Foreign Corporation Registration in Nevada
$829 total (includes state fees & a year of registered agent service)
It’s time to roll the dice on doing business in Nevada.
To expand your out-of-state corporation into Nevada, you’ll need to take two basic steps.
You’re required to get a registered agent located in Nevada, and you’ll need to register with the Secretary of State’s office as a Nevada foreign corporation by filing an Application for Registration of Foreign Profit Corporation.
With our Out-of-State Corporation Registration Service, we’ll be your local Nevada connection. We give you a year of Nevada registered agent service, and we’ll file your Application for Registration so you don’t have to mess with the paperwork.
If you need to establish a professional presence in Nevada, we also provide free use of our Nevada business address and Virtual Office Service.
Our Out-of-State Corporation Registration Service
Registered Agent
A full year of Nevada Registered Agent Service with a secure online account where you can view your notifications and documents
Painless Registration
Accurate and speedy filing of your Application for Registration of a Foreign Corp with the NV SOS
Privacy Protection
Use our professional, permanent Las Vegas business address to protect your personal address
Annual Report Support
Enrollment in Renewal Service for Annual Report filing so you never miss an Annual List filing
What Is a Nevada Foreign Corporation?
A foreign corporation is a corporation that was formed in one state (the “home” state) and then expands into another state, where it is considered “foreign,” since each state has different state statutes and laws.
The process of registering your foreign corporation is referred to as foreign qualification.
Why Register as a Foreign Corporation?
It’s common for corporations in the US to do business in multiple states. However, forming a new corporation in every state isn’t very practical or cost-effective. It’s much easier to register as a foreign corporation in the state where you want to do business (aside from your home state).
Do You Need To Register Your Foreign Corporation?
The NV SOS requires your company to register with the state if you’re doing business in Nevada as an out-of-state corporation.
What Happens If You Do Business In Nevada Without Registering?
If you conduct business in Nevada without registering, it’s a violation of state law (Nevada Revised Statutes 80.010).
And if the state discovers that you purposefully started doing business in Nevada without registering, you might end up in court and be levied with a hefty fine between $1,000 and $10,000 (NRS 80.055).
What Is Considered “Doing Business” In Nevada?
In Nevada, the state considers any activity that your corporation participates in for profit that requires the owners of your company to file taxes with the IRS to be “conducting business.” So, if your company is making enough money to file federal corporate taxes on your Nevada earnings, you must register your corporation.
The NRS also defines what is not considered doing business, such as:
- Holding meetings in Nevada
- Maintaining bank accounts
- Selling through independent contractors
- Owning property
- Maintaining or defending a lawsuit
See NRS 80.015 for a complete list of activities that are not considered doing business in NV.
Need To Establish Your Company’s Physical Presence in Nevada?
Get Virtual Office!
Get the credibility of a commercial business address without having to shell out $$$ for an office rental that you won’t even use.
With Virtual Office Service, you get:
- Professional Las Vegas business address with a unique suite number
- Month-to-month office lease
- Unlimited digital mail forwarding with junk mail filtering
- Virtual Phone Service with local NV area code
Add Virtual Office Service at checkout when you sign up for Foreign Corporation Registration.
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Guide to Registering a Foreign Corporation in Nevada
If you’re ready to start operating your out-of-state corporation in Nevada, here’s what you need to do.
1. Before You Register
Find out if your corporation’s name is available in Nevada:
The Nevada Secretary of State needs to be able to distinguish all businesses on file, so you cannot register a business name if it is already assigned to another entity. To determine the availability of your corporation’s name, you can use the Nevada Business Search.
You’ll need to choose a different name to register with the Nevada Secretary of State if your corporation’s legal business name is already in use. Make sure that your new name contains an entity identifier such as “Corp,” “Inc,” or “Incorporated.”
If you must use a different name in Nevada, put down your legal business name from your home state on your Application form under “Name of Entity.” Then, you’ll have to submit a Modified Name Resolution form with your qualification application.
Designate a Nevada registered agent:
Appointing a registered agent with an office that is physically located in the state of Nevada is required of all foreign business entities. You must have a Nevada registered agent who can accept service of process and other official business mail from the state on behalf of your corporation.
2. File Your Registration Documents
To register your Nevada foreign corporation, you’ll have to file an Application for Registration of Foreign Profit Corporation, along with an Initial List of Officers/Directors and Nevada State Business License Registration.
The Formation – Profit Corporation packet contains all three of these documents (the same form is used for domestic corporation formation and foreign corporation registration).
Filing timeline:
You can submit all of these filings and pay the associated fees at the same time. But if you’re not prepared to file your Initial List, the state allows you to until the end of the month after you file your Application for Registration to submit your Initial List and Business License Registration. So, if you submit your Application in January, you have until February 28th (or 29th) to file the remainder of your paperwork.
Application for Registration:
On your application, you’ll need to list the following information:
- Corporation Name
- Registered agent’s name, street address, and signature
- Whether or not your corporation is a close corporation with a governing board
- Board of Directors/Trustees or Stockholder names and addresses
- Jurisdiction of Incorporation
- Whether or not your corporation is a benefit corporation
- The purpose of your corporation
- The number of authorized shares and their par value
- The name, address, and signature of your organizer (the individual who completes and files your articles)
Certificate of Modified Name: Modified Name Resolution (if using a different name in Nevada):
You’ll only need to submit a Certificate of Modified Name: Modified Name Resolution if using a different name in Nevada. On this form, you’ll need to list:
- Corporate name in your home state
- Nevada Business Identification Number (if you have one)
- Your new (modified name)
- The data and signature of the person authorized to file the form
Initial List and State Business License:
The same form is to file your Initial List and State Business License Registration. However, there’s a separate fee for each.
Your Initial List of Officers/Directors provides the state with the names and addresses of your corporation’s officers at the time of formation.
The State Business License is a general business license that allows your corporation to operate in Nevada. It’s possible that your corporation may also need to get professional licenses or other permits to operate legally in Nevada, depending on the type of business you run and your industry (for example, a medical license or liquor license).
Secretary of State filing fees for Nevada Foreign Corporations:
Below are all of the Secretary of State’s required documents and filing fees to register a Nevada Foreign Corporation:
| Form | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application for Registration | $75 – $35,000 depending on the total value of your authorized shares |
| Modified Name Resolution (if applicable) | $175 |
| Initial List of Officers/Directors | $150 |
| Nevada Business License Registration | $500 |
| Credit Card Processing Fee (2.5%) | $19 with $75 filing fee and no Modified Name Resolution, varies by fee and with Modified Name Resolution |
| TOTAL (with $75 filing fee and no Modified Name Resolution) | $744 |
If the total value of your authorized shares is over $75,000, you’ll need to pay more than $75 to file your Application. To calculate your filing fee, you can use the NV SOS’s Corporation Formation Fee Calculator.
How to file:
You can file by mail, in person, or online. Expedited service is available for additional fees ($125 for 24-hour processing, $500 for two-hour processing, and $1000 for one-hour processing).
Mail or in-person delivery:
Nevada Secretary of State
401 North Carson Street
Carson City, Nevada 89701-4201
Online:
NV Foreign Corporation Maintenance:
Your Annual Report + Publication Requirement
Foreign corporations operating in Nevada are required to file an Annual Report every year, just like domestic corporations. This ensures that your corporation’s information stays up to date with the Secretary of State.
An additional requirement for foreign corporations is the Publication Requirement. Each year, by the end of March, you must publish a statement in two issues of a Nevada newspaper with basic information about your foreign corporation.
About the Nevada Corporation Annual Report (List):
In Nevada, the Annual Report is actually called the Nevada Annual List. The Annual List is simply an updated version of the Initial List you filed when registering your foreign corporation. Along with your Annual List, you have to renew your State Business License each year.
Just like with your Initial List and State Business License Registration filings, you must file your Annual List and State Business License Renewal together, and pay the fees for both requirements at the same time.
Your Annual List Due Date:
Your Annual List is due by the last day of your company’s anniversary month. So, if your foreign corporation was registered in Nevada in December, your Annual List is due by December 31st every year.
The state will send you reminders about the Annual List deadline as it approaches.
Not sure about your anniversary month?
Figure out your Annual List due date by looking up your business with the Nevada Business Search. After selecting your corporation from the search results, you’ll arrive on your foreign corporation’s Entity Information page. There, you’ll see your Annual List due date listed alongside basic information about your corporation, like its name, entity number, and jurisdiction of incorporation.
Nevada Corporation Annual List and Business License Filing Fees:
| Form | Fee |
|---|---|
| Annual List of Officers/Directors | $150 – $11,125 depending on the total value of your authorized shares |
| Nevada Business License Renewal | $500 |
| Credit Card Processing Fee (2.5%) | $16 with $150 filing fee, varies by fee |
| TOTAL | $666 with $150 filing fee |
If the total value of your authorized shares is over $75,000, you’ll need to pay more than $150 to file your Annual List. You can figure out your fee using our Annual List Fee Chart.
How to File Your Annual List:
Your Annual List can be filed by mail, in person, or online through the Silverflume Business Portal. Expedited service is available for additional fees ($125 for 24-hour processing, $500 for two-hour processing, and $1000 for one-hour processing).
If submitting your List by mail or in person, download and fill out the Annual or Amended List and State Business License Application.
Penalties for Late and Missing Filings:
Late fees:
You’ll be hit with a $75 late fee for your Annual List and a $100 late fee for your Business License if you don’t file by your due date. This gives you a total late fee of $175.
When you file your late report and license registration, you’ll have to pay your filing fee plus the $175 fee.
Losing your ability to do business:
In addition to late fees, you may also face administrative consequences:
- Your Annual List is overdue ⇒ Your corporation is placed in “Default” status
- After one year of being in Default status ⇒ Your corporation’s right to do business in NV may be revoked
- After two years of being in Default status ⇒ Your corporation’s right to do business in NV will be revoked
Nevada Foreign Corporation Publication Requirement
Every year, your foreign corp needs to fulfill the publication requirement (NRS 80.190). Here’s what you need to do:
1. Prepare a statement that includes:
- Your corporation’s name
- The names and titles of the officers submitting your statement
- The mailing or street address of your corporation’s principal office in your home state
- The mailing or street address of your corporation’s office in Nevada
2. Publish your statement in two issues of a Nevada newspaper with a weekly circulation of at least 1,000
Due date:
By the end of March each year.
Penalties for non-compliance:
If the Nevada Attorney General finds that you have failed to comply with the publication requirement, you will be charged with a late fee of $100 per month that the statement remains unpublished.
Never Miss an Annual List Filing!
We include enrollment in our Renewal Service for Annual Report filing with our Foreign Corporation Registration Service.
$0 upfront. $100 + state fees, charged only at filing.
Give yourself peace of mind and never suffer the negative consequences of missing your filing.
Ordering Our Foreign Corporation Registration Service: How It Works
Our Foreign Corporation Registration Service simplifies the process, saving you time and the hassle of doing your paperwork.
Here’s how the process goes:
1 – Sign up for service. Provide us with some basic info about your foreign corp, and we’ll prepare and file your Application for Registration. You’ll have instant access to your online account.
2 – Check your email. We’ll be sending you welcome emails with information about your registered agent service.
3 – Look out for document notices and filing reminders. You’ll get email notifications about new documents, your Annual List deadline, and when your Renewal Service for Annual Report filing will be activated.
4 – Renew your registered agent service. When your year of RA Service is almost up, we’ll email you about renewing (always only $35/year).
Included With Foreign Corp Registration Service
Enrollment in Renewal Service for Annual Report Filing
Because we often see clients getting into trouble with the state for not filing their Annual Report (also called an Annual List), we include enrollment in Renewal Service for Annual Report filing with Foreign Corporation Registration Service.
Renewal Service is aimed at protecting you from having to pay expensive late fees and from administrative dissolution for failure to file.
Here’s how it works:
- You don’t pay anything up front.
- 100 days before your Annual Report is due, we send you a notification about the approaching deadline and let you know that we’ll file on your behalf soon.
- Then, we file on your behalf well ahead of the deadline ($100 + state fees, charged only at filing).
- You stay in compliance without even having to think about it.
To file your own report instead, just cancel the service in your online account.
Your Online Account
Inside your online portal, you’ll find a whole range of services and resources:
- Free library of business documents, including corporate bylaws templates
- A mailbox where all of your legal documents and mail scans are uploaded for your viewing
- Answers to FAQs and more information about your service
- Access to additional services: Mail scanning, virtual office, and more
- Access to additional filings: EIN, Trade Name (DBA), and more
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Cost at Checkout | Cost at Activation |
|---|---|---|
| NV Application for Registration Filing Fee | $75* | |
| Nevada Initial List Filing Fee | $150 | |
| Nevada State Business License Filing Fee | $500 | |
| Credit Card Processing Fee (2.5%) | $19 | |
| Our Foreign Corp Registration Filing Service | $100 | |
| One Year of Registered Agent Service | $35 | |
| Enrollment in Renewal Service | $0 | $100 + state fees*, charged ONLY at filing** |
| Total Cost at Checkout | $829 |
* Fees vary according to the total value of your authorized shares. For the Application fee, use the NV Corporation Formation Free Calculator. For the Annual List fee, use our Annual List Fee Chart.
** You will receive an email reminder approximately 3 months before your Annual List due date; you can cancel the service in your online portal any time
Nevada Foreign Corporation FAQs
To register a Nevada foreign corporation, you must file and pay the fee for an Application of Registration ($75 minimum), an Initial List of Members/Managers ($150), and Nevada State Business License ($500) plus an $19 credit card processing fee (minimum), for a total of $744 at minimum.
You’ll need to pay more if your foreign corporation has over $75,000 in total authorized shares (use the NV Corporation Formation Free Calculator to figure out your fee. If you need to use a different name in Nevada, you’ll also need to file a Modified Name Resolution ($175).
All foreign corporations must pay for a State Business License ($500) as part of their registration filing. You’ll also renew every year when filing your Nevada Annual List (known as an Annual Report in many states).
If you work in an industry that is regulated by a state agency, you may also need to get a professional license, such as an attorney’s or barber’s license. You may also need specific permits or licenses based on the type of business you run, including liquor licenses or event permits.
Nevada’s Annual Report is referred to as the Annual List. All Nevada foreign corporations are required to file an updated Annual List of the corporation’s officers/directors each year ($150 minimum fee) and to renew their Business Registration ($500).
Our Foreign Corporation Registration Service includes enrollment in Renewal Service for Annual Report filing so that you can stay in compliance with zero effort.
A common problem we see our clients dealing with is forgetting to file their Annual List and renew their State Business License, which can result in having to pay a $175 late fee, or worse, loss of the ability to do business in Nevada. So, we now include enrollment in Renewal Service for Annual Report filing with Foreign Corp registration to protect your business from the negative effects of failing to file.
We’ll send you a notification about your deadline 100 days before it arrives and let you know that we’ll be filing your report in one week. After a week we’ll file on your behalf, well ahead of the deadline. You’ll stay in compliance effortlessly.
Renewal Service is $100 + state fees, charged only at filing. The total for the minimum filing fee would be $750 ($100 filing service fee, $150 Annual List fee, and $500 Business License fee, plus the state’s card processing fee). To file your own report, cancel the service in your online portal.
Nevada Foreign Corp
+ Las Vegas Business Address
$829 Total (includes state fees)
