A Certificate of Good Standing is the state-issued document confirming a corporation or LLC is properly registered, current on filings, and authorized to do business. Also called a Certificate of Existence, Certificate of Status, or Certificate of Authorization depending on the state, it is commonly required during fundraising due diligence, M&A processes, foreign qualification in additional states, opening business bank accounts, and certain commercial contracts where counterparties want to verify the entity is in good standing. It is the "proof of compliance" document that surfaces during transactions and reveals any administrative debt the company has accumulated.
The basics: each state's Secretary of St...