A Certificate of Good Standing is a document issued by the state that shows a business entity has met certain statutory requirements and is authorized to do business in that state.  Each State has it own statutory requirements, and as a result, the appearance and content of the document will vary by state. The name of the document varies by state, so it may also be referred to as a certificate of existence, certificate of status, etc.

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Although the name and format may vary, a certificate of good standing will generally include similar information.  This includes the business name, type of entity, the date/state of formation, and confirmation that the business has filed its annual report and paid all state fees and franchise taxes.