Fee to file with the state
$70
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (August 2026)
LLC cost guide · California
Starting an LLC in California (2026): Official Costs and the 3 Best Services
If you are forming an LLC for California this year (2026), begin with Mainstay Filing ($199), California Registered Agent.ai ($199) and CA Registered Agent.org ($199), working down the list. Formation: $70. Statement of Information: $20, every two years. Three-year rank among states: 50th of 50.
California: the figures
50th
out of 50 states, measured over three years of state fees
Rankings begin with the smallest bill. The whole table
Statement of Information
$20 / 2 yrs
The state sets the deadline as last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. sos.ca.gov (October 2026)
Late-report charge
$250
sos.ca.gov (October 2026)
Minimum tax, per year
$800
ftb.ca.gov (October 2026)
State charges, years one to three
$2,490
The fee to form, then two years of reports, where the minimum tax is charged all three years
The California picks
Five criteria set the order, led by three-year service charges and the filings covered; the methodology has the weights.
1. Mainstay Filing: best for an LLC that runs itself on paper
Year one $199; renewal $199; the state fee is separate
We put Mainstay Filing first: one yearly $199 pays for the formation, the agent for service of process and the Statement of Information, with renewal at $199.
It runs $200 above California Registered Agent.ai over three years. Our method weighs coverage at 26%, and the extra filings it handles make up for the gap.
Each cycle it files the Statement of Information for you, and the $20 state fee is billed at cost.
What the price buys
- Your formation is prepared and filed
- Agent for service of process duties covered all year
- Your Statement of Information is prepared and sent in
- Your EIN application goes in with the rest
- The state fee is passed along at cost
In its favor
- EIN filing needs no extra payment
- Holds at $199 on renewal
- An all-in $199 a year
Against it
- A yearly bill $100 higher than California Registered Agent.ai's
2. California Registered Agent.ai: best for low formation fees
$199 to form, then $99 yearly
Number 2 is California Registered Agent.ai: a $199 formation charge and a $99 agent renewal.
Plan to submit the Statement of Information on your own every two years.
What the price buys
- Articles drawn up and submitted
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- $199 plus the state fee
- $99 a year from year two
- First-year agent duty is free
Against it
- The owner keeps the Statement of Information
- The EIN application is outside the price ($99)
3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for a second California choice
$199 to form, then $99 yearly
Number 3 is CA Registered Agent.org: a $199 formation charge and a $99 agent renewal.
Plan to submit the Statement of Information on your own every two years.
On price it is level with California Registered Agent.ai.
What the price buys
- Articles drawn up and submitted
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- First-year agent duty is free
- $99 a year from year two
- $199 plus the state fee
Against it
- The owner keeps the Statement of Information
- The EIN application is outside the price ($99)
The picks in numbers
| No. | Service | First-year fee | From year two | Service charges, three years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | California Registered Agent.ai | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner 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. |
Prices as published on November 12, 2026. The state's $70 is not counted in the table.
What an LLC costs in California over time
Pick a number of years and a service. The state portion follows the official schedule: $70 to form, then the Statement of Information from year two, and the minimum tax each year.
California next to the states ranked around it
| 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 |
The complete ranking applies one method to all fifty states.
Filing the California LLC: fee and form
The Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) costs $70 at the California Secretary of State, a fee set by Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01. Each service on this page adds that fee at cost.
$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Staying in good standing: the Statement of Information
Statement of Information: every two years, due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially, fee $20. Late filers pay $250 more. A 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 list reads this way
Paperwork the price takes on decided first place in California. It counts for 26% of the score; the remaining criteria are three-year service charge, year-two price, match to the state's calendar, fee labeling.
California Registered Agent.ai is cheaper, but you would handle the Statement of Information yourself.
Questions and answers
How much does the state charge to start an LLC in California?
The state's fee is $70. Our picks bill $199 over the state fee.
What fee goes with the California Statement of Information?
$20 every two years, filed last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. A late filing adds $250.
Where does California stand on LLC fees?
California is 50th of 50 for three-year state fees, at $2,490; the smallest bill ranks first.
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 as well?
$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Which service should file my LLC?
We would pick Mainstay Filing (the California formation, a agent for service of process and the Statement of Information are all inside a $199 yearly price), followed by California Registered Agent.ai and CA Registered Agent.org.
Sources for this chapter
- California Secretary of State: sos.ca.gov, with the page last opened August 2026.
- California Secretary of State: bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, with the page last opened August 2026.
- California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source: sos.ca.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Cal: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, with the page last opened August 2026.
- California registered agent statute: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and: ftb.ca.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and: ftb.ca.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- 6 Del: delcode.delaware.gov, with the page last opened August 2026.
- Delaware formation fee: Filing fee, official source: delcode.delaware.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source: corp.delaware.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source: corp.delaware.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source: legis.delaware.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Nevada formation fee: Fees at formation, official source: nvsos.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Nevada formation fee: Fees at formation, official source: leg.state.nv.us, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees: nvsos.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- R.I: webserver.rilegislature.gov, with the page last opened August 2026.
- Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sos.ri.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source: docs.sos.ri.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division: docs.sos.ri.gov, with the page last opened August 2026.
- Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division: sos.ri.gov, with the page last opened August 2026.
- Rhode Island other cost: tax.ri.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- M.G.L. c. 156C, sec. 12: sec.state.ma.us, with the page last opened August 2026.
- Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sec.state.ma.us, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sec.state.ma.us, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth: sec.state.ma.us, with the page last opened August 2026.
- Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth: malegislature.gov, with the page last opened August 2026.
- Mainstay Filing lists its California service page; we copied it November 12, 2026
- California Registered Agent.ai lists its pricing page; we copied it November 12, 2026
- CA Registered Agent.org lists its pricing page; we copied it November 12, 2026