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Registered agent guide · California

California Registered Agent Requirements (2026): State Fees on File and the 3 Best Agents

Desk ranking for a registered agent in California, 2026: Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year). No California LLC may go without an agent for service of process. Yearly state bill: $810 (50th of 50).

Desk note by LLC Data Desk ·

California: data sheet

50thof 50 on one year of state feesSmall number, small bill. All fifty on one sheet
Agent for service of process required
Yesleginfo.legislature.ca.gov; pulled October 2026
Statement of Information
$20 / 2 yrsDate set by the state: last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. sos.ca.gov; pulled October 2026
Minimum tax, yearly
$800ftb.ca.gov; pulled October 2026
Total owed to the state, 1 yr
$810State bill for a normal year

Who we would hire in California

Criteria and weights: method.

1. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who may add states

First choice$149 annual (renewal $149)

Top spot, Mainstay Filing. $149 yearly here and everywhere else; renewal $149.

Three-year service fees: $150 above CA Registered Agent.org. In return, more of the state's paperwork is done for you.

What the fee covers

  • Street address for the registered office
  • No fee for same-business-day scanning of papers served on the company
  • Government mail: first three pieces each year scanned, no fee
  • Also open to nonprofits, corporations, LPs and LLPs

Pros

  • Flat $149/yr
  • Fifty-state reach

Cons

  • $50 a year above CA Registered Agent.org
  • Covers the agent role alone; you send in reports
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for owners living in California

California only$99 annual (renewal $99)

#2 is CA Registered Agent.org: California-only plan: $99 a year, $99 afterward.

What the fee covers

  • Physical California address
  • Legal papers scanned and uploaded

Pros

  • Cheaper by the year than the national pick
  • $99 yearly, no increase

Cons

  • California only; other states need their own agent
  • Statement of Information sits outside the fee entirely
Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. California Registered Agent.ai: best for another California option

California only$99 annual (renewal $99)

#3 is California Registered Agent.ai: California-only plan: $99 a year, $99 afterward.

Same prices as CA Registered Agent.org.

What the fee covers

  • Physical California address
  • Legal papers scanned and uploaded

Pros

  • Cheaper by the year than the national pick
  • $99 yearly, no increase

Cons

  • California only; other states need their own agent
  • Statement of Information sits outside the fee entirely
Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Fees in a row

#ServiceAnnual feeRenewal feeService fees, 3 yrs
1Mainstay Filing$149$149/yr$447Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2CA Registered Agent.org$99$99/yr$297Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3California Registered Agent.ai$99$99/yr$297Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company price pages, pulled November 12, 2026. State fees are the same whoever serves as agent.

Upkeep calculator

Agent fees plus the state's recurring charges (the Statement of Information from year two) and the minimum tax. Formation fees are left out.
3 years with Mainstay Filing totals $2,867: $2,420 to the state, $447 to the service.

California next to nearby ranks

RkStateYearly state fees
46thNevada$350
47thDelaware$400
48thRhode Island$450
49thMassachusetts$500
50thCalifornia$810
Full table: Registered agent rules by state, smallest bills first.

California agent for service of process rules, in the state's words

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.

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. (Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13)

Yearly state fees, California LLC

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

Reasoning

Scope of the price (29%) is where Mainstay Filing beat CA Registered Agent.org in California.

An agent that works in every state outscored CA Registered Agent.org's lower fee.

California registered agent questions

An agent for service of process required for California LLCs?

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

Who can be the agent for service of process for California LLCs?

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.

Yearly cost of registered agent service for California?

Our picks: $99 to $149 a year.

Yearly state fees on an LLC?

$810 a year on our yearly measure: the Statement of Information ($20 every two years), plus the minimum tax.

Which registered agents are ranked here?

Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), ranked, with the desk pick up front.

Which registered agent do you pick?

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

See also

Basis for this page

  1. Desk file sos.ca.gov backs California Secretary of State; pulled August 2026.
  2. Desk file bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov backs California Secretary of State; pulled August 2026.
  3. Desk file sos.ca.gov backs California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source; pulled October 2026.
  4. Desk file leginfo.legislature.ca.gov backs Cal; pulled August 2026.
  5. Desk file leginfo.legislature.ca.gov backs California registered agent statute; pulled October 2026.
  6. Desk file ftb.ca.gov backs California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and; pulled October 2026.
  7. Desk file ftb.ca.gov backs California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and; pulled October 2026.
  8. Desk file nvsos.gov backs Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees; pulled October 2026.
  9. Desk file corp.delaware.gov backs Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source; pulled October 2026.
  10. Desk file corp.delaware.gov backs Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source; pulled October 2026.
  11. Desk file legis.delaware.gov backs Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source; pulled October 2026.
  12. Desk file docs.sos.ri.gov backs Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division; pulled August 2026.
  13. Desk file sos.ri.gov backs Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division; pulled August 2026.
  14. Desk file tax.ri.gov backs Rhode Island other cost; pulled October 2026.
  15. Desk file sec.state.ma.us backs Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth; pulled August 2026.
  16. Desk file malegislature.gov backs Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth; pulled August 2026.
  17. Mainstay Filing, California service page: pulled from the company site November 12, 2026
  18. CA Registered Agent.org, pricing page: pulled from the company site November 12, 2026
  19. California Registered Agent.ai, pricing page: pulled from the company site November 12, 2026