California: key figures
50th
in the foreign LLC state fee comparison
Fee the state takes at registration
$70
Report you must file again
$20
Statement of Information, Form LLC-12
Paper from the home state
180 days
The age limit at filing
Tax owed every year
$800
What the state collects in 3 years
$2,490
Three years of state fees for a foreign LLC, plus a minimum tax each year
Services ranked for California
You can read the weights on the
method page; three-year fees and coverage carry the most.
Ranked first
1. Mainstay Filing: best for one price in every added state
$199 to register, then $149 a year
Why Mainstay Filing is first: you pay $199 on top of the state fee, your agent for service of process is free in year 1, and then it is $149 a year.
Compare it with CA Registered Agent.org and the three-year bill is $100 higher, with more of the filings handled.
From the second year, agent service costs you $149 a year.
What your money gets you
- Prepares your registration and files it
- Serves all fifty states
What works
- $199 on top of California's fee
- One price everywhere
What to weigh
- CA Registered Agent.org's agent renews for $50 less
Home-state option
2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for a low-cost California filing
$199 to register, then $99 a year
Why CA Registered Agent.org is second: their fee is $199, and the agent renews at $99.
What your money gets you
- Prepares and submits your registration
- A year of agent service
What works
- $199 plus the state fee
- $99 a year from year 2
- The first agent year is included
Home-state option
3. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a smaller agent renewal
$199 to register, then $99 a year
Why California Registered Agent.ai is third: their fee is $199, and the agent renews at $99.
CA Registered Agent.org and this provider charge the same.
What your money gets you
- Prepares and submits your registration
- A year of agent service
What works
- $99 a year from year 2
- $199 plus the state fee
- The first agent year is included
The 3 picks compared
All prices come from the companies' own pages, as they stood on November 13, 2026. Remember to add the $70 state fee to each row.
Work out your total
The registration fee is $70, with a $20 report from year 2, and provider fees are added on top.
How California compares with the states near it in the ranking
How to register an LLC from another state in California
To get your out-of-state LLC registered, deliver the Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) (Form LLC-5) to the California Secretary of State, Business Entities with $70. You will also need certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, dated within 180 days.
Each later cycle you file the Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 ($20), within 90 days of registering, then every 2 years. Taxes to know about: $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Before you file
- Certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, no more than 180 days.
- Your LLC's legal name and formation date in the home state.
- A agent for service of process located in the state, an item included with each pick.
- Money set aside for the $70 filing fee.
What not registering can cost you
You have no right to sue in the state's courts until you register (Corp. Code 17708.07(a)).
What decided the order
What settled California was upkeep the price covers, at 26%.
Your LLC already has a home state, so a provider that can serve both states earned the top score.
Common questions
How much will it cost to register my out-of-state LLC with California?
$70 for the filing itself. Provider fees are $199.
Which form do I use to register an out-of-state LLC with California?
Use the Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) (Form LLC-5) and send it to the California Secretary of State, Business Entities.
Does the state want a certificate from my home state?
Yes, you need certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, dated within 180 days of your filing.
Will my foreign LLC have to file anything every year?
Yes, you file the Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 and pay $20.
What happens if my LLC does business there without registering?
You have no right to sue in the state's courts until you register (Corp. Code 17708.07(a)).
Must I appoint an agent for service of process when registering in California?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which service should I choose to register a foreign LLC?
Mainstay Filing comes first and CA Registered Agent.org and California Registered Agent.ai follow. What separates them is upkeep the price covers.
Where this briefing comes from
- Behind the California Secretary of State section is sos.ca.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the California Secretary of State section is bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source section is sos.ca.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Cal section is leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the California registered agent statute section is leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the California Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms section is sos.ca.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Form LLC-5 section is bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Corporations Code section 17708.03 section is leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Revenue and Taxation Code section 19135 section is leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Franchise Tax Board, LLC filing requirements section is ftb.ca.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the California Corporations Code 17708.07 section is leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, a page we reread in November 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and section is ftb.ca.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Tennessee Secretary of State, business forms and fees section is sos.tn.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Form SS-4233, Certificate of Authority for a foreign section is sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Tennessee Secretary of State, business FAQs section is sos.tn.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Form SS-4241, withdrawal or cancellation section is sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Tennessee Revised LLC Act, Public Chapter 286 section is publications.tnsosfiles.com, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Foreign LLC registration form section is corpfiles.delaware.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Delaware Code Title 6, chapter 18, subchapter IX section is delcode.delaware.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Delaware Code Title 6, chapter 18, subchapter XI section is delcode.delaware.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Division of Corporations fee schedule, August 2026 section is corpfiles.delaware.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Alternative entity annual tax instructions section is corp.delaware.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Form 450, Application for Registration section is docs.sos.ri.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Business Services fee schedule section is docs.sos.ri.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the R.I section is webserver.rilegislature.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the R.I section is webserver.rilegislature.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Form 452, Certificate of Cancellation section is docs.sos.ri.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Rhode Island other cost section is tax.ri.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Massachusetts Corporations Division, foreign LLC page section is sec.state.ma.us, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Corporations Division fee schedule section is sec.state.ma.us, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the G.L. c. 156C § 48, foreign LLC registration section is malegislature.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the G.L. c. 156C § 54, failure to register section is malegislature.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the G.L. c. 156D § 15.01, transacting business section is malegislature.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the 950 CMR 112.00, limited liability companies section is sec.state.ma.us, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- The page we used for Mainstay Filing (California service page) was open to us on November 13, 2026
- The page we used for CA Registered Agent.org (pricing page) was open to us on November 13, 2026
- The page we used for California Registered Agent.ai (pricing page) was open to us on November 13, 2026