Agent for service of process required
Yes
Read October 2026 at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Registered agent guide · California
California Registered Agent Rules and Fees (2026): the Official Numbers and the 3 Best Agents
The best picks for hiring a registered agent in California in 2026 are Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), in that order. The law in California calls for an agent for service of process on every LLC. Annual state fees add up to $810, number 50th of 50.
California: the facts
50th
on a 50-state list of yearly state cost
Ordered from the lowest total up. Every state side by side
Statement of Information
$20 / 2 yrs
Due date, in the state's own words: last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Read October 2026 at sos.ca.gov
Minimum tax each year
$800
Read October 2026 at ftb.ca.gov
State charges over 1 year
$810
What the state collects each year after formation
The services we pick in California
Five weighted criteria set the order (method): provider fees over three years 34%, filings covered 28%, then renewal terms, fit with California rules and a clear state fee.
1. Mainstay Filing: best for an agent that follows you across states
$149 the first year, the same after that
Mainstay Filing ranks number one. A $149 agent fee that applies in all fifty states, so a growing company can stay with one provider.
Over three years the provider fees are $150 above CA Registered Agent.org's, and in exchange the state paperwork it handles is wider.
What the price takes in
- A California street address on the public record
- Scans papers served on the company the same business day, at no charge
- Scans the first three government letters each year, no charge
- Serves nonprofits, corporations, LPs and LLPs as well
In its favor
- One price, any state
- $149 per year with no step up
Against it
- Charges $50 more each year than CA Registered Agent.org
- On this plan you file the reports yourself
2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for companies that operate only in California
$99 the first year, the same after that
In second place sits CA Registered Agent.org: $99 per year for an agent with an office address in the state.
What the price takes in
- A real California street address
- Legal papers are scanned and uploaded for you
In its favor
- Cheaper per year than the national pick
- $99 per year, the same at renewal
Against it
- Just California
- The Statement of Information is not filed for you
3. California Registered Agent.ai: best for California companies that stay at home
$99 the first year, the same after that
In third place sits California Registered Agent.ai: $99 per year for an agent with an office address in the state.
Its prices equal CA Registered Agent.org's, so the two are close.
What the price takes in
- A real California street address
- Legal papers are scanned and uploaded for you
In its favor
- $99 per year, the same at renewal
- Cheaper per year than the national pick
Against it
- Just California
- The Statement of Information is not filed for you
Prices in one place
| No. | Provider | Price per year | Renewal price | Provider fees over 3 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $149 | $149/yr | $447 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | CA Registered Agent.org | $99 | $99/yr | $297 | Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | California Registered Agent.ai | $99 | $99/yr | $297 | Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Every price here was read from the company's own site on November 13, 2026. With any agent, California fees are unchanged.
Yearly cost calculator
Agent prices plus the state's recurring charges (the Statement of Information from year 2) and the minimum tax. Formation fees are not counted.
California and the states around it in the ranking
| Place | State | Yearly state fees |
|---|---|---|
| 46th | Nevada | $350 |
| 47th | Delaware | $400 |
| 48th | Rhode Island | $450 |
| 49th | Massachusetts | $500 |
| 50th | California | $810 |
All fifty rows are in Registered agent rules by state.
What California law says about the agent for service of process
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.
Permitted agents: 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. The authority is Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13.
What California charges every year
The Statement of Information arrives every two years and costs $20 (last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially). Late filing adds $250. Notices are mailed to your agent for service of process. $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Why the California ranking looks like this
Mainstay Filing wins on paperwork inside the price, which counts for 28%, and CA Registered Agent.org follows.
CA Registered Agent.org costs less, and reach across states earned the higher score.
Questions about California
Are California LLCs obliged to keep an agent for service of process on file?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Who can serve as 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.
What does registered agent service cost in California each year?
Our picks cost $99 to $149 each year.
What state fees does an LLC pay every year?
The state collects $810 per year on our yearly measure, which is the Statement of Information at $20 every two years, and the minimum tax.
Which registered agents does this page rank?
Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), in order, starting with our top pick.
Which registered agent would you choose?
Mainstay Filing, because a flat $149 yearly price from a provider that serves the whole country. After it come CA Registered Agent.org and California Registered Agent.ai.
Where these facts come from
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about California Secretary of State traces back to sos.ca.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about California Secretary of State traces back to bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source traces back to sos.ca.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Cal traces back to leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about California registered agent statute traces back to leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and traces back to ftb.ca.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and traces back to ftb.ca.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees traces back to nvsos.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source traces back to corp.delaware.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source traces back to corp.delaware.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source traces back to legis.delaware.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division traces back to docs.sos.ri.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division traces back to sos.ri.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Rhode Island other cost traces back to tax.ri.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth traces back to sec.state.ma.us, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth traces back to malegislature.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- California service page at Mainstay Filing, from the company website, read November 13, 2026
- Pricing page at CA Registered Agent.org, from the company website, read November 13, 2026
- Pricing page at California Registered Agent.ai, from the company website, read November 13, 2026