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Founder ClassroomLearn the LLC paperwork for your state.

Module 1 · California

How to Start an LLC in California (2026): 8 Steps and the 3 Best LLC Services

We would send a new founder in California to Mainstay Filing ($199), California Registered Agent.ai ($199) and CA Registered Agent.org ($199) for starting an LLC in 2026, in that order. Then the lesson: 8 steps, with a $70 state filing fee and the Statement of Information every two years.

The Founder Classroom teaching team ·

Before you start

Formation fee
$70leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (August 2026)
Statement of Information
$20 every 2 yearsPayable last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Minimum yearly tax
$800ftb.ca.gov (October 2026)
State fees over three years
$2,490Formation, reports and any minimum tax
Steps in this lesson
8In order

You will learn

  • What California charges to form an LLC and where to file
  • How to meet the agent for service of process rule
  • What to file each year after that
  • Which services we would use, and why

Teacher's pick

Our picks for California

Same five criteria in every state; see how we grade.
Top pick

1. Mainstay Filing: best for having the Statement of Information done for you

Annual price $199 · renewal price $199 · state fee extra

Start with Mainstay Filing: you pay $199 a year and the Statement of Information is filed for you along with the agent service.

Three years with it costs $200 more than California Registered Agent.ai; it wins on what it handles.

That covers the Statement of Information too; the state's $20 is billed at cost.

What you get

  • Your filing, done
  • Agent for service of process for the full year
  • Statement of Information filed each cycle
  • EIN application
  • No markup on the state fee

What we like

  • Handles the EIN application
  • No renewal jump ($199)
  • Flat $199 a year

Watch out for

  • $100 yearly premium over California Registered Agent.ai
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
California specialist

2. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a budget formation

$199 in year one, $99 after

Second place goes to California Registered Agent.ai: it forms the California LLC for $199, agent included for year one and renews the agent at $99.

The Statement of Information is not part of its price.

What you get

  • California formation filed for you
  • First year of agent service

What we like

  • $199 to form
  • Free first agent year
  • $99 a year after that

Watch out for

  • You file the Statement of Information
  • Charges $99 for the EIN step
Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
California specialist

3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for a local filer

$199 in year one, $99 after

Third place goes to CA Registered Agent.org: it forms the California LLC for $199, agent included for year one and renews the agent at $99.

The Statement of Information is not part of its price.

It costs the same as California Registered Agent.ai.

What you get

  • California formation filed for you
  • First year of agent service

What we like

  • $199 to form
  • $99 a year after that
  • Free first agent year

Watch out for

  • You file the Statement of Information
  • Charges $99 for the EIN step
Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The 3 picks side by side

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2California Registered Agent.ai$199$99/yr$397Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3CA Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read from each company's pricing on November 12, 2026. State fee ($70) not included.

Forming the LLC, in order

  1. Step 1: Choose a name and check it is free

    A quick search of the state's business records tells you whether the name is free.

    TipCheck the matching web domain at the same time.

  2. Step 2: Appoint an agent for service of process

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. 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.

    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.

    TipOur picks all provide the agent for service of process.

    Official source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (October 2026)

  3. Step 3: Decide who files: you or a service

    Two routes: file yourself and pay only the $70 state fee, or let a service do it for $199 more. Our picks are above.

  4. Step 4: Send in the Articles of Organization

    The California Secretary of State receives the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) along with $70, under Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01.

    Official source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (August 2026)

  5. Step 5: The extra California step

    • $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.

    Official source: ftb.ca.gov (October 2026)

  6. Step 6: Get an EIN from the IRS

    When the approval arrives, apply to the IRS for the EIN. Your bank will want it for the business account. Mainstay Filing's yearly price includes the EIN application.

  7. Step 7: Sign an operating agreement

    Even with one owner, a written operating agreement for the California LLC is worth having in your records.

  8. Step 8: Keep the LLC active

    Each cycle, California expects the Statement of Information with $20, by last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Late filings cost $250 more. There is also a tax to plan for: $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.

    Official source: sos.ca.gov (October 2026)

California costs by step

WhatPayeeAmount
The formation stepThe state$70
Statement of InformationThe state$20 every two years
Late reportThe state$250
Tax each yearThe state$800 a year
Filing service (optional)Your service$199 up front
State total over three yearsThe state$2,490
Official state fees, cited under References. Three-year state total = filing + reports in years two and three + any minimum tax.

How the grade worked out

The grade turned on lesson steps handled (35%), where Mainstay Filing came out ahead of California Registered Agent.ai.

California Registered Agent.ai costs less but leaves the Statement of Information with you.

California questions

What does it cost to form an LLC in California?

The state's fee is $70. Add $199 if a service files it.

Which form creates the LLC?

You submit the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) to the California Secretary of State.

Is an agent for service of process required?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

What does California require each year?

The Statement of Information: $20, every two years, due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. There is also a yearly minimum tax.

Can I form the LLC without a service?

Yes, by filing yourself for $70 and naming an agent for service of process.

Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?

Mainstay Filing first, then California Registered Agent.ai and CA Registered Agent.org; Mainstay Filing leads on lesson steps handled.

More lessons

Lesson sources

  1. California Secretary of State (sos.ca.gov), confirmed August 2026
  2. California Secretary of State (bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov), confirmed August 2026
  3. California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source (sos.ca.gov), confirmed October 2026
  4. Cal (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov), confirmed August 2026
  5. California registered agent statute (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov), confirmed October 2026
  6. California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and (ftb.ca.gov), confirmed October 2026
  7. California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and (ftb.ca.gov), confirmed October 2026
  8. November 12, 2026: Mainstay Filing, California service page
  9. November 12, 2026: California Registered Agent.ai, pricing page
  10. November 12, 2026: CA Registered Agent.org, pricing page