When you form your business, it is classified as a domestic corporation in the state where you register and as a foreign corporation in other states.
To operate your business outside of the state where you are based, you will need to get a foreign qualification or register as a foreign entity to enable you to operate in another state legally.
You can seek support from a formation company to assist you in gaining a foreign qualification. Below are the companies that offer these services.
Instant Service
- Free First Year If You Use Their $39 formation package
- $125 Per Year After
- Available in all 50 states
- Free mail forwarding
- Locally-Scanned Documents
Free!
- Free For The First Year
- $119 / Annually After That
- Never Any Hidden Fees or Contracts
- Loved by 800,000+ Entrepreneurs
- Available in All 50 States
Most Popular
- Rated 4.7 out of 5 On Trustpilot
- $199 / Year
- Only Takes 5 to 10 Minutes To Set-up
- 100% Accuracy Guarantee
- Expert Customer Support
The table below gives a quick price comparison of the top US providers for foreign qualifications.
| Company | Price (excluding state fees) |
|---|---|
| Zen Business | Not stated |
| Bizee | $199 |
| Northwest | $225 |
| Harbor Compliance | $399 |
| Rocket Lawyer | $149.99 |
| Legal Zoom | $229 |
| InCorp | $149 |
| incorporate.com | Not stated |
| Incnow | $329 |
| LegalNature | $129 |
| Business Anywhere | Not stated |
| MyCompanyWorks | $119 |
| Better Legal | $299 |
| CorpNet | $239 |
| My Corporation | $209 |
| Filenow | $149 |
| Corporate Creations | Not stated |
| Swyft Filings | $199 |
| CSC Global | Not stated |
* The facts and figures included here come from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing but may have since changed. Also, please keep in mind these may not be apples-to-apples comparisons as each provider offers different solutions. This guide should be used as a starting point for more research on your part.
Below we profile each of the companies’ services and features in a bit more detail.
Note companies are ranked in no particular order, and this in no way indicates one solution is better than another.
Instant Service
- Free First Year If You Use Their $39 formation package
- $125 Per Year After
- Available in all 50 states
- Free mail forwarding
- Locally-Scanned Documents
Free!
- Free For The First Year
- $119 / Annually After That
- Never Any Hidden Fees or Contracts
- Loved by 800,000+ Entrepreneurs
- Available in All 50 States
Most Popular
- Rated 4.7 out of 5 On Trustpilot
- $199 / Year
- Only Takes 5 to 10 Minutes To Set-up
- 100% Accuracy Guarantee
- Expert Customer Support
1. Zen Business
- Offers registration services for businesses wanting to register in other states
- Each element of the service can incur a fee
- Can aid you in staying compliant in the states where you conduct business
- Registered Agent services in the foreign state to handle your documents
- Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing
- Name checking service
- Name reservation service or support setting up a secondary name
- Filing a Certificate of Authority
- Offers compliance services to support you once set up
- Provides a range of support and documents to assist you
Website: https://www.zenbusiness.com/foreign-qualification/
2. Bizee
- They offer a service that can handle the whole foreign qualification process
- Charges $199 plus state fee
- Service provided in all 50 states including Registered Agent service
- Business name check service
- Filing documents and obtaining Certificate of Good Standing and Certificate of Authority
- Offers a virtual address service
- Provides compliance alerts
- Dashboard to access tools and services including tax, banking, insurance and marketing
- Digital document storage for your records
- Rated excellent on Trustpilot
Website: https://bizee.com/business-management/foreign-qualification
3. Northwest
- Offers foreign qualification service to support businesses that want to expand
- Costs $225 plus state fees
- Has offices in all 50 states plus DC and Puerto Rico
- Fast service to set up a foreign qualification
- Registered Agent service
- Offers easy cancellation by state
- Instant domain, website and email
- Offers phone lines
- Compliance service is initially free with reminders and filing support
- They are scored excellent on Trustpilot
Website: https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/start-a-business/foreign-qualification
4. Harbor Compliance
- They provide formation and compliance services which include foreign qualifications
- Service charge starts at $399
- Offers expedited service if needed
- Complete filings for you ensuring approval
- Obtain Certificate of Good Standing and certified copies
- Filing Certificate of Authority application
- Includes Registered Agent service for one year
- Name availability checking service
- Online ordering and in-person filing services
- Highly rated on Google by clients
Website: https://www.harborcompliance.com/foreign-qualification
5. Rocket Lawyer
- Offers foreign entity registration services to assist businesses expanding into other states
- Service costs $149.99 as part of the Rocket Legal+ membership
- Supports you in determining the right filings and requirements
- Handles filings on your behalf
- Helps you to avoid costly mistakes
- Aid you in maintaining good standing
- Rocket Legal+ membership includes documents and signatures
- Support with legal situations via written answers or live consult
- Exclusive discounts such as website creation, tax support, banking and more
- Trustpilot rated excellent
Website: https://www.rocketlawyer.com/foreign-filing
6. Legal Zoom
- They support businesses in obtaining foreign qualifications in other states
- Charges start at $229 plus state filing fees
- Fast and easy process
- Simple online questionnaire
- Support completing the paperwork and filing
- Expedited service is available
- Coverage in all 50 US states
- Legally recognized documents in every state
- Offers a 60-day refund guarantee if you are unhappy with their service
- Rated excellent on Trustpilot
7. InCorp
- Offers foreign qualification services for corporations and LLCs
- Fees start at $149 plus state fees
- Operates in all 50 US states, DC, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Fast service with over-the-counter expedited business document filing
- Safe and secure online ordering system
- Professional business specialist to support you
- Nationwide Registered Agent service
- Can assist with consolidating multi-state expenses
- Provides EntityWatch to aid in preventing corporate identity theft
- Claims to beat any competitor’s price
Website: https://www.incorp.com/foreign-qualification
8. incorporate.com
- They offer a range of formation and business support services including foreign qualification
- Service charge not stated
- Offers foreign qualification services in all 50 US states
- Completion and filing of documentation
- Obtain Certificate of Authority
- Research your filing
- Identify costs
- Assistance in meeting compliance obligations in other states
- Also offers Registered Agent service
- Offers a range of free downloadable guides
Website: https://www.incorporate.com/maintaining-a-business/register-in-additional-states/
9. Incnow
- Offers specialist services for starting companies in Delaware as well as support services including foreign qualification
- Processing fees start at $329 plus state fees
- Assistance in correctly obtaining a foreign qualification
- Support in preparing your files and checking accuracy
- Name availability checking service
- Assistance with assumed name
- Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing
- Also offers ongoing compliance management services
- Registered Agent services are available at an additional cost
- Other business services are available to support you in operating effectively
Website: https://www.incnow.com/foreign-qualification/
10. LegalNature
- They offer formation and foreign qualification services for businesses
- Service costs $129 plus state fees
- Provides foreign qualification service in all 50 US states
- Quick and easy process
- Online ordering with a short questionnaire
- Submit all state paperwork on your behalf
- Provide all official documentation
- Certificate of Authority
- Obtaining Certificate of Good Standing
- Highly rated on Trustpilot
Website: https://www.legalnature.com/categories/business-services/foreign-entity
11. Business Anywhere
- Offers all-in-one business services which can help you start and expand your business into new states including getting a foreign qualification
- Price not stated
- Provides services in all 50 US states
- Offers a name check service
- Can offer Registered Agent services in each state
- Handles the paperwork to get you started
- Offers virtual mailboxes
- Online service to apply
- Online dashboard to manage your services
- Offers support to help manage your business and stay compliant
Website: https://businessanywhere.io/foreign-qualification/
12. MyCompanyWorks
- They offer business services which include foreign qualification
- Prices start at $119 plus state fees
- Can support you in expanding to any US state
- Online order form
- Allows you to order foreign qualifications for multiple states on one form
- The interactive wizard supports you step-by-step through the process
- Same-day processing if ordered before 3pm
- Easy-to-use dashboard to manage your business
- Lifetime company alerts
- Provides US-based phone and email support from an experienced team
Website: https://www.mycompanyworks.com/foreign-qualification.htm
13. Better Legal
- Offers a range of business filing and compliance services including foreign qualification
- Fee of $299 plus state fees
- Takes 1-3 weeks to obtain
- Completes the filing service
- Business name checking service offered
- Can also obtain Certificate of Good Standing
- Registered Agent services are available
- Offers state compliance services at an additional charge
- Dashboard to manage your business
- Offers discounted services such as production tools, payment processing, accountancy and websites
Website: https://betterlegal.com/services
14. CorpNet
- They offer business filing and compliance services including foreign qualification
- Prices start at $239 per state excluding state fees
- Quick and easy service that can save you time and money
- Offers a standard or expedited service
- Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing
- Support you in preparing and filing a Certificate of Authority
- Can act as your Registered Agent in states
- Assistance in registering for payroll tax in states where you have employees
- Can aid in applying for sales tax permits in applicable states
- Offers 100% satisfaction guarantee for 60 days after placing an order where you can get a refund of service fees
Website: https://www.corpnet.com/run-business/foreign-qualifications/
15. MyCorporation
- Offers business formation services including foreign qualifications
- Prices start at $209 plus state fees
- Priority handling and shipping services are offered
- Expedited filing service available
- Complete a simple online form or call the team
- Experts will complete the paperwork and check accuracy
- Provides all the necessary documentation
- Services are available in all 50 US states
- Offers Registered Agent service at an additional cost
- Also offers optional insurance and tax services
Website: https://www.mycorporation.com/corporation-llc-documents/foreign-qualifications.jsp
16. Filenow
- They offer company formation services and foreign qualifications
- Service costs $149 plus state fee
- Fastest filing service
- Online documentation
- Completion of the application for Certificate of Authority
- Expert support to assist you
- Free express shipping
- Offers Registered Agent services
- Phone and email support are available
- Offers a money-back guarantee
Website: https://www.filenow.com/application-for-authority/
17. Corporate Creations
- Offers formation services that aid businesses from creation to beyond including foreign qualifications
- Service costs are not given
- Online experience that is easy to use
- Handles paperwork preparation and filing
- Obtain Certificate of Good Standing
- Complete and file for the Certificate of Authority
- Operates across all 50 US states
- Dedicated support team available by telephone and email
- Offers Registered Agent services
- Other business support services are available
Website: https://www.corporatecreations.com/foreign-qualification
18. Swyft Filings
- They offer specialist-reviewed filing services which include foreign qualifications
- Service starts at $199 plus state fees
- Three simple steps to file your foreign qualification
- Prepares and submits your application for a Certificate of Authority
- Provides state-by-state expertise
- Fast filing process to not slow you down
- Specialist team to support you throughout the process
- Ensures document accuracy to avoid errors
- Also offers tools that can assist you in maintaining compliance
- They are rated excellent on Trustpilot
Website: https://www.swyftfilings.com/foreign-business/qualification/
19. CSC Global
- Offers easy-to-use formation services including foreign qualification
- No costs are provided
- Provides services across all 50 US states
- Can also aid you in registering entities in over 140 international jurisdictions
- Dedicated account experts available during extended business hours to assist you
- Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing
- Filing for Certificate of Authority
- They offer additional services to secure business licenses
- Can also act as your Registered Agent
- Enquire through the website for more information
Website: https://www.cscglobal.com/service/campaigns/doing-business-outside-your-state-guide/