How to Register a Business in California: Foreign Qualification Guide (2026)
If your company was formed in another state and now has employees, an office or regular business in California, you register with the California Secretary of State. Corporations file a Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation; LLCs file an Application to Register a Foreign LLC (Form LLC-5). Here is what it costs, what you need, and what comes after.
California at a glance
Item | California |
|---|---|
Filing | Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation, or Form LLC-5 for LLCs |
Where | California Secretary of State, online through bizfile Online |
State fee | $100 for corporations, $70 for LLCs |
Typical processing | 2–3 weeks |
You'll need | A certificate of good standing from your home state |
Registered agent | Required, with a California street address |
Ongoing filing | Statement of Information (corporations every year, LLCs every two years) and the $800 minimum franchise tax |
Do you need to register in California?
You generally need to register if your company is "doing business" in California, for example if you:
Have an office, store or warehouse in California
Employ people who live and work in California
Regularly sell to, or provide services for, California customers
Activities that usually don't count on their own include holding a bank account in California, holding internal meetings there, and isolated one-off transactions. If you're unsure, check with your attorney or book a call with us.
Hiring a remote employee in California always means opening California payroll tax accounts, even when Secretary of State registration isn't required. See the payroll section below.
How to register, step by step
Get a certificate of good standing from your home state. California asks for one with both corporation and LLC filings.
Choose a California registered agent. See the rules below.
File through bizfile Online. Corporations file a Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation ($100); LLCs file Form LLC-5 ($70).
File your first Statement of Information. It's due within 90 days of registering: $25 for corporations, $20 for LLCs.
Save your approval and California entity number. You'll need them for payroll and tax registrations.
Registered agent rules in California
Every business registered in California must name an agent for service of process with a California street address. P.O. boxes aren't accepted. The agent can be a California resident or a corporation registered with the Secretary of State to act as an agent.
Using an employee as your agent is allowed, but it means legal papers go to one person's home, and they're lost if that person leaves. A commercial registered agent avoids that. Every AbstractOps plan includes registered agent service.
Statements of Information and the $800 franchise tax
California's version of the annual report is the Statement of Information. Corporations file one every year ($25) and LLCs every two years ($20), in the month they registered. Missing it can bring a $250 penalty and, eventually, suspension.
Separately, most companies registered in California owe the Franchise Tax Board an $800 minimum franchise tax every year, even if they make no money in the state. Budget for it from the start.
California payroll accounts
If you have employees in California, you'll also need:
One employer account with the Employment Development Department (EDD). It covers state income tax withholding, unemployment insurance, the Employment Training Tax and State Disability Insurance.
City taxes, where they apply. San Francisco and a few other cities have their own business taxes tied to payroll or headcount, so check where employees work.
Our California payroll tax registration guide walks through the details.
California registration FAQ
How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC or corporation in California?
$70 for an LLC or $100 for a corporation, plus the cost of your home state's certificate of good standing. Most companies also owe the $800 minimum franchise tax each year.
How long does California take?
Typically 2–3 weeks.
Does California require a certificate of good standing?
Yes, for both corporations and LLCs.
Does California have an annual report?
California uses the Statement of Information: every year for corporations ($25) and every two years for LLCs ($20).
Let us handle California for you
AbstractOps files your California registration, acts as your registered agent, opens your payroll accounts and tracks your annual filings, from $250 per state per year. Start a 7-day free trial or book a 15-minute call.
This guide is for general information and isn't tax or legal advice. Fees and rules change; confirm current requirements with the California Secretary of State and Franchise Tax Board.