In Short: What a Certificate of Good Standing Is and How to Get One
A certificate of good standing is an official document from the state that formed your LLC or corporation confirming the business exists and is current on its state filings and fees. You order it from that state’s business filing office, which is the Secretary of State in most states. Fees run from $0 in Colorado and Wyoming to $175 for a Delaware long form, and most states issue the certificate online the same day.
- Other names: certificate of existence, certificate of status, certificate of fact, subsistence certificate, standing certificate and certificate of compliance all describe the same document.
- Who issues it: the business filing office of the state where the company was formed. A state tax clearance letter is a different document from the revenue department.
- What you need: the exact legal name or state ID number of the business, and a payment card.
- Cost: $0 to $175 before expedite fees, depending on the state and the form; see the fee table for all 52 jurisdictions below.
- Turnaround: instant download in many states; mail orders and paper certificates take several business days.
- Who asks for it: banks, lenders, payment processors, buyers and investors, licensing agencies, and other states when you register there as a foreign entity.
- How to stay eligible: file every annual or biennial report, pay state fees and franchise tax on time, and keep a registered agent on record.
Every state confirms a company’s status on request, but each one names the document differently, charges a different fee and runs its own ordering system. This page explains what the certificate proves, when you need one and how to order it, then links to a step-by-step guide for every state, Washington DC and Puerto Rico.
What Is a Certificate of Good Standing?
A certificate of good standing is a dated statement from a state filing office that a specific LLC, corporation or other registered entity exists on the state’s records and has met its state obligations as of the issue date. It is evidence of status on one day. It does not cover tax returns filed with the IRS, local licenses or court judgments.
What the Certificate Shows
- The exact legal name of the business and its state entity or file number.
- The entity type, such as LLC or corporation, and the date it was formed or registered.
- A statement that the entity is in good standing, active or in existence on the state’s records.
- The issue date, the state seal or a verification code, and the signature or authentication of the issuing official.
Names States Use for the Certificate
The document carries a different title from state to state. California and Florida issue a Certificate of Status. Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington issue a Certificate of Existence. Pennsylvania issues a Subsistence Certificate, New Jersey a Standing Certificate, Connecticut a Certificate of Legal Existence and Texas a Certificate of Fact (Status). Alabama’s good standing document is a Certificate of Compliance from the Department of Revenue. A bank or agency that asks for a certificate of good standing accepts the state’s own version under any of these names.
When You Need a Certificate of Good Standing
- Opening a business bank account or merchant account. Banks and payment processors use it to confirm the company is active before they onboard it.
- Applying for a loan, line of credit or lease. Lenders and landlords check that the borrower legally exists and is not suspended.
- Registering in another state. Foreign qualification applications require a recent certificate from the home state.
- Selling the business or raising investment. Buyers and investors request one during due diligence and again at closing.
- Renewing a license or bidding on a contract. Licensing boards and government procurement offices ask for proof of status.
- Working with marketplaces and vendors. Platforms, wholesale suppliers and enterprise customers request it during vendor verification.
How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing
- Identify the issuing state. Order from the state where the company was formed. A company registered as a foreign entity elsewhere can also order a certificate of authority or status from that second state, but lenders and other states ask for the home state certificate.
- Check the status first. Search the company in the state’s free business search. If it shows delinquent, inactive, suspended or forfeited, the state will not issue the certificate until you fix the cause.
- Gather the details. Have the exact legal name, the state entity number and a card for payment.
- Order the certificate. Use the state’s online system, or the mail or in-person option where the state offers one. Choose the short form unless the requesting party asks for the long form with the filing history.
- Download or receive it. Online orders arrive as a PDF download or by email in most states. Keep the file and note the issue date.
The fastest route is the state’s online system. Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona (with expedite), Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington, among others, issue the certificate online within minutes.
Get a Certificate of Good Standing by State
Choose your state for the official document name, the fee, the ordering steps and the turnaround.
Certificate of Good Standing Fees by State
The table lists the official document name and the fee for an LLC or corporation in every jurisdiction. Follow the state link for ordering steps, turnaround and expedite options.
| State | Official document | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama certificate of good standing | Certificate of Compliance | $14 for LLCs and corporations ($10 certificate plus $4 processing) |
| Alaska certificate of good standing | Certificate of Compliance | $10.00 for all entity types, online or by mail, non-refundable |
| Arizona certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $10 regular; $45 expedited ($10 plus a $35 expedite fee), for LLCs and corporations |
| Arkansas certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $25.00 for LLCs and corporations; online orders add a $3.00 processing fee and a 4% card fee (minimum $1.00) |
| California certificate of good standing | Certificate of Status | $5.00 per entity for LLCs and corporations; in-person drop-off adds $10.00 special handling |
| Colorado certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | Free online for LLCs and corporations |
| Connecticut certificate of good standing | Certificate of Legal Existence | Express $50; short form $50 (LLC) or $80 (corporation); long form $100 (LLC) or $120 (corporation) |
| Delaware certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $50 short form; $175 long form (domestic entities only); expedite fees extra |
| Washington DC certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $50.00 for LLCs and business corporations |
| Florida certificate of good standing | Certificate of Status | $5.00 for an LLC, $8.75 for a profit corporation |
| Georgia certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $20.00 online or paper |
| Hawaii certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $5.00, plus $10.00 for expedited review |
| Idaho certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $10 by mail; online price shown at checkout in SOSbiz |
| Illinois certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $25 for an LLC or a corporation |
| Indiana certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $21.42 plus the INBiz processing fee |
| Iowa certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $5 online or by mail |
| Kansas certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $15 by mail on Form CO; online price shown at checkout |
| Kentucky certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $10.00 |
| Louisiana certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $25 per certificate for corporations and LLCs, plus a $5 statutory convenience fee on credit card payments |
| Maine certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $30 for business corporations, LLCs, LPs and LLPs; $10 for nonprofit corporations |
| Maryland certificate of good standing | Certificate of Status | $20 for LLCs and corporations; $20 more for expedited service |
| Massachusetts certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | LLC $25; domestic corporation $12; online and fax orders add an expedited cost ($6.00 for an LLC, $3.00 for a corporation) |
| Michigan certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $10 for corporations and LLCs online, by phone or by mail; $12.50 in person |
| Minnesota certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $15 online ($5 certificate plus $10 online transaction fee); $5 by mail |
| Mississippi certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $25 online for LLCs and corporations |
| Missouri certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $10 for all entity types |
| Montana certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $5 for a domestic Certificate of Existence; $15 for a Certificate of Fact |
| Nebraska certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $6.50 for the electronic certificate; $10.00 for the paper certificate with State Seal and Secretary of State signature |
| Nevada certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $50 for LLCs and corporations; $100 for a Ceremonial Certificate of Good Standing |
| New Hampshire certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $2.00 total ($0.00 filing fee plus $2.00 handling charge) for LLCs and corporations |
| New Jersey certificate of good standing | Standing Certificate | LLC/LLP: $50 short form, $100 long form. Corporation/LP: $25 short or long form |
| New Mexico certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | Shown in the Secretary of State portal at checkout; expedite $100 (two business days) or $150 (same business day) |
| New York certificate of good standing | Certificate of Status | $25 for LLCs and corporations; expedite $25 (24 hours), $75 (same day) or $150 (2 hours) |
| North Carolina certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $15 for an LLC or business corporation Certificate of Existence |
| North Dakota certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $20 for LLCs and corporations |
| Ohio certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $5.00 for LLCs and corporations |
| Oklahoma certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $20 for LLCs and corporations |
| Oregon certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $10 for all entity types |
| Pennsylvania certificate of good standing | Subsistence Certificate | $40 for domestic LLCs and corporations |
| Puerto Rico certificate of good standing | Certificado de Cumplimiento | $20 for LLCs, $15 for for-profit corporations, no cost for nonprofits (official request form) |
| Rhode Island certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $22 online; $20 in person, by phone or by mail; $30 for the long form |
| South Carolina certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $10 for LLCs and corporations |
| South Dakota certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing / Existence | $20 for LLCs and corporations |
| Tennessee certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $20, plus an online service fee when paying online (amount not published) |
| Texas certificate of good standing | Certificate of Fact | $15; $25 for a Long Form Certificate of Existence |
| Utah certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $12 short form, $20 Long Form, plus $75 per document to expedite an in-house order |
| Vermont certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $35 for a domestic LLC, $25 for a domestic business corporation |
| Virginia certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | $6 per certificate |
| Washington certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $20 for the Express PDF; $20 plus a $20 processing fee through the CCFS certified copies option |
| West Virginia certificate of good standing | Certificate of Existence | $10, plus $25, $250 or $500 to expedite |
| Wisconsin certificate of good standing | Certificate of Status | $10 processing fee; $25 per document to expedite a staff-processed request |
| Wyoming certificate of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing | Free online; $20 for a manually signed paper certificate |
How Long Is a Certificate of Good Standing Valid?
States do not print an expiration date on the certificate. It proves status on the day of issue and nothing after that, so the party that asks for it sets the age limit. Banks, lenders and states reviewing a foreign qualification application each set their own limit. Ask for the limit before you order, and order the certificate close to the date you submit it.
What Causes a Business to Lose Good Standing
- A missed annual or biennial report. Each state sets its own due date and fee; see the annual report filing requirements by state.
- Unpaid state fees or franchise tax. States such as Delaware, Texas and California tie good standing to an annual tax or franchise tax filing.
- No registered agent on record. If the registered agent resigns or the address stops working, the state can revoke or dissolve the entity.
How to Restore Good Standing
File every overdue report, pay the fees, penalties and taxes the state shows as due, and appoint a registered agent if the company has none. A company the state has already dissolved or revoked files an application for reinstatement, which in most states requires every missing report and a reinstatement fee. The guide on how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC covers that process. Once the state records the filings, order a new certificate.
Certificate of Good Standing vs Tax Clearance Certificate
The Secretary of State certificate confirms filing status. A tax clearance certificate, tax status letter or tax good standing certificate comes from the state revenue department and confirms the business has filed its state tax returns and has no unpaid state tax. Some states require tax clearance to dissolve, merge or reinstate a company, and some buyers and lenders ask for both documents. The state guides above name the tax document in each state where one exists.
Certificate of Good Standing vs Certificate of Authority
A certificate of good standing comes from the home state and proves the company is current there. A certificate of authority comes from a second state and permits the company to do business in that state as a foreign entity. You need the first to apply for the second. The full comparison is in certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
Stay in Good Standing With BusinessAnywhere
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Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
What is a certificate of good standing?
A certificate of good standing is an official document from the state that formed your LLC or corporation. It confirms the business exists, is authorized to operate, and is current on its required state filings and fees on the date the certificate is issued.
How do I get a certificate of good standing?
Order it from the business filing office of the state where the company was formed, which is the Secretary of State in most states. Search the business by name or ID in the state's online system, select the certificate, pay the fee and download or receive it by email. Most states issue it online, and several issue it instantly.
How much does a certificate of good standing cost?
The fee is set by each state. Colorado and Wyoming issue one online for free, New Hampshire charges $2, and Delaware charges $50 for the short form and $175 for the long form. The table on this page lists the fee for all 50 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico.
Is a certificate of good standing the same as a certificate of existence or certificate of status?
Yes. States use different names for the same document. Georgia, Oregon and Tennessee call it a Certificate of Existence, California and Florida call it a Certificate of Status, Pennsylvania calls it a Subsistence Certificate and New Jersey calls it a Standing Certificate.
How long is a certificate of good standing valid?
The certificate has no expiration date printed by the state. It reflects the company's status on the day it was issued, so the bank, lender, agency or other state that requests it decides how recent it must be. Ask the requesting party for its age limit before you order.
Why would my business not be in good standing?
A business falls out of good standing when it misses an annual or biennial report, fails to pay a state fee or franchise tax, or has no registered agent on record. Fix the missing filing or payment and the state restores the status, or file for reinstatement if the state has dissolved the company.
Do I need a certificate of good standing to register in another state?
Yes, in most states. Registering an existing LLC or corporation as a foreign entity in a second state requires a recent certificate of good standing from the home state, filed with the application for a certificate of authority.
Is a tax clearance certificate the same as a certificate of good standing?
No. The Secretary of State certificate confirms the company's filing status. A tax clearance or tax good standing letter comes from the state revenue department and confirms the business has no unpaid state tax. Some transactions require both.
Fees verified against official state sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount with the state filing office before you order.
