{"id":100660,"date":"2018-01-01T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-01T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/llcbuddy-static-660"},"modified":"2018-01-01T10:00:00","modified_gmt":"2018-01-01T10:00:00","slug":"washington-foreign-llc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trendsmosaic.com\/index.php\/2018\/01\/01\/washington-foreign-llc\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Start a Foreign LLC in Washington (Step-by-Step Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>Page update history<\/b>Last updated Aug 28, 2026 \u00b7 published 2018<\/span><\/span>since 2018<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/summary>\n
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Aug 28, 2026<\/div>\n
Corrected the foreign-LLC fee (flat $180) and removed a non-existent $20 auto-expedite claim.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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If you have an LLC in Washington<\/a> and want to expand your business beyond Washington, you must form a foreign LLC. Any business, especially a limited liability company<\/a>, located in other states, starts its operation in Washington, must file a foreign LLC in Washington. To do so, every LLC needs to file additional filing documents, along with tax and relevant documents with the Washington government.<\/p>\n

In this article, you’ll be reading about how to start a foreign LLC in Washington<\/a>. Along with that, the page guides you through the steps involved in managing and maintaining a foreign LLC in Washington after you form it.<\/p>\n

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On this page<\/h4>\n

Forming a Foreign LLC in Washington<\/a>Filing Washington Foreign LLC Online – Quick Recap<\/a>After Forming Washington Foreign LLC<\/a>FAQs<\/a><\/div>\n

Forming a Foreign LLC in Washington<\/h2>\n

A foreign LLC does not need to be a company from another country but a business formed under the laws of another state. If you register your LLC in one state and operate your business in Washington, you probably need to register your LLC as a foreign entity here. Imagine, if your family owns a sushi restaurant in Alabama and you want to expand the chain somewhere in Texas, you must establish your restaurant in Texas as a foreign entity.<\/p>\n

Anyone who has an active and in good standing LLC anywhere (except for Washington) and wants to expand their operations in Washington can file their LLC as a foreign entity. To start a foreign LLC in Washington, you need to register it with the Washington Secretary of State<\/a>. Every state has a different rule for establishing a foreign LLC. Here are the steps to follow in Washington for registering a foreign LLC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> These are generic steps to file a foreign LLC in Washington. Make sure to check with the State Secretary of State, before you start filing your business. – LLCBuddy<\/a> Team<\/p>\n

1<\/span> Get the Certificate of Existence From Home State<\/a>2<\/span> Choose Washington Foreign LLC Name<\/a>3<\/span> Select Washington Foreign LLC Registered Agent<\/a>4<\/span> File Application for Registration for Washington Foreign LLC<\/a>5<\/span> Determine How Your Washington Foreign LLC is taxed<\/a><\/div>\n

Step 1<\/span>Get the Certificate of Existence From Home State<\/h3>\n

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Before you proceed to register your LLC in Washington as a foreign entity, you must get the Certificate of Existence issued from your home state SOS. This is an important document to register an LLC in a foreign state.<\/p>\n

If your LLC is originally registered in Washington, then you must obtain the Certificate of Existence from Washington Secretary of State<\/a>. If your LLC is in other states, the name of the same document might be different. Every LLC, registered in any state other than Washington must get this document to register a foreign LLC in Washington.<\/p>\n

Filing Certificate of Existence<\/strong>: To receive the Certificate of Existence in Washington, you must Log in to SOS<\/a> with the credentials you have. After logging in, you can request a Certificate of Existence by clicking on the option on the business details page. After making the payment you can get the confirmation.<\/p>\n

Step 2<\/span>Choose Washington Foreign LLC Name<\/h3>\n

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Obtain a name reservation certificate and submit it with your foreign qualification requirements to the Washington Secretary of State. Your LLC\u2019s legal name outside of Washington will be listed on the application, along with the name it will use in Washington. Take note of the requirements for naming your LLC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can use the same name as your domestic LLC name, however, that name should be available in Washington to use. Check name availability at Washington’s business entity names<\/a> and reserve your LLC name. There are a bunch of LLC naming guidelines in Washington<\/a> when it comes to forming a foreign LLC. Check the guidelines before you name your business.<\/p>\n

Step 3<\/span>Select Washington Foreign LLC Registered Agent<\/h3>\n

A registered agent is a person responsible for receiving all official and legal documents on behalf of your company, whether it is located domestically or in a foreign state. For a foreign LLC in Washington, you must have a registered agent from Washington only. No matter where your domestic LLC is located, you must hire a registered agent from Washington for your foreign LLC.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need a registered agent<\/a> to form a foreign LLC in Washington and take note that the Washington Registered Agent<\/a> must have a local address. Here are the best LLC services<\/a> on our list that will provide you with registered agents to ease your worries:<\/p>\n

Output for wptb id 44275 (used on ~332 pages): LLC service comparison.
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\n#1 Top Pick<\/span>
\n\"LegalZoom\"<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
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5.0<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n