State filing fee
$70
Source leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, August 2026
LLC cost guide · California
California LLC Fees and Costs (2026): the Official Numbers and the 3 Best LLC Services
The best picks for setting up an LLC in California in 2026 are California Registered Agent.ai ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and CA Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. On three-year state cost, California is number 50th of 50. The pieces: $70 to file, and $20 every two years for the Statement of Information.
Facts for California
50th
on a 50-state list of three-year state cost
Number 1 owes the state the least. The whole 50-state list
Statement of Information
$20 / 2 yrs
Due date, in the state's own words: last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Source sos.ca.gov, October 2026
Penalty for filing late
$250
Source sos.ca.gov, October 2026
Minimum tax each year
$800
Source ftb.ca.gov, October 2026
State charges over 3 years
$2,490
Formation plus two years of reports, including the yearly minimum tax
Ranked services for California
The order comes from five criteria, and the two that weigh most are three-year fees and coverage (the method page explains the rest).
1. California Registered Agent.ai: best for owners who plan to stay in California
$199 to form, then $99 yearly
First place goes to California Registered Agent.ai: starting costs $199 with the agent covered the first year; each year after is $99.
Mainstay Filing costs more over three years, and that criterion is worth 34% of the score.
Filing the Statement of Information remains your job, every two years.
What the price takes in
- Prepares the formation filing
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- A formation price of $199
- The first agent year is included
- Then $99 yearly
Against it
- The Statement of Information is outside the price
- The EIN application costs $99 more
2. Mainstay Filing: best for a deadline calendar kept for you
Year 1 $199; later years $199; state fee separate
In second place sits Mainstay Filing: a single yearly price of $199 pays for formation, a agent for service of process and the Statement of Information.
California Registered Agent.ai is $200 lower across three years, which is why it ranks above this one.
Mainstay Filing sends in the Statement of Information; California's $20 is passed through at cost.
What the price takes in
- Files the formation papers for you
- Agent for service of process for twelve months
- Prepares and files the Statement of Information
- Takes care of the EIN application
- The state fee is passed along untouched
In its favor
- $199 yearly pays for formation and agent and report
- The EIN filing carries no extra fee
- Renews at $199
Against it
- Its renewal is $100 higher than California Registered Agent.ai's
3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for LLCs that only operate in California
$199 to form, then $99 yearly
We put CA Registered Agent.org third since starting costs $199 with the agent covered the first year; each year after is $99.
Filing the Statement of Information remains your job, every two years.
The prices are the same as California Registered Agent.ai's.
What the price takes in
- Prepares the formation filing
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- Then $99 yearly
- The first agent year is included
- A formation price of $199
Against it
- The Statement of Information is outside the price
- The EIN application costs $99 more
The ranking in numbers
| No. | Provider | First year | Later years | Provider fees over 3 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Registered Agent.ai | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | CA Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
We read each company's price page on November 13, 2026. Every row also needs the $70 state fee.
LLC cost calculator
Choose a number of years and a provider. The state part follows the official fee schedule: $70 to form, then the Statement of Information from year 2, plus the minimum tax each year.
California and the states around it in the ranking
| Place | State | Three-year state fees |
|---|---|---|
| 46th | Delaware | $910 |
| 47th | Nevada | $1,125 |
| 48th | Rhode Island | $1,450 |
| 49th | Massachusetts | $1,500 |
| 50th | California | $2,490 |
For the other states, see LLC costs by state.
California formation fee and the form to use
The fee is $70. Send the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) to the California Secretary of State, under Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01. It is the same amount whoever files for you.
$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
California Statement of Information: cost, due date and late penalty
Under California rules the Statement of Information gets filed every two years, last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially, and the state's fee for it is $20. Filing late carries $250. Separately from the report, $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
What decided the order
In California, California Registered Agent.ai beat Mainstay Filing on service bill, years one to three (34%).
It leads on cost at $397 over three years, $200 lower than Mainstay Filing.
Questions about California
How much does California charge to form an LLC?
Filing costs $70 at the state office. Set aside $199 if a provider files for you.
What will filing the Statement of Information cost in California?
It costs $20 and is due every two years, last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. A late filing draws $250.
Where does California stand on LLC costs?
California is number 50th of 50 on three-year state fees, at $2,490. The lowest total takes number 1.
Does California require an agent for service of process?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Does the state tax LLCs every year?
$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Which LLC service would you choose?
California Registered Agent.ai, because a formation price of $199 above the state fee, then $99 for the agent from year 2. After it come Mainstay Filing and CA Registered Agent.org.
Where these facts come from
- Backing for the numbers about California Secretary of State is found at sos.ca.gov, which we read in August 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about California Secretary of State is found at bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, which we read in August 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source is found at sos.ca.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Cal is found at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, which we read in August 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about California registered agent statute is found at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and is found at ftb.ca.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and is found at ftb.ca.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about 6 Del is found at delcode.delaware.gov, which we read in August 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Delaware formation fee: Filing fee, official source is found at delcode.delaware.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source is found at corp.delaware.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source is found at corp.delaware.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source is found at legis.delaware.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Nevada formation fee: Fees at formation, official source is found at nvsos.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Nevada formation fee: Fees at formation, official source is found at leg.state.nv.us, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees is found at nvsos.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about R.I is found at webserver.rilegislature.gov, which we read in August 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source is found at sos.ri.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source is found at docs.sos.ri.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division is found at docs.sos.ri.gov, which we read in August 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division is found at sos.ri.gov, which we read in August 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Rhode Island other cost is found at tax.ri.gov, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about M.G.L. c. 156C, sec. 12 is found at sec.state.ma.us, which we read in August 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source is found at sec.state.ma.us, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source is found at sec.state.ma.us, which we read in October 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth is found at sec.state.ma.us, which we read in August 2026, and you can check it there.
- Backing for the numbers about Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth is found at malegislature.gov, which we read in August 2026, and you can check it there.
- California Registered Agent.ai posted pricing page; we read the page November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing posted California service page; we read the page November 13, 2026
- CA Registered Agent.org posted pricing page; we read the page November 13, 2026