California: key figures
50th
of 50 on what the state charges in one year
Agent for service of process required
Yes
Statement of Information
$20 / 2 yrs
Deadline, as the state states it: last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Per
sos.ca.gov, confirmed October 2026
Tax owed every year
$800
What the state collects in 1 year
$810
A single year of state fees
California ranking
You can read the weights on the
method page; three-year fees and coverage carry the most.
Our #1
1. Mainstay Filing: best for one provider for the whole country
You pay $149 in year 1 and $149 in year 2
Our first choice is Mainstay Filing. You pay $149 a year in every state, and the price stays the same at renewal.
Three years of this provider's fees run $150 above CA Registered Agent.org's; what you get for the difference is a broader set of filings done for you.
What your money gets you
- A registered office in California, with the address supplied
- Scans anything served on the company the same business day and does not charge for it
- Scans your first three government letters each year at no cost
- Also works for nonprofits, corporations, LPs and LLPs
What works
- Works in every state
- $149 a year, the same at renewal
What to weigh
- A yearly premium of $50 over CA Registered Agent.org
- Report filing comes with the formation package
Home-state option
2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for staying in one state with one agent
You pay $99 in year 1 and $99 in year 2
CA Registered Agent.org is second for you since a nearby agent at $99 a year, whose street address appears in the public record.
What your money gets you
- A physical address in California
- Legal papers are scanned and uploaded for you
What works
- A flat $99 a year
- Less per year than the national pick
What to weigh
- A different state needs a different agent
- Nobody here will file the Statement of Information for you
Home-state option
3. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a registered office in the state
You pay $99 in year 1 and $99 in year 2
California Registered Agent.ai is third for you since a nearby agent at $99 a year, whose street address appears in the public record.
On price it is exactly level with CA Registered Agent.org.
What your money gets you
- A physical address in California
- Legal papers are scanned and uploaded for you
What works
- Less per year than the national pick
- A flat $99 a year
What to weigh
- A different state needs a different agent
- Nobody here will file the Statement of Information for you
Prices side by side
Prices as shown on November 13, 2026. State fees stay where they are.
California registered agent calculator
This adds agent fees to the state's recurring charges (the Statement of Information from year 2) and the minimum tax. Formation fees are not included.
How California compares with the states near it in the ranking
What California law says you need as an agent for service of process
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. An individual agent's California street address goes on the public record. A registered corporate agent's address is already on file with the state and is not repeated in the company's filing.
People and companies allowed: A California resident, or a corporation registered with the Secretary of State as a corporate agent under Corporations Code § 1505. A business cannot act as its own agent for service of process. That comes from Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13.
The state fees that come back
What keeps coming back is the Statement of Information, at $20 every two years, last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. The penalty is $250. $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
What decided the order
Upkeep the price covers decided first place in California. It is 26% of the score, and the other criteria are price over three years, renewal terms, fit with the state, plain statement of the state fee.
One agent for any state beat the single-state choice.
Common questions
Do I have to name an agent for service of process for my California LLC?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Who is allowed to be an agent for service of process for my California LLC?
A California resident, or a corporation registered with the Secretary of State as a corporate agent under Corporations Code § 1505. A business cannot act as its own agent for service of process.
What will registered agent service cost me each year in California?
Our picks cost $99 to $149 a year.
Which state fees will I pay every year?
You will pay $810 a year on our yearly measure, which is the Statement of Information ($20 every two years), plus the minimum tax.
Which registered agents does this page rank?
Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), in the order we would choose them.
Which registered agent should I choose?
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
- Our figures on California Secretary of State come from sos.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on California Secretary of State come from bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source come from sos.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Cal come from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on California registered agent statute come from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and come from ftb.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and come from ftb.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees come from nvsos.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source come from corp.delaware.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source come from corp.delaware.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source come from legis.delaware.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division come from docs.sos.ri.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division come from sos.ri.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on Rhode Island other cost come from tax.ri.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth come from sec.state.ma.us. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth come from malegislature.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- 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