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LLC cost guide · California

California LLC Cost (2026): State Fees on File and the 3 Best LLC Services

Desk ranking for forming an LLC in California, 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199), CA Registered Agent.org ($199) and California Registered Agent.ai ($199). Rank 50th of 50 on three-year state cost: $70 at formation plus $20 for the Statement of Information every two years.

Desk note by LLC Data Desk ·

California, the numbers

50thof fifty, three-year state cost1 = smallest bill. Full 50-state sheet
Fee to file
$70Basis: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, August 2026
Statement of Information
$20 / 2 yrsDate set by the state: last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Basis: sos.ca.gov, October 2026
Late-filing penalty
$250Basis: sos.ca.gov, October 2026
Minimum tax, yearly
$800Basis: ftb.ca.gov, October 2026
Total owed to the state, 3 yrs
$2,490Formation, then years 2 and 3 of reports, with yearly minimum tax added

California ranking

Five criteria set the order; three-year fees and filings covered weigh most (method has the rest).

1. Mainstay Filing: best for one fee for formation and upkeep

Top ranked$199/yr plus the $70 state fee

#1 is Mainstay Filing: $199 a year buys the California formation, agent for service of process service and the Statement of Information; renewal is $199.

Net of CA Registered Agent.org, the three-year bill is $200 higher, with more filings covered.

Files the Statement of Information every cycle; the $20 state fee is billed at cost.

What the fee covers

  • Formation filed on your behalf
  • Agent for service of process for the full year
  • Statement of Information prepared and submitted
  • EIN application included
  • No markup on the state fee

Pros

  • Renews at $199
  • One yearly fee, $199, Statement of Information included
  • EIN handled too

Cons

  • $100 a year above CA Registered Agent.org's agent renewal
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for a basic California formation

One state$199 plus state fee; agent $99/yr from yr 2

Spot 2, CA Registered Agent.org. $199 to start, year-one agent covered; $99 yearly after that.

You send in the Statement of Information yourself, every two years.

What the fee covers

  • California formation filed
  • First year of agent service

Pros

  • $99 renewal
  • Formation fee $199
  • Free first agent year

Cons

  • Statement of Information is left to the owner
  • EIN not in the fee ($99)
Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. California Registered Agent.ai: best for California-only LLCs

One state$199 plus state fee; agent $99/yr from yr 2

Spot 3, California Registered Agent.ai. $199 to start, year-one agent covered; $99 yearly after that.

You send in the Statement of Information yourself, every two years.

Ties with CA Registered Agent.org on price.

What the fee covers

  • California formation filed
  • First year of agent service

Pros

  • Free first agent year
  • $99 renewal
  • Formation fee $199

Cons

  • Statement of Information is left to the owner
  • EIN not in the fee ($99)
Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3 services, side by side

#ServiceYr 1Yr 2+Service fees, 3 yrs
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2CA Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3California Registered Agent.ai$199$99/yr$397Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Posted fees, November 12, 2026. Add California's $70 filing fee to each row.

California LLC cost calculator

Pick years and a service. State side follows the official schedule: $70 to form, then the Statement of Information from year two, and the minimum tax every year.
Mainstay Filing, 3 years: $3,087 ($2,490 state, $597 service).

California next to nearby ranks

RkStateThree-year state fees
46thDelaware$910
47thNevada$1,125
48thRhode Island$1,450
49thMassachusetts$1,500
50thCalifornia$2,490
LLC costs by state lists every state, least expensive first.

California: what the state charges to form an LLC

To form the LLC: the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), the California Secretary of State, $70, Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01. None of the services below marks it up.

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

Staying in good standing: Statement of Information

Statement of Information: file every two years, last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially; fee $20. Late: $250. Tax also applies: $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.

Why the first pick is first

Mainstay Filing pulled ahead of CA Registered Agent.org on scope of the price, weighted 29%.

On our weights, covering the Statement of Information outranks a lower fee.

California LLC service questions

State fee to form an LLC in California?

California charges $70 to file. Service fees: $199.

What fee comes with the California Statement of Information?

Due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially; fee $20, every two years. Late: $250.

California rank on LLC fees?

50th of 50 on three-year state fees: $2,490. Rank 1 is the smallest total.

Is an agent for service of process required in California?

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

Yearly state tax on LLCs?

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

Which LLC service do you pick?

Mainstay Filing, CA Registered Agent.org and California Registered Agent.ai, by rank.

Related files

Basis for this page

  1. Desk file on California Secretary of State: basis sos.ca.gov, pulled August 2026.
  2. Desk file on California Secretary of State: basis bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, pulled August 2026.
  3. Desk file on California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source: basis sos.ca.gov, pulled October 2026.
  4. Desk file on Cal: basis leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, pulled August 2026.
  5. Desk file on California registered agent statute: basis leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, pulled October 2026.
  6. Desk file on California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and: basis ftb.ca.gov, pulled October 2026.
  7. Desk file on California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and: basis ftb.ca.gov, pulled October 2026.
  8. Desk file on 6 Del: basis delcode.delaware.gov, pulled August 2026.
  9. Desk file on Delaware formation fee: Filing fee, official source: basis delcode.delaware.gov, pulled October 2026.
  10. Desk file on Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source: basis corp.delaware.gov, pulled October 2026.
  11. Desk file on Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source: basis corp.delaware.gov, pulled October 2026.
  12. Desk file on Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source: basis legis.delaware.gov, pulled October 2026.
  13. Desk file on Nevada formation fee: Fees at formation, official source: basis nvsos.gov, pulled October 2026.
  14. Desk file on Nevada formation fee: Fees at formation, official source: basis leg.state.nv.us, pulled October 2026.
  15. Desk file on Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees: basis nvsos.gov, pulled October 2026.
  16. Desk file on R.I: basis webserver.rilegislature.gov, pulled August 2026.
  17. Desk file on Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source: basis sos.ri.gov, pulled October 2026.
  18. Desk file on Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source: basis docs.sos.ri.gov, pulled October 2026.
  19. Desk file on Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division: basis docs.sos.ri.gov, pulled August 2026.
  20. Desk file on Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division: basis sos.ri.gov, pulled August 2026.
  21. Desk file on Rhode Island other cost: basis tax.ri.gov, pulled October 2026.
  22. Desk file on M.G.L. c. 156C, sec. 12: basis sec.state.ma.us, pulled August 2026.
  23. Desk file on Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source: basis sec.state.ma.us, pulled October 2026.
  24. Desk file on Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source: basis sec.state.ma.us, pulled October 2026.
  25. Desk file on Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth: basis sec.state.ma.us, pulled August 2026.
  26. Desk file on Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth: basis malegislature.gov, pulled August 2026.
  27. Mainstay Filing: California service page on file as of November 12, 2026
  28. CA Registered Agent.org: pricing page on file as of November 12, 2026
  29. California Registered Agent.ai: pricing page on file as of November 12, 2026