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Certificate of Good Standing
All 51 jurisdictions · 51 jurisdictions

The certificate banks and lenders require. Ordered fast. Delivered same day where possible.

A Certificate of Good Standing confirms your entity is current with state filing and tax obligations. Banks, lenders, commercial landlords, M&A counsel, and licensing authorities routinely require it. We order Certificates from any US state, coordinate multi-state batches for diligence, and expedite where same-day issuance is available.

All 50 states + DC 60-day money-back Same-day where states allow
How it works

How we order your Certificate, end-to-end.

A Certificate of Good Standing sounds like a simple state filing, but ordering one when your entity has past-due obligations is an immediate rejection. We verify standing first, then order through the right state channel for your timeline.

1

Status verification

We confirm your entity is in good standing with the state before ordering. If past-due obligations exist (missed annual report, unpaid franchise tax, lapsed RA), we surface them so they can be cleared first.

2

State order

We order through the state's Secretary of State portal. Standard processing 1-7 business days. Expedited same-day or 24-hour processing available in 14 states for an additional state fee.

3

Multi-state batches

For M&A diligence or multi-state foreign qualification requiring Certificates from many states, we coordinate parallel ordering with synchronized issuance dates so the entire batch falls within the counterparty's validity window.

4

Digital + physical delivery

Digital PDF delivered immediately upon issuance. Physical Certificates with the state seal available where states support them.

What we'll set up for you

A clean handoff, in four steps.

You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.

01 · Name + Brand

A name that's actually available.

Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.

02 · State filing

Filed with the Secretary of State.

We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.

03 · Federal IDs

EIN + the right tax setup.

Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.

04 · Stay compliant

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.

Pricing

Transparent certificate of good standing pricing.

State filing fees pass through at cost. No upsells.

One-Time Filing

$129one-time
Single transaction. Order this Certificate and you are done.

State filing fee + $129 service fee. Priority specialist queue and rush state processing where available. Delivered 1-7 business days depending on state.

Order one-time
FAQ

About the Certificate of Good Standing service.

When do I need a Certificate of Good Standing?
Eight common situations: foreign qualification in another state, opening a business bank account, loan applications, commercial real estate leases, commercial insurance applications, professional licensing applications, M&A due diligence, and responding to legal verification requests. Validity is typically required within 30-60 days of presentation.
How long is a Certificate valid?
State-issued Certificates do not expire on their own, but counterparties typically require Certificates dated within 30-90 days of presentation. M&A diligence often requires 7-15 days. Order shortly before you need to present it.
How much does a Certificate cost?
State issuance fees range from $5 (Wyoming, California) to $50 (Delaware, Nevada). Most states are $20-$30. Expedited processing adds $25-$125 depending on speed. Our service fee is $49 per Certificate (multi-Certificate discounts available).
What if my entity is not in good standing?
You must clear past-due obligations (annual reports, franchise tax, registered agent issues) before the state will issue a Certificate. We can handle the back-filings and Certificate request as a combined workflow.
Can I get long-form Certificates?
Yes. Long-form Certificates include entity formation date, filing history, current officers or directors, and detailed entity facts. Required for M&A diligence and certain regulatory filings. We coordinate long-form ordering where states support it.
Do Certificates expire?
State Certificates do not technically expire, but counterparties typically require dated within 30-90 days. A Certificate dated 6 months ago is generally not accepted for the use cases that require Certificates (banking, lending, M&A, licensing).
Why File.Business

Premium compliance, no service-fee markup.

Trust you can verify

SOC 2 Type II audited platform. 220,000+ businesses served. 60-day money-back on service fees. State fees passed through at cost with no hidden markup. Explicit AUP on restricted industries.

A compliance partner, not a transaction

Most providers go quiet after checkout. We auto-track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across your entities. The Business OS dashboard keeps your compliance score visible year-round.

Premium experience competitors cannot match

Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state or federal filings. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.

Start your business in the next 5 minutes.

No state-fee markup. Pay only the state fee. 60-day money-back guarantee.

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