Three ways to move
| Same company? | States to file in | Fits when | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register as foreign | Yes | Two, every year | You operate in both states, or the move may be temporary |
| Convert (domesticate) | Yes | One, the new state | Both states allow it and you are leaving the old state for good |
| Close and form new | No, a new LLC | One, the new state | Conversion is not available, or the LLC has little history |
Register in the new state (foreign qualification)
The LLC stays a company of its original state and registers in the new one, which issues a certificate of authority. You need a registered agent in both states and file both states' yearly reports. Nothing changes for contracts, the bank or the EIN.
This is also what the law requires when you simply start doing business in the new state, so if you have already moved, do it promptly.
Convert the LLC (domestication)
Many states let an LLC change its home state with a conversion or domestication filing in the new state, sometimes with a matching filing in the old one. The LLC stays the same legal entity, so contracts, accounts and usually the EIN carry over, and afterwards you file in one state only.
Both states have to allow it. Ask the business filing office in each state, or check their filing lists for a "conversion" or "domestication" form.
Close the old LLC and form a new one
Form a new LLC in the new state, move the business into it, then dissolve the old one. It is a new company: new EIN, new bank account, and contracts and licenses have to be reassigned or reissued.
Which to choose
- Still working in both states? Register as foreign.
- Moved for good, both states allow conversion? Convert.
- New business, or conversion not available? Form a new LLC and close the old one.
Before you decide, read why your home state is usually the best state for your LLC.
Related: adding or removing a member, changing your registered agent.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move my LLC to another state?
Yes, in one of three ways: register the existing LLC in the new state as a foreign LLC, convert it into an LLC of the new state (often called domestication) if both states allow it, or dissolve it and form a new LLC in the new state.
I moved house. Does my LLC have to move?
If you now run the business from the new state, the LLC is doing business there and has to be registered there, either as a foreign LLC or by moving it. Keeping only the old state’s registration is not enough.
What is domestication?
A filing that moves an LLC’s home state while keeping the same legal entity, so contracts, bank accounts and usually the EIN carry over. Both the old and new state have to allow it.
Do I keep my EIN if I move my LLC?
Registering as a foreign LLC or converting keeps the same entity, so usually yes. Forming a new LLC creates a new entity, which needs its own EIN.
What is the cheapest way to move an LLC?
Usually conversion, where both states allow it, because it leaves you with one state to file in. Registering as foreign is simpler but keeps two states’ reports and agents every year.
