What does it mean to be "doing business" in Washington D.C.?

The definition of “doing business” is generally pretty broad. It can also be different in each state. But in general, you will likely need to register your company in Washington D.C. if you do any of the following: Have a physical location like an office, store, or warehouse in the District of Columbia. Have employees who work in Washington D.C. Regularly sell products or provide services to customers in Washington D.C. If you’re not sure whether your company is considered to be doing business in the District of Columbia, the safest bet is to file a Foreign Qualification. There are often large penalties and fines if businesses do not properly register themselves.

Get Certificate

Check Name

Registered Agent

File

Maintain

Washington D.C. Foreign Qualification

IncNow can help you get a Washington D.C. Foreign Qualification done correctly without the hassle. We handle the entire filing process, from verifying your company name to submitting your Foreign Registration Statement to the District of Columbia Government Corporations Division.

$698

Includes entire filing process, from verifying your company name to submitting your Foreign Registration Statement to the District of Columbia Government Corporations Division.

This service is for businesses already formed in another state that need to register to operate in Washington D.C.

Choose Your Entity Type

Select the entity type your business is currently registered as.

LLC Corp

LLC

State Filing Fee

$220

Processing Fee

$329

Document Fee

$149

Total Price

$698

4.9 out of 5 stars Rating on TrustPilot (1,148+ Ratings)

Get Started

State Filing Fee

$220

Processing Fee

$329

Document Fees

$149

Total Price

$698

4.9 out of 5 stars Rating on TrustPilot (1,148+ Ratings)

Get Started

Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing, sometimes called a Certificate of Existence, is an official document from your business’s home state that proves your company is legally formed and compliant.

Note: To be accepted by the state, the Certificate of Good Standing must be dated within 90 days of the date on which you submit your Foreign Qualification.

Check Name Availability

Before you can register, your company’s legal name must be unique and available for use in Washington D.C. If another registered business is already using your name, you will need to operate under an “Assumed Name” (also known as a DBA).

IncNow’s team will conduct a name availability search with the District of Columbia Government Corporations Division. If your company’s name is taken, we will immediately notify you and assist with registering an Assumed Name.

Get a Washington D.C. Registered Agent

Washington D.C. law requires you to appoint a Registered Agent with a physical street address in the District of Columbia to receive official legal and tax documents.

If you live in Washington D.C., you can serve as your own Registered Agent. You can also hire a commercial registered agent to represent you.

File a Foreign Registration Statement in Washington D.C.

This is the official form that registers your out-of-state business in Washington D.C. It must be filed with the Corporations Division and requires precise details about your company, the nature of the business, and your appointed Registered Agent.

The application requires the following details:

Your company’s exact legal name.
The state where the company was originally formed.
The date when the company was formed.
The company’s principal office address.
The name and address of the company’s Registered Agent in the District of Columbia.
A description of the type of business the company will be doing in the District of Columbia.
A signature from an Authorized Person.

You need to pay a filing fee in order to submit the Washington D.C. Foreign Registration Statement. The filing fee in the District of Columbia is $220 for foreign LLCs and for corporations. State filing fees are included in the price of IncNow’s Foreign Qualification Service.

How IncNow Can Help

IncNow’s team prepares and files your company’s Foreign Registration Statement in Washington D.C.. We ensure all of your information is accurate to prevent rejections.

Maintain Your Good Standing in Washington D.C.

After registering in Washington D.C., you will need to keep up with ongoing compliance requirements in the state. The Washington D.C. Secretary of State will send official notices regarding these requirements to your Registered Agent in Washington D.C..

Please Note: IncNow’s service covers the successful initial filing of your foreign qualification. Ongoing compliance management is not included for Washington D.C.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Washington D.C. Foreign Qualification?
What does it mean to be "doing business" in Washington D.C.?
What is an "Assumed Name" and when would I need one in Washington D.C.?

If your LLC or corporation was formed in another state, like Delaware, but you are going to be doing business in the District of Columbia, you will need to properly register your business there first. This process is called Foreign Qualification and it involves obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing, appointing a Registered Agent and filing a Foreign Registration Statement.

The definition of “doing business” is generally pretty broad. It can also be different in each state. But in general, you will likely need to register your company in Washington D.C. if you do any of the following:

Have a physical location like an office, store, or warehouse in the District of Columbia.
Have employees who work in Washington D.C.
Regularly sell products or provide services to customers in Washington D.C.

If you’re not sure whether your company is considered to be doing business in the District of Columbia, the safest bet is to file a Foreign Qualification. There are often large penalties and fines if businesses do not properly register themselves.

An Assumed Name is like a nickname for your business. It’s a name you use in Washington D.C. that’s different from your company’s official legal name. This is also commonly known as a “DBA” (short for “Doing Business As”).

The main reason you would need an Assumed Name is if your company’s official name is already taken by another business registered in Washington D.C.

Because no two businesses can have the same name, Washington D.C. would require you to choose a different, “assumed” name to use while operating in the state. Our filing process includes a name search to check if your name is available, and we can help you understand the next steps if it’s already in use.

Why Choose IncNow?

50+ Years In Business

IncNow has been in business since 1974 and has helped countless companies incorporate. We offer expertise and customer service that national and even local companies can’t match.

Simple Online Portal

View and download documents, facilitate payments, and monitor your company’s status 24/7.

Same-Day Scans and Original Paper Copies

We promptly scan all documents received on your company’s behalf and email digital copies directly emailed to you. If you need original paper copies, we send them via USPS Certified Mail.

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Washington D.C. Foreign Qualification

Choose Your Entity Type

LLC

Corporation

Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing

Check Name Availability

Get a Washington D.C. Registered Agent

File a Foreign Registration Statement in Washington D.C.

How IncNow Can Help

Maintain Your Good Standing in Washington D.C.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Choose IncNow?

What's New At IncNow

How to Protect Real Estate Investments From Business Liabilities

What Is a Delaware Charging Order?

How To Manage LLC Capital Contributions and Distributions

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