Certificate of Good Standing guides
Straight answers to the questions business owners, accountants, and attorneys ask most often about Certificates of Good Standing. No jargon, no upsell.
How long does a Certificate of Good Standing last?
A Certificate of Good Standing does not legally expire — it is a snapshot dated as of the day it was issued. In practice, the party requesting it decides how recent it must be: banks and landlords usually want it dated within 30 days, foreign qualification filings within 30 to 90 days, and M&A closings within 5 to 30 days.
Read →How do I check if my LLC is in good standing?
Search your business name on your state Secretary of State’s online business entity database (free). The entity’s detail page shows a status field. Labels like "Active," "Good Standing," "Current," or "In Existence" mean you are in good standing. Labels like "Delinquent," "Not in Good Standing," "Forfeited," "Suspended," or "Administratively Dissolved" mean you are not.
Read →Certificate of Good Standing vs. Articles of Incorporation: what is the difference?
Articles of Incorporation (for a corporation) or Articles of Organization (for an LLC) are the formation document filed once to create the entity — think of it as the birth certificate. A Certificate of Good Standing is issued any time and confirms the entity is currently registered and compliant — a present-day status snapshot. One creates the company; the other proves it is still alive and current.
Read →Do I need a Certificate of Good Standing to open a business bank account?
It depends on the bank. Many banks open a basic business checking account with just your formation documents (Articles) and EIN letter. Others — especially when the account is tied to a loan, line of credit, or merchant services — require a current Certificate of Good Standing, usually dated within 30 to 60 days.
Read →What does "not in good standing" mean for a business?
"Not in good standing" means the state has flagged your entity for falling behind on a required obligation — most often an unfiled annual report, unpaid franchise tax, or a lapsed registered agent. The entity still exists, but the state will not issue a Certificate of Good Standing, and prolonged non-compliance leads to administrative dissolution.
Read →How do I reinstate a dissolved LLC or corporation?
Reinstating an administratively dissolved entity has four steps: (1) file every missing annual or biennial report, (2) pay all back taxes, fees, and late penalties, (3) confirm a current registered agent is on file, and (4) submit the state’s Application for Reinstatement with its fee. Once the state restores the entity (usually 1 to 5 business days), it returns to good standing.
Read →Is a Certificate of Good Standing the same as a business license?
No. A Certificate of Good Standing is a state-level document confirming your entity is properly registered and current with the Secretary of State. A business license is permission to conduct a specific business activity, typically issued by a city, county, or industry regulator. They come from different agencies and serve different purposes — most operating businesses need both.
Read →How fast can I get a Certificate of Good Standing?
It depends on the state. Roughly a dozen states with instant online portals (Florida, Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Virginia, Minnesota, Idaho, Indiana, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska) deliver same-day. Most other states take 1 to 2 business days. A handful are slower (Arkansas can take 2 to 4 weeks), and several states sell expedited options that compress the timeline to 24 hours.
Read →Who can order a Certificate of Good Standing?
Anyone can order a Certificate of Good Standing. It is a public record, so you do not need to be an owner, officer, or member of the business. You only need the entity’s legal name, its state of formation, and the entity type. No Social Security number or proof of ownership is required.
Read →Certified copy vs. Certificate of Good Standing: what is the difference?
A certified copy is an official, state-stamped duplicate of a document you actually filed, most often your Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation. A Certificate of Good Standing is a current-status confirmation that the entity is compliant today. The certified copy proves what was filed; the Certificate of Good Standing proves the entity is still active and in good standing. Lenders, buyers, and diligence checklists frequently request both.
Read →Ready when you are.
Order a Certificate of Good Standing from any state. From $50, state fee included.