The California basics
50th
on the 50-state list of three-year state fees
Fee the state takes at filing
$70
Statement of Information
$20 / 2 yrs
Deadline, as the state states it: last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Confirmed in October 2026:
sos.ca.govCost of missing the deadline
$250
Tax owed every year
$800
What the state collects in 3 years
$2,490
Formation, then two more years of reports, plus a minimum tax each year
California: the services we would choose
We ordered the list with five criteria, and three-year fees and coverage count most (the
method page covers the rest).
Our top choice
1. Mainstay Filing: best for having fewer yearly chores
$199 a year, renewing at $199
Mainstay Filing ranks first for you since $199 a year gets you filed, gets you a agent for service of process and gets your Statement of Information sent in.
California Registered Agent.ai is $200 lower over three years, but this provider takes more of the state paperwork off your plate, and that is what moves it up.
Each renewal includes the Statement of Information, and the $20 state fee is billed at cost.
What your money gets you
- Prepares your formation papers and files them
- Acts as your agent for service of process all year
- Prepares and files your Statement of Information
- Applies for your EIN
- The state fee is added at cost
What works
- $199 a year with nothing left out
- Renews at $199
- It files your EIN application
What to weigh
- Your yearly bill is $100 larger than at California Registered Agent.ai
Local option
2. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a thrifty first year
$199 plus fees, then $99 yearly
Next comes California Registered Agent.ai, because getting started costs $199 with the agent paid for in year 1; each year after is $99.
The price does not cover the Statement of Information.
What your money gets you
- Takes care of the formation paperwork
- First year of agent service
What works
- A year of agent service is in the price
- A formation fee of $199
- The agent renews at $99
What to weigh
- The Statement of Information is yours to complete
- Help with the EIN is $99
Local option
3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for LLCs that only operate in California
$199 plus fees, then $99 yearly
Last on the list is CA Registered Agent.org, because getting started costs $199 with the agent paid for in year 1; each year after is $99.
The price does not cover the Statement of Information.
California Registered Agent.ai and this provider charge the same.
What your money gets you
- Takes care of the formation paperwork
- First year of agent service
What works
- The agent renews at $99
- A year of agent service is in the price
- A formation fee of $199
What to weigh
- The Statement of Information is yours to complete
- Help with the EIN is $99
The 3 picks compared
Every price here was taken from the company's website on November 13, 2026. California charges $70 to file, apart from what any provider bills.
Work out your total
Pick how many years you want to total and which provider you would use. What the state takes is built from its own schedule: $70 when you form, then the Statement of Information from year 2 and a minimum tax every year.
How California compares with the states near it in the ranking
What the state charges to form a California LLC (official source)
Expect the California Secretary of State to take $70 when the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) arrives, which the law sets in Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01. Every provider below adds it at cost.
$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Statement of Information: what it costs and when to file
You file the Statement of Information every two years, and the state words the deadline as last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially; the fee is $20. If you are late, you pay $250. The state taxes your LLC as well: $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Our reasoning
What settled California was upkeep the price covers, at 26%.
California Registered Agent.ai costs less, but you would still have to file the Statement of Information.
Common questions
How much will California charge me to form an LLC?
The state fee is $70. A provider adds $199 to your bill.
What will I pay for the California Statement of Information?
You pay $20, every two years, and the deadline reads last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Filing late costs $250.
Is California a low-cost state for LLCs?
California ranks 50th of 50 on three-year state fees, at $2,490. Rank 1 is the lowest total.
Will I need an agent for service of process in California?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Does the state tax my LLC every year?
$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Which LLC service should I choose?
Mainstay Filing comes first and California Registered Agent.ai and CA Registered Agent.org 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 other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and section is ftb.ca.gov, a page we reread in October 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 6 Del section is delcode.delaware.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Delaware formation fee: Filing fee, official source section is delcode.delaware.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source section is corp.delaware.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source section is corp.delaware.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source section is legis.delaware.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Nevada formation fee: Fees at formation, official source section is nvsos.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Nevada formation fee: Fees at formation, official source section is leg.state.nv.us, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees section is nvsos.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the R.I section is webserver.rilegislature.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source section is sos.ri.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source section is docs.sos.ri.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division section is docs.sos.ri.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division section is sos.ri.gov, a page we reread in August 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 M.G.L. c. 156C, sec. 12 section is sec.state.ma.us, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source section is sec.state.ma.us, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source section is sec.state.ma.us, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth section is sec.state.ma.us, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
- Behind the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth section is malegislature.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
- We looked at the Mainstay Filing website on November 13, 2026 to confirm California service page
- We looked at the California Registered Agent.ai website on November 13, 2026 to confirm pricing page
- We looked at the CA Registered Agent.org website on November 13, 2026 to confirm pricing page