Wyoming Foreign Corporation Registration
Own an out-of-state corporation and want to start doing business in Wyoming? You’ll have to register your business as a Wyoming Foreign Corporation by filing a Statement of Foreign Entity Authority with the WY Secretary of State.
Here’s what you need to know:
- What is a Wyoming Foreign Corporation?
- Do I Need to Register My Corporation in WY?
- How Our Foreign Registration Service Works
- How to Register Your Own Foreign Corp
- Foreign Corp Registration FAQs
Want to make sure your filing is done right so you can begin operations in WY as quickly as possible? With our Foreign Registration Service, you can trust your filing will be completed accurately, and you’ll get a full year of Wyoming registered agent service. Plus, you get free use of our Wyoming business address, access to additional services, and more benefits!
Attention: This page is under construction. Please be aware that the instructions below may not be up-to-date. We are working to resolve this issue ASAP. Please call if you have any questions!
WY Foreign Corporation Registration
- $129 + state fees
What’s Included:
- Timely Statement of Foreign Entity Authority filing
- A year of Registered Agent Service
- Free use of our Wyoming business address to increase your privacy
- Enrollment in Compliance Service to help protect your business
- Secure online account, accessible from anywhere
- Legal document scans and immediate uploads
- 3 free regular mail scans
- Free library of business documents & resources
- Lifetime customer service from local WY filing experts
- Access to additional filings (EIN, DBA) and services
What is a Wyoming Foreign Corporation?
A foreign corporation is any corporation that was formed outside of the state of Wyoming. This includes corporations formed in other US states and in other countries. (A corporation formed in Wyoming is referred to as a domestic corporation.)
When you register your out-of-state corporation in Wyoming, it’s called a Wyoming Foreign Corporation.
Expand Across State Lines
Doing business in multiple states is common, but forming a new business in each state where you operate would be a logistical nightmare.
Registering your foreign corporation to do business in other states is a much more streamlined and practical approach.
Get Authorized to Operate in WY
In order to transact business legally in Wyoming with a foreign corporation, you must register with the Secretary of State using a process called foreign qualification.
To complete the process, you need to designate a Wyoming registered agent and file a State of Foreign Entity Authority form ($100).
Do I Need to Register My Foreign Corp?
Wyoming requires that all foreign companies transacting business in WY register with the state. But what is the definition of “transacting business”?
It can be a little confusing.
Wyoming state law only provides a list of what does not constitute transacting business in Wyoming. However, an annotation to the law does provide a positive definition of what “transacting business” in WY means.
Here’s what we can tell you (speak with an attorney for a definitive answer):
- You need to register with state if you:
- Maintain an office in WY
- Have capital invested within the state
- Conduct regular business within the state
- You probably don’t need to register if you only:
- Hold meetings in WY
- Own property in WY
- Have bank accounts in WY
- Sell through independent contractors in WY
- Going to court in WY (for example, maintaining, defending, or settling a lawsuit)
How Our WY Foreign Corp Registration Service Works
Reach new heights when you start doing business in Wyoming!
We’ll act as your local registered agent and file your registration paperwork.
1
Sign up for Foreign Registration Service
Provide us with basic information about your corporation when you sign up, and we’ll do the rest.
You’ll get a full year of Wyoming Registered Agent service instantly, and we’ll file your Statement of Foreign Entity Authority. Plus, you’ll get free use of our Wyoming business address!
Foreign Registration Service costs $129+ state fees.
2
Start doing business in WY
Once your Statement of Foreign Entity Authority is accepted by the CO SOS, you’ll upload your confirmation to your online account. You’ll get a notification and can view it immediately.
Then you’re ready to do business!
3
We keep you in compliance
Enrollment in our Compliance Service is included with Foreign Registration Service. Compliance Service helps ensure that you never miss a Periodic Report filing (equivalent to an Annual Report in other states) and suffer negative consequences.
We’ll email you a reminder prior to your Periodic Report due date, and then we’ll file on your behalf ahead of the deadline ($100 + the state fee, charged only at filing). This will protect your foreign corp from falling into non-compliance for failing to file.
Prefer to file yourself? Simply cancel the service in your online account.
4
Re-up your RA Service
Foreign Registration Service includes a full year of our Wyoming registered agent service.
When your year is almost up, we’ll remind you about continuing your service. If you’d like to, you can renew your Registered Agent Service for $29 the following year (and each year after that).
How to Register Your Own Foreign Corp
Are you the DIY type? We’ll show you how to register your foreign corporation in Wyoming.
1. Appoint a Wyoming Registered Agent
The first step to registering your foreign corporation in Wyoming is getting a registered agent that is physically located in Wyoming. Having a Wyoming registered agent makes it easier for the state to deliver critical legal documents to your company.
You’ll need to list your WY registered agent on your Statement of Foreign Entity Authority, so designate your registered agent before submitting your Statement. If you don’t have a Wyoming registered agent, the SOS will reject your filing.
Who should I choose as my WY registered agent?
You can appoint an employee or a business associate, such as a lawyer, to serve as your WY registered agent, as long as that person is located within the state.
However, because individuals may move or simply may not be very prompt about forwarding documents, many companies opt to use a registered agent service based in Wyoming. Using a service is typically more reliable and convenient.
2. Verify That Your Company Name is Available
The state of Wyoming requires that business entity names be distinguishable from all other names on record so that businesses are not easily confused with one another. In other words, your business name must be unique to the state of Wyoming.
Unfortunately, this means that if another business is already registered under your company’s legal business name, you won’t be able to use that name in Wyoming. Your business name must be distinguishable from both domestic companies and foreign companies with the authority to operate within the state.
Find out if your name is available using the Wyoming Business Name Search.
3. File a Statement of Foreign Entity Authority
After you’ve got your name squared away, you need to file a Statement of Foreign Entity Authority with the Wyoming Secretary of State. Be advised that while the state does provide an example of this filing in pdf form, the filing must be completed using the SOS’s online business portal.
1. If you click on the link to the Statement of Foreign Entity Authority from the Wyoming Business Forms List, you’ll be taken to a True Name Availability Search. You’ll start out by searching for your name in order to confirm that it is available.
2. Once you complete the search, you’ll be directed to the online Statement of Foreign Entity Authority Form.
3. You’ll need to disclose the following on your Statement:
- Your Entity Name (the name you’ll operate under in WY)
- True Name (if different from your Entity Name)
- The form (type) of entity you’re registering the jurisdiction where it was formed
- Your principal office address (must be a street address) and mailing address
- The date you’ll start doing business in WY
- Your WY registered agent’s name, address, and consent
- The name and address of the person causing the document to be filed
4. Next, you’ll pay the filing fee, which is $100. If you’re also submitting Statement of Registration of True Name, you’ll pay a $29 filing fee for that form.
After the state confirms that your Statement has been accepted, you can start doing business in the Wyoming!
4. File Your Periodic Report Each Year
All business entities registered in Wyoming, domestic and foreign, must file a yearly Periodic Report to keep their information up-to-date with the state. Filing your report allows you to make changes to your business address and/or your registered agent name and address if necessary.
Decided against registering a foreign corp? Find out how to form a domestic Wyoming Corporation instead.
Wyoming Foreign Corp FAQs
Have questions about foreign registration? We’ve got some answers.
What’s the cost to register a foreign corp in Wyoming?
The fee to file a Statement of Foreign Entity Authority with the WY SOS is $100.
Do I need to file a Periodic Report for my foreign corp?
Like all other business entities in Wyoming, foreign corporations are required to file a Periodic Report every year so that the state’s information about your corporation remains current.
If you don’t file your report, your corporation will be marked as Delinquent. This can result in negative consequences for your business, including losing your name and having to pay $100 to restore your corporation from delinquency.
How does our Compliance Service work?
We include enrollment in Compliance Service with Foreign Corp Registration Service to help you remain in compliance with zero effort.
We’ll notify you as your report due date approaches and then file your report on your behalf, ahead of the deadline ($100 plus the state fee, charged only at filing). You won’t have to do anything to stay in compliance.
If you’d rather file your own report, just cancel the service in your account.
Does my corporation need to pay taxes in Wyoming?
We recommend consulting a tax professional for specific and accurate information regarding taxes for your foreign corporation.