Resource CenterWhy you may be asked for it
Before money can move for a business, the payroll provider has to confirm the business is real and active. Your formation document shows the business was created; a certificate of good standing shows it is still active today. If the verification team asks for one, upload it in Payroll → Organization → 1. Company setup. See PR-04.
Before you order
- Order it from the state where your business was formed. If you're also registered in other states, those states issue their own versions, but your formation state's certificate is the one usually needed.
- States call it different things: Certificate of Good Standing, Certificate of Existence, Certificate of Status, and more. They all prove the same thing.
- Can't get one? The most common reason is an overdue annual report or fee. File that with your state first, then order the certificate.
- Many states require a free account on their business portal to order.
- Watch for look-alike mailers. Private companies send official-looking letters offering certificates for $50 to $90. Order directly from your state using the links below.
Certificate of good standing by state
Fees and turnaround times are from each state's official website as of October 2026. States change them, so confirm on your state's page before you order. "See state site" means the state doesn't clearly publish a current fee.
| State | Document name | Issuing agency / portal | Standard fee | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State (Alabama Interactive) | $28 online | Instant |
| Alaska | Certificate of Compliance | Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing | $10 | Instant online |
| Arizona | Certificate of Good Standing | Arizona Corporation Commission (Arizona Business Center) | $10 regular, $45 expedited | 7–10 business days, or instant expedited |
| Arkansas | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | $25 | Download after purchase |
| California | Certificate of Status | Secretary of State (bizfile Online) | $5 | Within minutes |
| Colorado | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | Free | Instant |
| Connecticut | Certificate of Legal Existence | Secretary of the State (Business.CT.gov) | From $50 (varies by type) | Not published online; up to 5 business days by mail |
| Delaware | Certificate of Good Standing | Division of Corporations | $50 short form | Not published; same-day and 24-hour available for a fee |
| District of Columbia | Certificate of Good Standing | DLCP Corporations Division (BOSS portal) | $50 | Not published |
| Florida | Certificate of Status | Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) | $5 LLC, $8.75 corporation | Emailed PDF |
| Georgia | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State (eCorp) | $20 | Instant online |
| Hawaii | Certificate of Good Standing | DCCA Business Registration Division (Hawaii Business Express) | $5 | Instant online |
| Idaho | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State (SOSBiz) | $10 | Not published |
| Illinois | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | $25 ($5 nonprofit) | Instant |
| Indiana | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State (INBiz) | See state site | Emailed within minutes |
| Iowa | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State | $5 | Instant |
| Kansas | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | See state site | Not published |
| Kentucky | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State | $10 | Not published |
| Louisiana | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State, Commercial Division | $25 | Not published |
| Maine | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State, Division of Corporations | $30 ($10 nonprofit) | Not published; 24-hour and immediate available for a fee |
| Maryland | Certificate of Status | SDAT (Maryland Business Express) | About $41 online | Emailed immediately |
| Massachusetts | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division | $15 | Not published; mailed or emailed |
| Michigan | Certificate of Good Standing | LARA Corporations Division (MiBusiness Registry) | $10 | Emailed |
| Minnesota | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | $15 online | Instant |
| Mississippi | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | See state site | Instant |
| Missouri | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | $10 | Instant |
| Montana | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State | $5 | Not published; 24-hour and 1-hour available for a fee |
| Nebraska | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | $6.50 online, $10 paper | Instant online |
| Nevada | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State (Orion portal) | See state site | Not published |
| New Hampshire | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State (NH QuickStart) | $7 short form | Not published |
| New Jersey | Business Standing Certificate | Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services | $25 corporation, $50 LLC | Download after purchase |
| New Mexico | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | See state site | Not published |
| New York | Certificate of Status | Department of State, Division of Corporations | $25 | Mailed; faster service available for a fee |
| North Carolina | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State | See state site | Not published |
| North Dakota | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State (FirstStop) | $20 | Not published |
| Ohio | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | $5 | Download at purchase |
| Oklahoma | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | $20 | Not published |
| Oregon | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State, Corporation Division | $10 | Within minutes online |
| Pennsylvania | Subsistence Certificate | Department of State, Bureau of Corporations | $40 | Download once approved |
| Rhode Island | Certificate of Good Standing | Department of State, Business Services | $22 online ($7 nonprofit) | 2 business days online |
| South Carolina | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State | $10 | Not published |
| South Dakota | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | $20 | Not published |
| Tennessee | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State (TNCaB portal) | See state site | Not published |
| Texas | Certificate of Fact – Status | Secretary of State (SOSPortal) | $15 | Not published |
| Utah | Certificate of Existence | Division of Corporations and Commercial Code | $12 | Emailed after payment |
| Vermont | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State | $25 corporation, $35 LLC | Instant online |
| Virginia | Certificate of Good Standing (corporations); Certificate of Fact of Existence (LLCs) | State Corporation Commission (CIS) | $6 | Instant |
| Washington | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State (CCFS) | $20 | Instant |
| West Virginia | Certificate of Existence | Secretary of State | $10 | Instant online |
| Wisconsin | Certificate of Status | Department of Financial Institutions | $10 | Up to 10 business days; expedite available |
| Wyoming | Certificate of Good Standing | Secretary of State (WyoBiz) | Free | Instant |