Register to Operate Out of State
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:38 am
If you want to do business in a different state than the one your LLC is registered in, you may need ‘foreign qualification’. This will involve a Certificate of Authority application (also called a ‘Statement & Designation by a Foreign Corporation’), filed with your Secretary of State office.
Learn more: Foreign Qualification: What It Takes to Do Business In a Different State.
Creating a Corporation
Incorporation involves more formal responsibilities than an LLC, but if you play your cards right it can offer significant benefits to your small business. These are the steps you’ll take to register as a CORP:
Like an LLC, each state has its own specific rules around overseas data business registration and the company name you choose. But the main things that most states don’t allow are names which are:
Misleading to the public, such as ‘Bob’s Electronics’ when you sell tires.
Seen as part of the government, like ‘city, borough, or federal’.
Financial institution words like ‘bank, trust, or insurance’, unless legally authorized.
Professional licensing terms if you don’t have that license, like ‘attorney, CPA, or engineer’.
Other forms of prohibited words, like adding ‘ing’ or using a plural.
You will need to make sure your company name ends in a CORP designator, whether it’s the abbreviation, ‘Incorporated’ or ‘Corporation’. For a list of more specific rules, visit your chosen state’s website.
Learn more: Foreign Qualification: What It Takes to Do Business In a Different State.
Creating a Corporation
Incorporation involves more formal responsibilities than an LLC, but if you play your cards right it can offer significant benefits to your small business. These are the steps you’ll take to register as a CORP:
Like an LLC, each state has its own specific rules around overseas data business registration and the company name you choose. But the main things that most states don’t allow are names which are:
Misleading to the public, such as ‘Bob’s Electronics’ when you sell tires.
Seen as part of the government, like ‘city, borough, or federal’.
Financial institution words like ‘bank, trust, or insurance’, unless legally authorized.
Professional licensing terms if you don’t have that license, like ‘attorney, CPA, or engineer’.
Other forms of prohibited words, like adding ‘ing’ or using a plural.
You will need to make sure your company name ends in a CORP designator, whether it’s the abbreviation, ‘Incorporated’ or ‘Corporation’. For a list of more specific rules, visit your chosen state’s website.