Your foreign qualification service includes:
Name availability check
We verify the availability of your desired business name with the state.
Legal document preparation
We keep track of various state requirements and prepare all legal documents to register your company to do business in the state of your choice.
Filing services
We file the Qualification/Certificate of Authority forms with the state, monitor the process, and promptly deliver the final paperwork to you upon approval.
Expanding to new states can be a challenge: when we’ve done it ourselves, it’s been torturous. CT was recommended by an attorney I trust. CT knows exactly what’s needed, before the state asks for it.
Foreign qualification package options
Products
Foreign qualification basic
Formally register your business in another state
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Name availability check - verification and reservation of desired business name with the state
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Preparation and filing of all legal documents to register your company to do business in a new state
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Foreign qualification or Certificate of Authority paperwork filed with the state
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Registered agent services - includes a location within the state to receive legal and critical business communications and a dedicated team to receive and route all service of process legal notifications
Not included -
Business license research - preparation of a packet with all the licensing or permit applications you need to operate your business legally (1 city / 1 county / 1 state)
Not included
Foreign qualification plus
Register your business in another state and designate a dedicated registered agent
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Name availability check - verification and reservation of desired business name with the state
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Preparation and filing of all legal documents to register your company to do business in a new state
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Foreign qualification or Certificate of Authority paperwork filed with the state
-
Registered agent services - includes a location within the state to receive legal and critical business communications and a dedicated team to receive and route all service of process legal notifications
-
Business license research - preparation of a packet with all the licensing or permit applications you need to operate your business legally (1 city / 1 county / 1 state)
Not included
Foreign qualification premium
Obtain details about required business licenses in the new state along with registration and a registered agent
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Name availability check - verification and reservation of desired business name with the state
-
Preparation and filing of all legal documents to register your company to do business in a new state
-
Foreign qualification or Certificate of Authority paperwork filed with the state
-
Registered agent services - includes a location within the state to receive legal and critical business communications and a dedicated team to receive and route all service of process legal notifications
-
Business license research - preparation of a packet with all the licensing or permit applications you need to operate your business legally (1 city / 1 county / 1 state)
CT Expert Insights
CT Corporation Publications Attorney Sandra Feldman explains what business owners need to know before expanding operations to another state.
Frequently asked questions
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What does foreign qualification mean?Foreign qualification is the process of formally registering your corporation, nonprofit, or LLC in a state other than your formation state. It’s required whenever you begin doing business in a new state, unless you opt to form a new entity there (i.e., incorporate a new business).
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Can I file the foreign qualification forms myself?You can prepare and file the Certificate of Authority yourself, but most business owners find that keeping track of various state requirements and filing dates takes up a frustrating amount of their time. CT Corporation's experts can help you speed through the process—even if you didn’t form your business with us.
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Can I use my home state business license in another state? I have a rental property management business in and I am thinking of expanding into a new state?
Every state is different when it comes to regulating the rental property management industry. Some states require real estate broker or salesperson licenses while others have specialized licenses for rental property management. Most licenses are not transferable from state to state, so you would need to obtain a new license for each state that you operate in.
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Does my remote employee make me liable for a business license where they live?
Possibly. While many localities do not consider the presence of a remote employee enough of a nexus to make a business liable for a license, there are some exceptions. Is your employee an IT assistant or a work-from-home salesperson generating revenue for your business? Localities may have different rules depending on the work being done by the employee.
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What happens if my company fails to foreign qualify?If you don’t register your business, you may owe fines, interest, and back taxes. You can also lose the ability to sue in that state. Plus, it could mean your personal assets will no longer be protected from business liabilities within the foreign state.
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When do I need to foreign qualify my business?You must foreign qualify whenever you’re “doing business” in a state. Although we recommend the advice of an attorney, you’ll probably need to foreign qualify if you have either employees or a physical presence in the new state, or if you routinely accept orders or execute contracts there.
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If the state where my business is headquartered does not require any license, will I need licenses in other states where we are doing business?
Yes, this is possible. The laws governing licensing are generally state and local specific so businesses should not assume they are not required to have a license in one jurisdiction simply because their home state, city or county does not require a license.
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*State fees are mandatory fees imposed by the state. Price includes online discount automatically applied at checkout. Discount is for new customers only.