Keeping the company in good standing · A term for founders abroad
What is foreign qualification?
Registering a company in a second state where it does business; "foreign" here means from another state, not another country.
Checked against the IRS's instructions and the states' own rules. Reviewed by Saais Patel, compliance reviewer.
Term 37 of 105 in the glossary, filed under F.California Secretary of State: Form LLC-5, foreign LLC registration
Foreign qualification, for a founder abroad.
In US company law, foreign means another state, not another country. A Wyoming LLC that opens an office in Texas has to register in Texas as a foreign LLC, appoint a Texas registered agent and file Texas's reports, on top of Wyoming's.
Selling to customers in a state doesn't usually require it on its own; an office, staff or stock there usually does. It's why we suggest forming in the state where the business will physically be, if it will be anywhere. We register you in another state for $229 plus that state's fee.
Sources: California Secretary of State: Form LLC-5, foreign LLC registration; Texas Secretary of State: Form 304, foreign LLC registration.
Read next · guide · 2 minForeign qualification: when a Wyoming company has to register in another state, and howWhat founders ask next.
- Does my Wyoming LLC need to register where my customers are?
- Not for selling to them from elsewhere. Registration is for doing business in a state: premises, employees, inventory or property there.
- What does foreign qualification cost?
- The state's fee, from $70 in California to $750 in Texas, then its yearly reports. The foreign qualification guide has a table.
03 · See also
- The company itselfRegistered agentThe person or company with a street address in the state who receives legal papers and state notices for a company during business hours.Read the term
- Money, sales tax and addressesNexusThe link with a state that obliges a seller to collect its sales tax, created by a presence there or by sales above the state's threshold.Read the term
- Keeping the company in good standingAnnual reportThe yearly filing a state requires to keep a company in good standing: $60 in Wyoming; a Delaware LLC files none and pays a yearly tax instead.Read the term
- Keeping the company in good standingWyoming annual report licence taxWyoming's yearly charge on an LLC: $60, or $0.0002 per dollar of Wyoming assets if more, due on the first day of the month it was formed in.Read the term
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