Q: I'm an EU citizen. Can I register my company in the US as a Public Benefit Company if I'm not a US citizen?
My company is currently registered in the UK. It's based entirely online with international customers. Our model perfectly fits the description of a PBC and it would send a very clear message to our customers and shareholders. Unfortunately there is no equivalent in Europe.
A:
You can register a business in California as a foreign corporation. However, It seems as though you would need to set up a new corporation in California to use the new form of entity. It is possible that you would want to set up a PBC. That is a not-for-profit entity. A more recent form of entity in California is the Social Purpose Corporation, which is a form of for-profit corporation. It would be prudent to consult with California counsel to see which form of entity best fits your objectives.
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