 4: How fast do you need your document filed? Select the appropriate order form from the three options below and fax or e-mail the completed form with the signed Application for Registration to 800-498-3611 or e-mail to order@sundocumentfilings.com
**The order forms are in PDF format. Please type on the form from your computer. For legibility purposes, please do not handwrite.** Fees

Option 1: Same day rush order form - Documents received by 11:00am PST
Option 2: 24 hour rush order form
Option 3: Routine - 7 business days order form*

**NOTE: Documents submitted on a routine basis (normally 7 business days from March - November) from December thru February will take between 10-15 business days to be processed due to the increased filing volume at the Secretary of State's office. If you need your document faster, please use the rush option. The yearly slowdown happens in all 50 states every December and recovers in March.

If you fax the order, we will fax a received stamped copy back or if you e-mail the document, we will reply to confirm receipt of the order.

Step 5: Document is Filed: If we receive your California LLC Application for Registration by 2:00pm M-F, your limited liability company will be registered by 5:00PM! This means your company will be given the file date your document was submitted on.

Step 6: Document is complete: When the state is finished with your document, they will issue a state LLC number and two certified copies. Our runners' will pick up your document and bring it back to our office. We will immediately fax a copy of the filed document to you. We will return the two certified copies via regular mail. FedEx is available for an additional fee or if you have your own FedEx account number. That is it. So fast and easy!

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Service and State Fees

Name availability check: $30.00 for one first choice plus 2 back up name choices for no extra charge plus a state fee of $4.00 per each name checked.

California Registered Agent services for one year: $159.00. Annual fee due at time of filing.

Obtain Certificate of Good Standing from the home state or District of Columbia: Please contact us for exact quotes. Fees are often determined upon whether or not you need the document on a rush. Please provide your time constraints prior to placing the order.

Choose a filing option below.

SAME DAY FILING (We must receive the document and payment by 11:00am). We file the document and fax you a copy the same day, the certified copies will arrive the following business day via FedEx. If the document is received after that time, we will do our best to have it filed the same day. Otherwise, the document will be filed the next business morning. Our service fee: $635.00 plus the Secretary of State's fee of $85.00. Total $720.00 Price includes a fax copy return and FedEx priority overnight to a continental US address. Call for more information and ask for the LLC SAME DAY FILING. This service is on a first come, first serve basis so make sure to send your document early or the night before. Due to limited availability each day and high demand for this service, no discounts will be given for multiple filings from the same customer.

Fax/e-mail the form: 24 hours. If you need to form an LLC on a 24 hour rush basis, the Secretary of State charges a $350.00 rush fee plus a $70.00 filing fee. Our fee is a total of $100.00 for this service. Total fees: $520.00. Fax or e-mail the document to our office with cover sheet or order form. Credit card required.

Fax/e-mail the form: 7 business days: Routine filing - Our service fee is $70.00 plus the California Secretary of State fee of $85.00 ($70.00 filing fee + $15.00 counter fee) for a total of $155.00.

Obtain a California Certificate of Good Standing at time of filing the Application of Registration: Our service fee is $35.00 plus the state fee of $5.00 per certificate. On a 24-48 hour rush with filing add $70.00. Same day - add $180.00 plus $5.00 per certificate. These fees apply to orders placed prior to filing the Application for Registration.   Return to Step 4

Why choose Sun Document Filings?

We have filed thousands of foreign LLC Applications for Registration with the California Secretary of State over the years. Unlike other online service companies, we are in Sacramento...the only place foreign Limited Liability Company "Application for Registration" can be filed on an expedited basis. We personally visit the California Secretary of State's California LLC counter 3 times a day to drop off and pick up documents. We are very experienced in handling foreign LLC registration in California.

Please read what your peers have to say about our services but viewing our testimonials. Trust Sun Document Filings, LLC for all of your California LLC needs.

Tips to avoid document rejection:

a. Read all instructions provided by the Secretary of State.

b. On line 1, type the name of the foreign LLC EXACTLY as it appears on the Certificate of Good Standing including spaces and punctuation. If the LLC is using another name, type the DBA on line 1 and type the name of the foreign LLC EXACTLY as it appears on the Certificate of Good Standing including spaces and punctuation on line 2.
Note: A foreign LLC must use its own name or less its registered name is unavailable for use in California.

c. An agent for service or process is required. An agent for service of process is the person or entity that will accept service of process on behalf of the company if the LLC is ever sued. The agent for service of process must be have a California
address. If you do not have a California address or a person that can act as the agent for service of process, you can appoint a registered agent for you for a fee of $159.00 per year. Please click here for further information regarding         registered agent services.

d. Don't forget to type authorized person's title such as member, manager or CEO.

e. Type the form. If you must hand write it, please write clearly. If the Secretary of State cannot read it, the document will be rejected and you will have to prepare a new form.

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NOTE: We hope you find our foreign LLC registration steps useful and easy to follow. Nothing contained in our steps should be construed as giving legal or financial advice. Our intended audience is attorneys and accountants. Therefore, if you are not an attorney or accountant, you should contact an attorney or accountant for specific legal or tax questions regarding your LLC. Please be aware that the Franchise Tax Board and Secretary of State are government agencies and can change their fees/procedures/forms/turnaround times without notification. Although we do our best to update our steps and stay current, we shall not be held liable for any omissions or errors contained. We do not profess to be giving legal or financial advice to the general public as we are a typing and filing agency.  file foreign LLC documents. California foreign LLC application for registration forms are filed with the Secretary of State. We help you register an LLC and qualify foreign LLC in California fast! Foreign LLC registration is made easy with our help.