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Formation Explained

LLC rules, unpacked for first-time owners.

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Glossary entry

What a certificate of good standing means for an LLC

A document a state issues to show an LLC is current. Other states often ask for it before approving a registration.
Formation Explained editorial team

In brief

You may also see
Called a certificate of existence in several states

What this means for you

Banks and lenders sometimes request one as well.

The picture across states

Out-of-state LLCs need one in 36 states. 60 days is the limit most states set, 11 in total.

Pages that use this term

This term shows up on these pages: Starting an LLC in each state, State-by-state registered agents, Out-of-state registration by state.

Documents and pricing pages behind this page

  1. Form 08-0497, Certificate of Registration via commerce.alaska.gov, as of October 2026
  2. Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.600 to via akleg.gov, as of October 2026
  3. Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.675 to via akleg.gov, as of October 2026
  4. Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.750 to via akleg.gov, as of October 2026
  5. Alaska Statutes, AS 43.70.020 to via akleg.gov, as of October 2026
  6. Arizona Corporation Commission, LLC forms via azcc.gov, as of October 2026
  7. Form L025 instructions via azcc.gov, as of October 2026
  8. Commission LLC fee schedule via azcc.gov, as of October 2026
  9. A.R.S. 29-3903, registration of foreign via azleg.gov, as of October 2026
  10. A.R.S. 29-3905, activities that are via azleg.gov, as of October 2026
  11. Arizona Corporation Commission FAQs via azcc.gov, as of October 2026
  12. Arkansas Secretary of State, foreign via sos.arkansas.gov, as of October 2026
  13. Form FL-01 via sos.arkansas.gov, as of October 2026
  14. Act 1041 of 2021, Uniform via arkleg.state.ar.us, as of October 2026
  15. 2026 LLC franchise tax report via sos.arkansas.gov, as of October 2026
  16. Form FL-04, application for cancellation via sos.arkansas.gov, as of October 2026
  17. California Secretary of State, foreign via sos.ca.gov, as of October 2026
  18. Form LLC-5 via bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, as of October 2026
  19. Corporations Code section 17708.03 via leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, as of October 2026
  20. Revenue and Taxation Code section via leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, as of October 2026
  21. Franchise Tax Board, LLC filing via ftb.ca.gov, as of October 2026
  22. Foreign LLC forms and fees via business.ct.gov, as of October 2026
  23. Foreign Registration Statement form via business.ct.gov, as of October 2026
  24. Connecticut General Statutes, chapter 613a via cga.ct.gov, as of October 2026
  25. Foreign investigations penalties via business.ct.gov, as of October 2026
  26. Who can be an agent via business.ct.gov, as of October 2026
  27. Foreign annual report forms and via business.ct.gov, as of October 2026
  28. Foreign LLC registration form via corpfiles.delaware.gov, as of October 2026
  29. Delaware Code Title 6, chapter via delcode.delaware.gov, as of October 2026
  30. Delaware Code Title 6, chapter via delcode.delaware.gov, as of October 2026
  31. Division of Corporations fee schedule via corpfiles.delaware.gov, as of October 2026
  32. Alternative entity annual tax instructions via corp.delaware.gov, as of October 2026
  33. Form CR2E027, foreign LLC application via form.sunbiz.org, as of October 2026
  34. Florida Statutes 605.0902, certificate of via flsenate.gov, as of October 2026
  35. Florida Statutes 605.0905, activities that via flsenate.gov, as of October 2026
  36. Florida Statutes 605.0904, consequences of via flsenate.gov, as of October 2026
  37. Form CR2E057, withdrawal via form.sunbiz.org, as of October 2026
  38. Sunbiz LLC fees via dos.fl.gov, as of October 2026
  39. Hawaii DCCA, foreign LLC registration via cca.hawaii.gov, as of October 2026
  40. Form FLLC-1 via files.hawaii.gov, as of October 2026
  41. Foreign LLC filing fees via cca.hawaii.gov, as of October 2026
  42. Hawaii Revised Statutes 428-1003, activities via capitol.hawaii.gov, as of October 2026
  43. New Hawaii business registration portal via cca.hawaii.gov, as of October 2026
  44. Idaho Secretary of State, Foreign via archive.sos.idaho.gov, as of October 2026
  45. Idaho Secretary of State, business via sos.idaho.gov, as of October 2026
  46. Idaho Code 30-21-505, activities that via legislature.idaho.gov, as of October 2026
  47. Idaho Code 30-21-214, fees via legislature.idaho.gov, as of October 2026
  48. Idaho Code 30-21-213, annual report via legislature.idaho.gov, as of October 2026
  49. Withdrawal of Foreign Registration Statement via archive.sos.idaho.gov, as of October 2026
  50. Illinois Secretary of State, LLC via ilsos.gov, as of October 2026
  51. Form LLC-45.5, Application for Admission via ilsos.gov, as of October 2026
  52. Form LLC-45.40, Application for Withdrawal via ilsos.gov, as of October 2026
  53. 805 ILCS 180/45-45, consequences of via ilga.gov, as of October 2026
  54. 805 ILCS 180/45-47, activities that via ilga.gov, as of October 2026
  55. Indiana Secretary of State business via in.gov, as of October 2026
  56. Indiana Code 23-0.5-5, registration of via iga.in.gov, as of October 2026
  57. Indiana Code 23-0.5-9, fees via iga.in.gov, as of October 2026
  58. Indiana Code 23-0.5-4, registered agents via iga.in.gov, as of October 2026
  59. INBiz Business Entity Report via inbiz.in.gov, as of October 2026
  60. Iowa Secretary of State, business via sos.iowa.gov, as of October 2026
  61. LLC Foreign Registration Statement, Form via sos.iowa.gov, as of October 2026
  62. Iowa Code 489.902, registration requirement via legis.iowa.gov, as of October 2026
  63. Iowa Code 489.905, activities that via legis.iowa.gov, as of October 2026
  64. Iowa Code 489.212, biennial report via legis.iowa.gov, as of October 2026
  65. Iowa Secretary of State, certificate via sos.iowa.gov, as of October 2026
  66. Louisiana Secretary of State, forms via sos.la.gov, as of October 2026
  67. Form 972, foreign LLC application via sos.la.gov, as of October 2026
  68. Fee schedule effective October 1 via static.sos.la.gov, as of October 2026
  69. R.S. 12:1345, application for authority via legis.la.gov, as of October 2026
  70. R.S. 12:1354, effect of failing via legis.la.gov, as of October 2026
  71. R.S. 12:1350, registered agent via legis.la.gov, as of October 2026
  72. Maine Secretary of State, foreign via maine.gov, as of October 2026
  73. Form MLLC-12 via maine.gov, as of October 2026
  74. 31 MRSA § 1622, foreign via legislature.maine.gov, as of October 2026
  75. 31 MRSA § 1623, activities via legislature.maine.gov, as of October 2026
  76. 31 MRSA § 1629, consequences via legislature.maine.gov, as of October 2026
  77. 31 MRSA § 1680, fees via legislature.maine.gov, as of October 2026
  78. Maryland Business Express via egov.maryland.gov, as of October 2026
  79. Business Express fee schedule via egov.maryland.gov, as of October 2026
  80. Corporations and Associations § 4A-1002 via mgaleg.maryland.gov, as of October 2026
  81. Corporations and Associations § 4A-1009 via mgaleg.maryland.gov, as of October 2026
  82. Corporations and Associations § 4A-1007 via mgaleg.maryland.gov, as of October 2026
  83. Tax-Property § 11-101, annual report via mgaleg.maryland.gov, as of October 2026
  84. Massachusetts Corporations Division, foreign LLC via sec.state.ma.us, as of October 2026
  85. Corporations Division fee schedule via sec.state.ma.us, as of October 2026
  86. G.L. c. 156C § 48 via malegislature.gov, as of October 2026
  87. G.L. c. 156C § 54 via malegislature.gov, as of October 2026
  88. G.L. c. 156D § 15.01 via malegislature.gov, as of October 2026
  89. 950 CMR 112.00, limited liability via sec.state.ma.us, as of October 2026
  90. LARA Corporations Division via michigan.gov, as of October 2026
  91. LARA limited liability company forms via michigan.gov, as of October 2026
  92. MCL 450.5002, certificate of authority via legislature.mi.gov, as of October 2026
  93. MCL 450.5008, activities that are via legislature.mi.gov, as of October 2026
  94. MCL 450.5007, consequences of transacting via legislature.mi.gov, as of October 2026
  95. LARA annual reports and annual via michigan.gov, as of October 2026
  96. Mississippi Secretary of State, Business via sos.ms.gov, as of October 2026
  97. Business filing fee schedule via sos.ms.gov, as of October 2026
  98. Business FAQs via sos.ms.gov, as of October 2026
  99. Start Your Business in Mississippi via sos.ms.gov, as of October 2026
  100. Mississippi annual reports via sos.ms.gov, as of October 2026
  101. Registered agents via sos.ms.gov, as of October 2026
  102. Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations via sos.mo.gov, as of October 2026
  103. Form LLC 4, foreign LLC via sos.mo.gov, as of October 2026
  104. Business filing fee schedule via sos.mo.gov, as of October 2026
  105. RSMo 347.153, registration of foreign via revisor.mo.gov, as of October 2026
  106. RSMo 347.163, transacting business and via revisor.mo.gov, as of October 2026
  107. Missouri Department of Revenue, business via dor.mo.gov, as of October 2026
  108. Nebraska Secretary of State, forms via sos.nebraska.gov, as of October 2026
  109. Application for Certificate of Authority via sos.nebraska.gov, as of October 2026
  110. Neb via nebraskalegislature.gov, as of October 2026
  111. Neb via nebraskalegislature.gov, as of October 2026
  112. Nebraska Secretary of State, annual via sos.nebraska.gov, as of October 2026
  113. NJ Division of Revenue, Business via njportal.com, as of October 2026
  114. NJ Division of Revenue, fee via nj.gov, as of October 2026
  115. Public Records Filing for New via nj.gov, as of October 2026
  116. New Jersey Revised Uniform LLC via pub.njleg.gov, as of October 2026
  117. NJ Annual Reports and Change via njportal.com, as of October 2026
  118. New Mexico Secretary of State via sos.nm.gov, as of October 2026
  119. SOS Enterprise online filing portal via enterprise.sos.nm.gov, as of October 2026
  120. Business Online Filing Help via api.realfile.rtsclients.com, as of October 2026
  121. NMSA 1978, Chapter 53 via nmonesource.com, as of October 2026
  122. Taxation and Revenue Department, who via tax.newmexico.gov, as of October 2026
  123. Department of State, Application for via dos.ny.gov, as of October 2026
  124. LLC Law § 802, application via nysenate.gov, as of October 2026
  125. LLC Law § 808, consequences via nysenate.gov, as of October 2026
  126. Department of State, Certificate of via dos.ny.gov, as of October 2026
  127. Department of State, biennial statements via dos.ny.gov, as of October 2026
  128. North Carolina Secretary of State via sosnc.gov, as of October 2026
  129. Form L-09, Application for Certificate via sosnc.gov, as of October 2026
  130. Secretary of State guide to via sosnc.gov, as of October 2026
  131. G.S via ncleg.gov, as of October 2026
  132. Annual report due dates via sosnc.gov, as of October 2026
  133. North Dakota Secretary of State via sos.nd.gov, as of October 2026
  134. NDCC Chapter 10-32.1 via ndlegis.gov, as of October 2026
  135. Secretary of State, registered agents via sos.nd.gov, as of October 2026
  136. Secretary of State, business services via sos.nd.gov, as of October 2026
  137. Oklahoma Secretary of State, entity via sos.ok.gov, as of October 2026
  138. Procedures for registering a foreign via sos.ok.gov, as of October 2026
  139. Oklahoma Secretary of State, fee via sos.ok.gov, as of October 2026
  140. Annual certificate form for LLCs via sos.ok.gov, as of October 2026
  141. 18 O.S. § 2049, transacting via oscn.net, as of October 2026
  142. Form 450, Application for Registration via docs.sos.ri.gov, as of October 2026
  143. Business Services fee schedule via docs.sos.ri.gov, as of October 2026
  144. R.I via webserver.rilegislature.gov, as of October 2026
  145. R.I via webserver.rilegislature.gov, as of October 2026
  146. Form 452, Certificate of Cancellation via docs.sos.ri.gov, as of October 2026
  147. South Carolina Business Entities Online via businessfilings.sc.gov, as of October 2026
  148. SC Secretary of State, business via sos.sc.gov, as of October 2026
  149. South Carolina Code, Title 33 via scstatehouse.gov, as of October 2026
  150. SC Department of Revenue, corporate via dor.sc.gov, as of October 2026
  151. South Dakota Secretary of State via sdsos.gov, as of October 2026
  152. Filing fee schedule via sdsos.gov, as of October 2026
  153. Foreign LLC application for Certificate via sdsos.gov, as of October 2026
  154. SDCL 47-34A-1003, transacting business via sdlegislature.gov, as of October 2026
  155. SDCL 47-34A-1008, effect of not via sdlegislature.gov, as of October 2026
  156. Tennessee Secretary of State, business via sos.tn.gov, as of October 2026
  157. Form SS-4233, Certificate of Authority via sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, as of October 2026
  158. Tennessee Secretary of State, business via sos.tn.gov, as of October 2026
  159. Form SS-4241, withdrawal or cancellation via sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, as of October 2026
  160. Tennessee Revised LLC Act, Public via publications.tnsosfiles.com, as of October 2026
  161. Utah Division of Corporations, foreign via commerce.utah.gov, as of October 2026
  162. Division fee schedule via commerce.utah.gov, as of October 2026
  163. Utah Code Title 16, Chapter via le.utah.gov, as of October 2026
  164. Utah Code Title 16, Chapter via le.utah.gov, as of October 2026
  165. Utah Business Registration System via businessregistration.utah.gov, as of October 2026
  166. Vermont Secretary of State, foreign via sos.vermont.gov, as of October 2026
  167. Vermont Secretary of State, fees via sos.vermont.gov, as of October 2026
  168. 11 V.S.A. § 4112, application via legislature.vermont.gov, as of October 2026
  169. 11 V.S.A. § 4113, activities via legislature.vermont.gov, as of October 2026
  170. 11 V.S.A. § 4033, annual via legislature.vermont.gov, as of October 2026
  171. SCC, foreign limited liability company via scc.virginia.gov, as of October 2026
  172. SCC, foreign business entities FAQ via scc.virginia.gov, as of October 2026
  173. SCC, foreign registration checklist via scc.virginia.gov, as of October 2026
  174. Code of Virginia § 13.1-1052 via law.lis.virginia.gov, as of October 2026
  175. Code of Virginia § 13.1-1059 via law.lis.virginia.gov, as of October 2026
  176. Code of Virginia § 13.1-1057 via law.lis.virginia.gov, as of October 2026
  177. Washington SOS, register a foreign via sos.wa.gov, as of October 2026
  178. Washington SOS, fee schedules and via sos.wa.gov, as of October 2026
  179. RCW 23.95.520, activities that are via app.leg.wa.gov, as of October 2026
  180. RCW 23.95.505, consequences of not via app.leg.wa.gov, as of October 2026
  181. RCW 23.95.510, foreign registration statement via app.leg.wa.gov, as of October 2026
  182. Washington SOS, registered agents via sos.wa.gov, as of October 2026
  183. West Virginia SOS, register an via sos.wv.gov, as of October 2026
  184. Form LLF-1, application for certificate via sos.wv.gov, as of October 2026
  185. W via code.wvlegislature.gov, as of October 2026
  186. W via code.wvlegislature.gov, as of October 2026
  187. W via code.wvlegislature.gov, as of October 2026
  188. West Virginia SOS, cancel or via sos.wv.gov, as of October 2026
  189. Wyoming Secretary of State, foreign via sos.wyo.gov, as of October 2026
  190. Wyoming Secretary of State, fee via sos.wyo.gov, as of October 2026
  191. Wyoming Secretary of State, business via sos.wyo.gov, as of October 2026
  192. Certificate of Withdrawal, foreign LLC via sos.wyo.gov, as of October 2026
  193. Wyoming Statutes, Title 17 via wyoleg.gov, as of October 2026