Business License Documents FAQs and SoS Info

Modified on Tue, Jun 17 at 2:31 PM

What Is a Certificate of Good Standing?

A Certificate of Good Standing, Letter of Good Standing, Certificate of Status and Certificate of Legal Existence are all names of documents that have the same meaning. They show that an entity is in compliance, or “good standing,” with the state it does business in.

A certificate of good standing verifies that a corporation or LLC was formed legally, has been properly maintained and is still active. It should not be confused with a certificate of tax status or tax compliance, which shows that an entity is up to date on all its state tax filings and payments.

 

Who Is Eligible for a Letter of Good Standing?

In most states, registered business entities such as corporations, partnerships, LLCs and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are eligible to request a certificate of good standing. Before requesting a certificate, businesses should be up to date on their annual reports and fees and registered agent designation.

Businesses that operate as a sole proprietorship or general partnership are unincorporated. Because they’re not registered with the state, they can’t get a certificate of good standing.

 

When Do Owners Need a Certificate of Good Standing?

For the purposes of daily business, owners do not need to worry about having a letter of good standing on hand. But there will likely come a time during the life of an entity when it will be necessary to procure a certificate. Common reasons you might need a certificate of good standing include:

  • Opening a business bank account Applying for business loans
  • Soliciting funds from potential investors Registering to do business in a different state Contracting with another company Transferring or selling a business


Are certificates of good standing required to operate a business?

A certificate of good standing is not required to operate a business. But a letter of good standing may be required for taking certain actions, such as selling your business, applying for a loan or establishing credentials.


How long are certificates of good standing valid?

This depends on the state where the business is located, but most letters of good standing are valid for 60-90 days. Check with your state to confirm how long your certificate is valid.

 

Is it important to maintain a good standing?

Maintaining good standing is incredibly important to a business, even if you won’t need a certificate anytime soon. Remaining in compliance helps preserve your limited liability and ensures you won’t be fined by the state.

 

Do all businesses need a certificate of good standing?

No, not all business need to have a certificate of good standing, The rules vary by state but, in many of them, LLCS, partnerships, LPs, LLPs and limited liability limited partnerships (LLLPs) all need to have them. However, sole proprietorships do not.

 

What Is an article of organization?

Known by different names in different states, such as a certificate of formation or certificate or organization, an article of organization is a document specific to LLCs that outlines the initial statements necessary for forming an LLC in most U.S. states. This document, which usually must be filed with your state’s Secretary of State, must include essential information like your business name and address, the purpose of your business, how the business will be managed, contact information for the LLC’s registered agent and, if known, the expected duration of the LLC.

 

How To Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Your State

Each state, plus Washington, D.C., has its own rules and processes regarding how business owners obtain documentation; in most cases information can be found online through the individual Secretary of State websites or mailing requests.


State

State Department

Business Division

Business Entity Search

Alabama

Alabama Secretary of State

AL Business Services

AL Business Entity

Alaska

State of Alaska

AK Division of Corps & Licensing

AK Corps Database

Arizona

Arizona Secretary of State

AZ Corporation Commission

AZ Business Search

Arkansas

Arkansas Secretary of State

AK Business & Commercial Services

AK Business Search

California

California Secretary of State

CA Business Entities

CA Business Search

Colorado

Colorado Secretary of State

CO Business Organizations

CO Business Database

Connecticut

Connecticut Secretary of State

CT Business Services

CT Business Search

Delaware

State of Delaware

DE Division of Corporations

DE Business Search

D.C.

DC Office of the Secretary

DC Dept. of Consumer Affairs

DC Business Filings

Florida

Florida Department of State

FL Sunbiz

FL Business Search

Georgia

Georgia Secretary of State

GA Corporations Division

GA Business Search

Hawaii

State of Hawaii

HI Business Registration (BREG)

HI Business Search

Idaho

Idaho Secretary of State

ID Business Entities

ID Business Search

Illinois

Illinois Secretary of State

Illinois Business Services

IL Corp & LLC Search

Indiana

Indiana Secretary of State

INBiz

IN Business Search

Iowa

Iowa Secretary of State

IA Business Services

IA Business Search

Kansas

Kansas Secretary of State

Kansas Business Filing Center

Kansas Business Entity Search

Kentucky

Kentucky Secretary of State

Kentucky Business Services

Kentucky Business Entity Search

Louisiana

Louisiana Secretary of State

Louisiana Business Services

Louisiana Business Filings Search

Maine

Maine Secretary of State

Maine Bureau of Corporations

Maine Corporate Name Search

Maryland

Maryland Secretary of State

Maryland Department of Business Services

Maryland Business Search

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Secretary of Commonwealth

Massachusetts Corporations Division

Massachusetts Business Search

Michigan

Michigan Secretary of State

Michigan Corporations & Licensing Bureau

Michigan Business Entity Search

Minnesota

Minnesota Secretary of State

Minnesota Business Services

Minnesota Search Business Filings

Mississippi

Mississippi Secretary of State

Mississippi Business Services Division

Mississippi Business Search

Missouri

Missouri Secretary of State

Missouri Business Services Division

Missouri Business Entity Search

Montana

Montana Secretary of State

Montana Business Services Division

Montana Business Entities Search

Nebraska

Nebraska Secretary of State

Nebraska Business Services Division

Nebraska Business Search

Nevada

Nevada Secretary of State

Nevada Commercial Recordings Division

Nevada Business Search

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Secretary of State

New Hampshire Corporation Division

New Hampshire Business Search

New Jersey

New Jersey Department of State

New Jersey Department of the Treasury

New Jersey Business Search

New Mexico

New Mexico Secretary of State

New Mexico Corporations Bureau

New Mexico Business Search

New York

New York Department of State

New York Division of Corporations

New York Business Entity Database

North Carolina

North Carolina Secretary of State

North Carolina Business Registration Division

North Carolina Business Search

North Dakota

North Dakota Secretary of State

North Dakota Business Services

North Dakota Business Search

Ohio

Ohio Secretary of State

Ohio Business Services

Ohio Business Search

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Secretary of State

Oklahoma Business Services

Oklahoma Corporation Entities

Oregon

Oregon Secretary of State

Oregon Corporation Division Services

Oregon Business Name Search

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of State

Pennsylvania Bureau of Organizations

Pennsylvania Business Search

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Department of State

Puerto Rico Registry of Corporate Entities

Puerto Rico Business Corporations

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Secretary of State

Rhode Island Business Portal

Rhode Island Corporate Database

South Carolina

South Carolina Secretary of State

South Carolina Business Entities

South Carolina Business Search

South Dakota

South Dakota Secretary of State

South Dakota Business Services

South Dakota Business Search

Tennessee

Tennessee Secretary of State

Tennessee Business Services

Tennessee Business Entity Search

Texas

Texas Secretary of State

Texas Business Services

Texas Taxable Entity Search

Utah

Utah Secretary of State

Utah Division of Corporations

Utah Business Search

Vermont

Vermont Secretary of State

Vermont Business Services

Vermont Business Search

Virginia

Commonwealth of Virginia

Virginia State Corporation Commission

Virginia Business Entity Search

Washington

Washington Secretary of State

Washington Corporations Division

Washington Corporations Search

West Virginia

West Virginia Secretary of State

West Virginia Business Division

West Virginia Business Search

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Secretary of State

Wisconsin Department of Institutions

Wisconsin Corporate Records

Wyoming

Wyoming Secretary of State

Wyoming Business Division

Wyoming Business Entity Search


If you have any further questions, please contact the NASTF support team at support.nastf.org.


 

Related links:

Business License

Certificate of Insurance

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