A certificate of good standing confirms that a company is properly registered with the state, has paid all necessary registration fees, and has submitted all required documents. This certificate indicates that the company is legally authorized to conduct business activities within the state.
The certificate is issued by the state agency where the business is registered, which is typically the Secretary of State (SOS) or one of its subdivisions.
Thus, foreign businesses should obtain a certificate of good standing in the state where they plan to register their business.