Foreign Qualification

When you transact business in a state other than where you originally incorporated, you may need to foreign qualify. While there are a number of factors, if you have employees, assets or significant revenues from another state, you will have to file the necessary paperwork that will authorize you to do business in that state. No matter where you need to foreign qualify, we can help.

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How it Works

Filings backed by our knowledgeable and experienced business experts. We make it easy.

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Let us know

Our team of specialists will gather your information over the phone. From there, we’ll get started on the foreign qualification process for you.

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We take it from there

Then, we put our business experience to work to help you with the filing to make sure it is done right and done timely.

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Once we complete the process, your documents will be uploaded to your secure online account, giving you anytime access. 

Why Choose Swyft Filings To Do Your Foreign Qualification

Our knowledgeable staff has years of experience handling every type of filing for customers of all sizes. Do what you love, and let us handle the paperwork‎.

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Experienced Professionals

Swyft Filings has helped thousands of companies apply for foreign qualification. We’ll put that expertise and knowledge to work for you so you can focus on your business.

Fast & Reliable Service

Your secure online account lets you complete the process with a few mouse clicks. Our business professionals will take over from there and leverage their expertise and our automated process to do it quickly and correctly.

Avoid the Headaches

Rather than doing the research and figuring out exactly how to do the paperwork yourself, let our professionals handle it for you. Our mission is to take away the hassles of paperwork so you can build your business.

Avoid Costly Mistakes

Foreign qualification is essential for your business’s success. It needs to be done right. Swyft Filings can get it done fast and get it done right the first time, allowing you to get back to following your passion while we handle the paperwork.

Testimonials

Satisfied Customers

Swyft Filings helped us create our corporation and take care of time-consuming administrative tasks that can distract us from our mission. We are grateful for their commitment to assisting businesses like ours.
Bill Beverly
Bill BeverlyCo-Owner, Evolectric
The Swyft Filings team answered all of our questions so promptly and satisfied all the legal documents we needed to get up and running as quickly as possible. It was a huge stress-reliever, and we would recommend your services over and over again.
Kimberly and Caila Brigandi
Kimberly and Caila BrigandiCo-Owners, Gandi Girls Boutique
As small business owners, we often feel insignificant to those outside of our demographic. When a company like Swyft Filings steps up to help small businesses — it makes a huge difference!
Tobe Carberry
Tobe CarberryOwner, Haven4Hoops
Having a partner like Swyft makes that part of starting your business easy and provides a level of comfort in navigating the state and federal filings. So if there are any issues with your filings, Swyft is on top of it and working with you to navigate solutions.
James Adams
James AdamsCo-Owner, Pearland House Concerts

Foreign Qualification Service FAQs

Still have questions? Call 877-777-0450 or Live Chat with us for real-time support.

What is foreign qualification?

“Foreign qualification” does not mean qualifying to do business outside of the United States of America. Foreign, in this context, refers to another state within the United States, other than the one where you formed your company. If you are already doing business in your home state, but want to do business in another state, or hire employees in another state, you may need to “foreign qualify.” Also, if you formed a company in the popular states of Delaware, Nevada or Wyoming, but are based in another state, you will likely have to foreign qualify in your state of operation. Foreign qualification is registering to do business in that state. When you do that, you will have to appoint a registered agent with a physical address within that state.

Who needs to foreign qualify?

To answer that question, you need to ask yourself a few questions:

  • Are your operations primarily in a state other than the one where you originally formed?

  • Do you have a physical presence in another state like leased space or owned property?

  • Do you have employees in another state?

  • Do you do business such as take orders or earn revenues from another state?

  • Do you have a bank account in another state?

If you answered any of these with a “yes,” you may need to foreign qualify. You can call our business professionals if you have questions or ask your accounting or legal professional.

So what happens if you don’t foreign qualify and you should have?

Yes, it does cost money to foreign qualify, but it can cost you much more if you try to get away with not doing it when you should have. Many state laws require it and will charge you a penalty on top of “making up” for the past due fees. You may also not be able to adequately pursue or defend a lawsuit in courts of the states where you are transacting business without registering and foreign qualifying.

Are there alternatives to foreign qualifying?

An alternative to foreign qualifying is to incorporate your business or form your LLC in the other state(s) in which you plan to do business. The primary difference is that when you incorporate or form your LLC in multiple states, your company becomes domestic in each of those states, thereby creating separate entities. By foreign qualifying, you don’t have to form a new corporate entity for each state in which you operate. This avoid the unnecessary costs and administrative headaches.

Foreign Qualification Resources

Curious as to what foreign qualification can do for your business? Learn more about this important step for your business in Swyft’s Resource Center.

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