Start an LLC by State

Start an LLC by State › California

Starting an LLC in California: step by step (2026)

To start an LLC in California, file the Articles of Organization (LLC-1) with the California Secretary of State and pay the $70 state fee. California LLCs file a Statement of Information every two years, due the last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, for $20. Every California LLC must keep an agent for service of process with a California street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in California

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the California Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a agent for service of process: 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.
  3. File the Articles of Organization (LLC-1) with the California Secretary of State and pay $70.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. California LLCs file a Statement of Information every two years, due the last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, for $20.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus California’s fees.

California LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$70
Formation document
Articles of Organization (LLC-1)
Yearly filing
Statement of Information, every two years, $20
Due
Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Registered agent
Required. 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.
Agent 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.
Other required costs
$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Filing fee rank
13th lowest of 50 (12 states charge less, 37 charge more)
Best overall for a California LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus California’s $70 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

California compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
California$70$20 / 2 yrs
Arizona$50None
Nevada$425$350 annual list
Oregon$100$100 / yr

All 50 states

California LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in California?

$70 to the state to file. California LLCs file a Statement of Information every two years, due the last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, for $20. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does California require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. California LLCs file a Statement of Information every two years, due the last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, for $20.

Do I need a registered agent in California?

Yes. 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.

Can I form a California LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization (LLC-1) directly with the California Secretary of State and pay the $70 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources