In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in California
California’s certificate of good standing is called a Certificate of Status, and the California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division, issues it. Order it online through bizfile Online by searching your entity and requesting the certificate, and it is available within minutes. The Secretary of State’s records request form lists the fee as $5.00 per entity. You can also order by mail or in person, with a $10.00 special handling fee for in-person drop-off.
- Official name: Certificate of Status
- Issued by: California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division (Business Entities)
- Fee: $5.00 per entity for LLCs and corporations; in-person drop-off adds $10.00 special handling
- How to order: Online through bizfile Online, or by mail or in person with the Business Entities Records Request form
- Turnaround: Within minutes online; mail and in-person follow the Secretary of State’s current processing dates
- Free status check: The bizfile Online business search
- What keeps you in good standing: Filing the Statement of Information on time and meeting Franchise Tax Board requirements, including the $800 annual minimum franchise tax
California splits good standing between two agencies: the Secretary of State tracks your filings, and the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) tracks your taxes. Either one can suspend or forfeit your company’s powers. This page explains how to order the Certificate of Status, what it costs and how to keep your California LLC in good standing with both agencies. For other states, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a California Certificate of Good Standing Is
A California Certificate of Status is an official document from the Secretary of State showing your LLC’s or corporation’s current status on the state’s records. When the status is active, the certificate serves as California’s proof of good standing. If the Secretary of State or the FTB has suspended or forfeited the entity’s powers, the entity is not in good standing, so check your status before you order.
Banks ask for a Certificate of Status when you open a business account. Lenders, payment processors, buyers in due diligence and licensing agencies ask for it too. Other states require it when you register your California entity there as a foreign business.
How to Order a Certificate of Status in California
The online route through bizfile Online is the fastest. Follow these steps:
- Go to bizfile Online, the Secretary of State’s online filing and records portal.
- Search for your entity by name or Secretary of State entity number and open its record.
- Request a Certificate of Status for the entity.
- Pay the fee shown at checkout. The Secretary of State’s records request form lists $5.00 per entity.
- Download the certificate. Online orders are available within minutes.
Ordering by Mail or In Person
To order by mail or in person, complete the Business Entities Records Request form and include $5.00 per entity. The same form orders certified copies of filed documents at $5.00 per document. In-person drop-off adds a non-refundable $10.00 special handling fee per entity. Mail and in-person requests follow the Secretary of State’s current processing dates. Ordering details for every method are on the Secretary of State’s business entities information requests page.
California Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Online, bizfile Online (LLC or corporation) | $5.00 per entity (confirm at checkout) | Within minutes |
| Mail (LLC or corporation) | $5.00 per entity | Per the Secretary of State’s current processing dates |
| In person, drop-off (LLC or corporation) | $5.00 per entity plus $10.00 special handling | Per the Secretary of State’s current processing dates |
| Certified copy of a filed document | $5.00 per document | Per the Secretary of State’s current processing dates |
How to Check California Good Standing Status for Free
The bizfile Online business search is free. Search by entity name or number to see the entity’s current status with the Secretary of State. If the search shows the entity as suspended or forfeited, fix the cause first, because a certificate ordered now will not prove good standing. For a walkthrough of the search screens, read our California business entity search guide.
How a California LLC Stays in Good Standing
A California LLC keeps its good standing by meeting obligations to two agencies.
Secretary of State: Statement of Information
Every California LLC files a Statement of Information every two years, in the month of its original registration. Whether you file in odd or even years follows the year of your initial registration. File it through bizfile Online, where the current fee is shown at checkout. If you miss it, the Secretary of State sends a Notice of Pending Suspension or Forfeiture, and you have 60 days to file before your powers are suspended or forfeited.
Franchise Tax Board: annual franchise tax
Most California businesses owe the $800 annual minimum franchise tax to the FTB, along with meeting the FTB’s other tax requirements. Failure to meet FTB requirements also leads to suspension or forfeiture, even if every Secretary of State filing is current.
Corporations carry one more duty: reimbursing the Victims of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund when required. Every California entity also needs a registered agent with a California address to receive legal papers. To compare schedules in other states, see our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your California Business Is Not in Good Standing
The fix depends on which agency suspended or forfeited the entity:
- Secretary of State suspension or forfeiture: file a current Statement of Information. Corporations also reimburse the Victims of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund when required.
- FTB suspension or forfeiture: meet the FTB’s revivor requirements for the entity.
- Both agencies: request a Proposed Relief Letter from the Secretary of State, then submit it to the FTB with Form FTB 3557.
Check the bizfile Online search once the agencies process your filings, then order a new Certificate of Status. For the general process, read how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
California Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
The Secretary of State Certificate of Status reflects the entity’s status on the Secretary of State’s records. The FTB issues a separate Entity Status Letter that verifies whether the entity is in good standing with the FTB. The Entity Status Letter is free online. For a certified copy, contact an FTB field office or email [email protected]. Details are on the FTB Entity Status Letter page. Order the Entity Status Letter when a buyer, lender or agency asks specifically about tax standing, and the Certificate of Status when they ask for a certificate of good standing.
Using a California Certificate in Another State
When you register your California LLC as a foreign entity in another state, that state’s filing office asks for proof that the company is in good standing in California. Order the Certificate of Status online right before you file, since it is ready within minutes, and check the receiving state’s age limit on certificates. Learn how the two documents work together in our guide to certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
California Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
What is a certificate of good standing called in California?
California calls it a Certificate of Status. The California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division, issues it, and it shows the entity’s current status on the state’s records.
How much does a California Certificate of Status cost?
The Secretary of State’s records request form lists $5.00 per entity. In-person drop-off orders add a non-refundable $10.00 special handling fee per entity.
How fast can I get a California Certificate of Status?
Online orders through bizfile Online are available within minutes. Mail and in-person orders follow the Secretary of State’s current processing dates.
Why is my California LLC suspended or forfeited?
The Secretary of State suspends or forfeits an entity’s powers for a missed Statement of Information. The Franchise Tax Board does the same for unmet tax requirements, including the $800 annual minimum franchise tax.
What is a California Entity Status Letter?
The Entity Status Letter is a free online letter from the Franchise Tax Board that verifies whether the entity is in good standing with the FTB. A certified copy is available through an FTB field office or by email at [email protected].
Fees verified against official California sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the California Secretary of State site before you order.
