In the United States, just because you are registered to do business in one state does not mean that you can legally do business in another state.  If you want to transact any serious business in a state other than the state in which your Corporation is registered, most likely you will have to register with the state in which you want to do business before you can legally conduct business there. 

For example, a Corporation that is registered in California wants to do business in West Virginia.  The California Corporation is a "Domestic" Corporation in California and will be a "Foreign" Corporation in West Virginia.

The California Foreign Corporation needs to register with the West Virginia Secretary of State as a West Virginia Foreign Corporation.

The use of the term Foreign in this case refers specifically to individual US states.  The US government, including the IRS, considers a Foreign Corporation to be a Corporation that is registered outside of the United States.

You want to do business in the state of West Virginia but are registered as a "Domestic Corporation" in another state.  In order to legally conduct business in the state of West Virginia you must register with the West Virginia Secretary of State as a Foreign Corporation.  The process of registering as a Foreign Corporation in West Virginia is called West Virginia Corporation Foreign Qualification.

The process of West Virginia Corporation Foreign Qualification is similar to the process of forming a Domestic Corporation in West Virginia.  Your original Domestic Corporation formation documents (usually called Articles of Incorporation) and By Laws apply to your West Virginia Foreign Corporation.  The Officers and Directors of your Domestic Corporation have the same roles in the West Virginia Foreign Corporation.  Specific requirements to qualify as a Foreign Corporation in West Virginia are explained below. 

Once you have made the decision to Qualify as a Foreign Corporation in West Virginia, a West Virginia lawyer can file your documents and act as a middle man for a few hundred dollars an hour; or you can use an online service provider like All Business Documents to perform these services.

The short answer is no.  The state of West Virginia does not legally require a lawyer to form a West Virginia Foreign Corporation.

Our detailed Foreign Corporation Information page may help you understand some of the implications of forming a West Virginia Foreign Corporation.  However, if there is anything about forming a Foreign Corporation in West Virginia that you're not sure about you should seek the advice of a competent West Virginia lawyer, a West Virginia accountant, or both before you form a Foreign Corporation in West Virginia.

Once you have made the decision to form a Foreign Corporation in West Virginia, a West Virginia lawyer can file your documents and act as a middle man for a few hundred dollars an hour; or you can use an online service provider like All Business Documents to perform these services and save money that you can use in your new West Virginia Foreign Corporation.

You are not legally required to reserve a Company Name for a new West Virginia Foreign Corporation before you submit your application to Form a Foreign Corporation in West Virginia.

The Foreign Corporation name that you have registered in your home state may or may not be available in West Virginia.  In that case you need a different name your West Virginia Foreign Corporation.  Whether or not you need to reserve a company name for your new West Virginia Foreign Corporation depends entirely on your business situation.  The West Virginia Secretary of State uses names on a first come first served basis.  So if you think that someone may snatch the Company Name that you have in mind, you may want to reserve that West Virginia Foreign Corporation Name.

If the Name you have chosen for your new West Virginia Foreign Corporation is already in use by a currently active West Virginia Foreign Corporation or LLC then you will have to register a DBA Name with the West Virginia Secretary of State.  "DBA" is an abbreviation for "Doing Business As."

We verify that the Name you have chose for your new West Virginia Foreign Corporation is available before we submit your Foreign Corporation filing to the West Virginia Secretary of State.  If necessary we can register a DBA Name in West Virginia for you so that you can open your new West Virginia business as quickly as possible.

1. Prove that you are registered in a state other than West Virginia as a Domestic Corporation
   In order to register as a Foreign Corporation in the state of West Virginia, you must first prove that you are registered in another state as a Domestic Corporation.  You prove this with a Certificate of Good Standing, sometimes referred to as a Certificate of Existence or a Certificate of Fact, from the state in which you are registered as a Domestic Corporation.  Cost of a Good Standing Certificate for your Domestic Corporation varies from state to state.
   
   
   If you already have a Good Standing Certificate from your home state, note that it must be dated no older than current tax year from the date of your application for West Virginia Corporation Foreign Qualification.
   
   
   If the date on your Good Standing Certificate is older than current tax year then you need to get an updated certificate.   If you get your own Good Standing Certificate you must scan and email or send a copy to us before we submit your application for a West Virginia Foreign Corporation.
   We can get your Good Standing Certificate from any state - in most states within 2-3 hours.
2. Choose a name for your West Virginia Foreign Corporation
   You can use the same name in West Virginia that you use in your home state, however, if the name of your Domestic Corporation is not available you need to choose another name.  Your West Virginia Foreign Corporation name can identify the type of products and services your business will provide; or it may be the name of the founder; or it can be a combination of the two or something else.
   
   In any case, the West Virginia Foreign Corporation name that you choose must be distinguishable from the name of any other registered West Virginia Corporation or other business entity and the name must also be different from any reserved names on record with the state of West Virginia.  Your West Virginia Foreign Corporation name must not imply that it was formed for a purpose other than that stated in the Your West Virginia Foreign Corporation name must not be a name that is likely to mislead the public.
   
   The name of a West Virginia Foreign Corporation must include the word "Foreign Corporation" or "Incorporated" or an abbreviation of one of these words.
   
   It's important to choose a good name for your West Virginia Foreign Corporation because if you want to change it after you qualify you will have to file amended documents with the West Virginia Secretary of State (and pay a fee).
   We will check to make sure that your requested West Virginia Foreign Corporation name is available and conforms to all state of West Virginia Foreign Corporation naming regulations.
3. Select an official address and a Registered Agent for your West Virginia Foreign Corporation
   Every West Virginia Foreign Corporation must have an address that is physically located in the state of West Virginia.  This address is "registered" with the West Virginia Secretary of State.  The Registered Address cannot be a PO Box and is where official and legal correspondence can be delivered.
   
   The individual or company that is registered with the state of West Virginia to receive all correspondence on behalf of the West Virginia Foreign Corporation is called a "Registered Agent".  You may act as your own Registered Agent, however, many West Virginia Foreign Corporations hire a Registered Agent because they don't have a physical address within the state of West Virginia or to provide a distinct level of privacy.
   We provide Registered Agent services in West Virginia as well as all other states and the District of Columbia.
4. File Registration Documents with the West Virginia Secretary of State
   In order to Qualify as a Foreign Corporation in West Virginia you must file Registration Documents with the West Virginia Secretary of State.  In West Virginia the registration documents are named "Certificate of Authority".
   
   The registration documents must include certain specific information about your West Virginia business.  If the Registration Documents do not conform exactly to state of West Virginia requirements they will be rejected. 
   
   If you need to change any of the information on your registration documents after your West Virginia Foreign Corporation has been approved, you may amend the registration documents for your West Virginia Foreign Corporation but you will have to pay a fee to the state of West Virginia in order to make the changes official.
   
   
5. Determine how you want your West Virginia Foreign Corporation to be taxed
   The West Virginia Corporate Income Tax Rate is %.  You may choose that your West Virginia Foreign Corporation to be taxed as a C Corporation or S Corporation. 
   
   A C Corporation is what you may think of as a traditional Corporation like General Electric or Ford.  C Corporations pay a Corporate income tax to the state if that state taxes Foreign Corporations. 
   
   You may choose to have your West Virginia Foreign Corporation taxed as a S Corporation.  S Corporations "pass through" all corporate profits to the shareholders (owners) who then pay tax at their applicable personal rate.  S Corporations do not pay any West Virginia Corporate Income Tax.
   
   In addition to paying the West Virginia Corporate Income Tax, all West Virginia Corporations must pay the West Virginia Business Franchise Tax.  The West Virginia Business Franchise Tax is currently .41% of taxable assets and will be phased out by 2015.
   If you choose to be taxed as an S Corporation, we can prepare the S Corporation election form for your West Virginia Foreign Corporation and include it with your final Foreign Corporation documents package.

1. Obtain Business Licenses from the cities and counties in which you plan to do business
2. File the required reports for your West Virginia Foreign Corporation
3. Keep proper records of your West Virginia Foreign Corporation on file
4. Pay your taxes to the state of West Virginia

1. Obtain Business Licenses from the cities and counties in which you plan to do business
   Note that forming a West Virginia Foreign Corporation does not take the place of obtaining a local business license, tax registration certificate, or other required business permits.  A West Virginia Foreign Corporation merely creates an ownership structure that limits the owners' personal liability.  You may still need to take care of getting set up to do business with your local government.
   
   Depending on the nature of the business and the location of your West Virginia Foreign Corporation within West Virginia you may need to get one or more local business licenses or permits.  The business licenses or permits that are required for your West Virginia Foreign Corporation vary depending on your business activities and the specific locations within the state of West Virginia in which you want to conduct business.
   
   If your West Virginia Foreign Corporation will be selling products in West Virginia you may be required to obtain a Reseller's Permit from the appropriate West Virginia state agency.  If your West Virginia Foreign Corporation will be selling products in West Virginia you will also be responsible for all applicable local and state of West Virginia sales taxes if there are any.
   We have the expertise to find out exactly which state and local permits that you need for your specific business.
2. File the required reports for your West Virginia Foreign Corporation
   The West Virginia Corporation Annual Report includes basic information about your West Virginia Foreign Corporation including information on your Officers and Directors.
   
   Failure to submit a properly completed West Virginia to the West Virginia Secretary of State on or before the due date may subject the West Virginia Foreign Corporation to being administratively dissolved in the state of West Virginia or having its authority to transact business in the state of West Virginia revoked by the West Virginia Secretary of State.
   
   Penalties may accrue if you fail to file any West Virginia Foreign Corporation to the West Virginia Secretary of State by the due date.
   
   
3. Keep proper records of your West Virginia Foreign Corporation on file
   Keep the following records on file and available at the principal business office of your West Virginia Foreign Corporation:
   • Names and addresses of all Directors and Officers of the West Virginia Foreign Corporation
   • Foreign Corporation formation documents and any Amendments to them
   • Corporate Bylaws and any Amendments to them
   • List of current shareholders of the Foreign West Virginia Foreign Corporation.  If shareholders change, keep a record of old shareholders and how stock was transferred.
   • Minutes of all Meetings of Shareholders and Directors
   • Copies of any Corporate Resolutions which have been adopted by the West Virginia Foreign Corporation
   • Copies of all tax returns and Annual Reports for the West Virginia Foreign Corporation for the last 3 years
   
   
   
4. Pay your taxes to the state of West Virginia
   Foreign Corporations that either do business in the state of West Virginia or that derive income from sources within the state of West Virginia are subject to West Virginia and federal tax laws.  If you are engaged in intrastate business and derive income from other states besides West Virginia, you must allocate the amount of income derived from the state of West Virginia in order to determine your West Virginia state taxes.

In order to Incorporate in West Virginia you'll need the following information about your new Company:

• The name of your new West Virginia Foreign Corporation along with your second choice of a name in case the name that you want is not available
  
• Physical address of the Foreign Corporation office in West Virginia (not a PO Box)
  
• A good standing certificate for your Domestic Corporation from your home state no older that current tax year
• A description of the nature of the business you are planning to operate with the West Virginia Foreign Corporation
• When the West Virginia Foreign Corporation will start and when it will cease to exist (normally the Foreign Corporation starts on the date the application is filed and will exist perpetually)
• Names and addresses of the initial Directors of the West Virginia Foreign Corporation
• Names and addresses of each Officer of the West Virginia Foreign Corporation

Remember - ALL the information that you provide when you Form a Foreign Corporation in West Virginia becomes part of the public record.  Our data entry forms include the absolute minimum amount of information that is required in order to Form a new Foreign Corporation in West Virginia.

Processing times for new West Virginia Foreign Corporation applications vary depending on the work load of the Secretary of State's staff.  We've found that normal processing of new West Virginia Foreign Corporation applications takes the state around 8-10 business days.  Add 2-3 days for the time period for shipping the final documents by mail.  Choosing our Express Mail option can shave a couple of days off the total processing time for your new West Virginia Foreign Corporation.

The West Virginia Secretary of State reserves the right to extend expedite periods in time of extreme volume, staff shortage or equipment malfunction.  We are dependent on, and have no control over, the staff and systems of the West Virginia Secretary of State.

In our experience 8-10 business days is the time it usually takes the West Virginia Secretary of State to process a new West Virginia Foreign Corporation application. We get your West Virginia Foreign Corporation application to the WV Secretary of State ASAP. Once it is at the state we have no control over the new West Virginia Foreign Corporation application process.

The state of West Virginia charges $135.00 to Form a Foreign Corporation in WV.  Also add the cost of a Good Standing Certificate from your home state.   If you choose us to help you Form your Foreign Corporation in West Virginia our processing fees are $145.00.  This includes:

• Same day processing of your new West Virginia Foreign Corporation order
• WV Name Check and Reservation
• Prepare Certificate of Authority
• File Formation Documents with the West Virginia Secretary of State
• Certified Copies of Formation Documents
• West Virginia Foreign Corporation Checklist
• Priority Mail Delivery
• Unlimited Customer Support