Certificate of Good Standing in California

How Do I Get a Certificate of Good Standing in California?

Request a certificate of good standing from the California Secretary of State at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/, by phone at (916) 657-5448, or by mail at 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Your LLC must be current on all biennial Statement of Information filings (Form LLC-12) with no outstanding penalties to qualify.

How to Request Your Certificate

Online (Fastest) Visit https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/ and search for your business by name or file number. Select your LLC and request the certificate through the portal. Processing is immediate.

By Phone Call (916) 657-5448 during business hours with your LLC name and file number ready. Staff will confirm your status and process your request.

By Mail Send a written request to the Secretary of State at 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Include your LLC name, file number, and number of certified copies needed. Allow additional time for mail delivery.

Eligibility Requirements

Your LLC must meet these requirements under Cal. Corp. Code §§ 17707.01–17707.06:

Initial filing: You filed Form LLC-12 within 90 days of formation
Biennial compliance: You filed Form LLC-12 every two years during your filing month
No penalties: You have no unpaid $250 late fees or delinquent reports
Current status: The Secretary of State has not suspended or forfeited your LLC

If you missed a filing deadline, there is no grace period. The Secretary of State will suspend your LLC automatically.

If Your Business Is Suspended

File all delinquent Statements of Information (Form LLC-12) immediately. Pay the $250 late penalty for each missed filing. Request revival with both the Secretary of State and the Franchise Tax Board (FTB). There is no reinstatement fee—you only pay penalties and filing fees for delinquent reports.

Check your status at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business before requesting a certificate. Once reinstated, file your Statement of Information every two years to maintain good standing.

This is general information, not legal advice.