Register Your Vermont Foreign Corporation
A Vermont foreign corporation is a company incorporated outside of Vermont but is registered to do business in Vermont. To start doing business in Vermont, you’ll need to file an Application for Certificate of Authority to the Vermont’s Secretary of State and pay the $125 application fee.
Below, we’ll detail the steps to complete the foreign qualification process. If you’re not into the do-it-yourself process, you can hire us instead.
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GET STARTEDHow to Register as a Foreign Corporation in Vermont
To register your foreign corporation in Vermont, you’ll need to complete the process of foreign qualification. This process gives Vermont’s Secretary of State the history of your business, along with proof of your responsible upkeep and maintenence. Once complete, foreign qualification grants you the authority to operate within Vermont’s state lines.
Foreign qualification expands the registration of your existing company and is not the same as forming a new business.
Here’s how you can get started on your foreign registration into Vermont.
1. Name Your Vermont Corporation
To get started, you’ll need to choose the name your corporation will go by in Vermont. Vermont encourages new businesses, both foreign registrations and domestic incorporations, to complete a free business name search and have provided extensive information on name availability rules.
Vermont does not have an online form readily available to reserve a business name in advance. However, you’re able request an Assumed Business Name reservation form or even file online for $20 on Vermont’s Secretary of State website.
2. Designate a Registered Agent
Vermont requires every registered business structure operating in its state to choose an individual or entity to act as a registered agent. This registered agent needs to be located in Vermont and available during regular business hours to accept legal mail.
If you’re ready to choose your registered agent, our Vermont registered agent service is comprehensive and reliable. We’re also available in all other US states to keep your registered agent service simple everywhere your company does business.
3. Start your Business Identity
Expanding your company into a new state is no small feat. While your making your way through this process, it’s a great time to make sure your digital presence is robust enough to keep up with your business. With Northwest, we’ve made establishing your business identity more convenient than ever.
If you’re just getting starting creating an online presence, we can set you up with a custom domain name, business website and professional email address all with no upfront cost.
If you’re looking to expand your digital footprint as a company, we can even provide a company phone number with a Vermont area code to help you connect with the locals.
4. Get a Certificate of Good Standing
Vermont requires a certificate of good standing or existence from your home state to accompany your application. This certificate needs to be less than 30 days old. It exists to let Vermont know that you’ve kept up with the regular reports your home state requires, including paying any taxes.
The process for retrieving a certificate of existence varies by state, but can normally be completed online for a nominal fee. If you hire us to complete your foreign qualification, we can usually handle this part of the process for you.
5. Submit your Application for Certificate of Authority
Once you’ve gathered all the required documents, it’s time to submit your Application for Certificate of Authority, along with your certificate of good standing, to Vermont’s Secretary of State. The fee for this filing is $125
What you’ll need to include:
- Name you’ll be operating under in Vermont
- Home state or country of incorporation
- Date of formation in home state
- Duration of company in home state
- Principal and mailing office location
- Address of your Vermont registered agent
- Names and usual business address for current corporate officers and directors
Vermont greatly favors online filings, so a printable PDF of an Application for Certificate of Authority is not available for download from the state. You are, however, easily able to register an account and complete your filings online at Vermont’s Secretary of State website.
Unfortunately, Vermont does not provide options for expediting filings.
6. Receive your Certificate of Authority
Once your filing has been processed by the state, you’ll receive a Certificate of Authority in the mail or via email if you applied online.
Vermont has a pretty favorable turnaround, and most standard filings completed online will take about 24 hours to process.
7. File Vermont Reports and Taxes
Once your company is registered with the state, you’re authorized to start doing business in Vermont!
Make sure to keep up with the regular filings the state requires like your Vermont annual reports. For profit corporations have annual reports due every year within two and a half months of the end of your fiscal year. It costs $200.
Corporations are also required to file a Vermont Corporate Income Tax Return annually. Vermont imposes a minimum 6% tax on corporate income, with a minimum tax liability of $100.
We’ve put together a great resource on the Vermont Business Corporate Tax, but you can read more specific details on Vermont’s Department of Taxes website.
Northwest Can Register Your Vermont Foreign Corporation
If doing things on your own sounds overwhelming, boring, or generally like not a good use of your time, we’re ready to help. Our foreign qualification package is $225 + state fees. This includes:
- Registering your business as a Vermont Foreign Corporation. We’ll file your paperwork and let you know when it’s approved.
- Serving as your business’ Vermont Registered Agent. We can be your RA in as many states as you want to expand into.
- Launching your business identity. We’ll get you a digital presence, including a business email address, phone service, and mail forwarding. Plus, we’ll put together a custom website with a domain, web hosting, and security in place. These will all be free for 90 days. After that, most services are $9/month.
- Sending reminders for your Vermont annual report. We can even file this for you. We’ll send you a reminder about the report 90 days before they’re due, and you can either have us file for you or opt out of the service.
Vermont Foreign Corporation FAQs
While an application can’t be amended while it’s in process, any business that needs to update the names of directors, officers or members, business name, business purpose, business address, fiscal year end, or termination date can do so by filing an amendment to the secretary of state. Like most Vermont filings, you can take care of this amendment on Vermont’s Secretary of State wesbite.
You’re also able to hire us to file your Vermont amendment from within your account with Northwest.
Vermont generally defines doing business as any business entity participating in activity that makes money, but not necessarily things like owning property or holding meetings within state lines.
You can get more specific information through Vermont’s online statutes, as well as our resource on doing business in another state.
No.
An original signature from a corporate officer or director is required.
Certain counties in Vermont may require local publication along with Secretary of State registration. Make sure to adhere to these requirements if your registered agent resides in one of these counties.
We absolutely can. Our foreign qualification service is $225 + state fees, and includes a year of our registered agent service. Along with that, you’ll receive a custom domain name registered for a year as well as a 90 day trial of the rest of our business identity services.