Agent for service of process required
Yes
According to leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, as of October 2026
Registered agent guide · California
California Registered Agents (2026): State Rules, Fees and the 3 Best Agents
If you are choosing an agent for California this year (2026), begin with California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), working down the list. Naming an agent for service of process is not optional in California. The yearly state bill is $810, ranking 50th of 50.
California in numbers
50th
of fifty for the state side of an annual budget
A low number means a small state 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. According to sos.ca.gov, as of October 2026
Minimum tax, per year
$800
According to ftb.ca.gov, as of October 2026
State charges, per year
$810
One year of the report plus any minimum tax
California: our recommendations
The methodology explains the order. Three-year service fees count 34%, the filings a price covers count 26%, and renewal price, fit with California rules and fee labeling make up the rest.
1. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a one-state business
$99 yearly, renewing at $99
California Registered Agent.ai takes the top place, as $99 each year and no change at renewal, a fit for a company that never leaves one state.
It comes in under Mainstay Filing on three-year service fees. Cost counts for 34% of the score.
What the price buys
- An office address supplied for the registered agent role
- Legal papers served on the company are scanned and posted for you
In its favor
- Costs less per year than Mainstay Filing does
- $99 yearly with no increase
Against it
- Another state means another agent
- Does not cover the Statement of Information
2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for a local agent
$99 yearly, renewing at $99
Our second pick, CA Registered Agent.org, earns its place since $99 each year and no change at renewal, a fit for a company that never leaves one state.
Its published prices match California Registered Agent.ai's exactly, so the two sit side by side.
What the price buys
- An office address supplied for the registered agent role
- Legal papers served on the company are scanned and posted for you
In its favor
- $99 yearly with no increase
- Costs less per year than Mainstay Filing does
Against it
- Another state means another agent
- Does not cover the Statement of Information
3. Mainstay Filing: best for an agent wherever you register
$149 yearly, renewing at $149
Our third pick, Mainstay Filing, earns its place since $149 yearly in California and the same everywhere else, with a renewal price of $149.
California Registered Agent.ai costs $150 less in three-year service fees.
What the price buys
- An address inside the state, kept on file
- Anything served on the company is scanned and sent to you that business day, free of charge
- The first three letters from government agencies each year are scanned at no charge
- Also open to nonprofits, partnerships and corporations, not only LLCs
In its favor
- $149 per year
- One price in all fifty states
Against it
- $50 extra a year compared with California Registered Agent.ai
- The agent plan does not file reports
The 3 picks at a glance
| No. | Service | Yearly price | Renews at | Service charges, three years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Registered Agent.ai | $99 | $99/yr | $297 | Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner 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 | Mainstay Filing | $149 | $149/yr | $447 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Every price was copied from its company's page on November 12, 2026. The state bills the same whoever serves as agent.
California agent and upkeep calculator
Each agent's price is combined with the state charges that repeat (the Statement of Information from year two) and the minimum tax. Formation fees are not in the total.
California next to the states ranked around it
| Place | State | Yearly state fees |
|---|---|---|
| 46th | Nevada | $350 |
| 47th | Delaware | $400 |
| 48th | Rhode Island | $450 |
| 49th | Massachusetts | $500 |
| 50th | California | $810 |
The full table is at Registered agent rules by state, with the smallest bills first.
California agent for service of process requirements (official, Secretary of State)
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.
Who counts as an agent: 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)
The state charges that repeat
The Statement of Information is due every two years at a cost of $20 (deadline last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially). A late filing costs $250 more. Notices about it go 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 list reads this way
California Registered Agent.ai moved ahead of CA Registered Agent.org on three-year service charge, a criterion weighted 34%.
Choosing California Registered Agent.ai costs $297 in service fees across three years ($150 below Mainstay Filing).
Frequently asked questions
Does every California LLC need an agent for service of process?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Who may act 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 is the yearly price of registered agent service for California?
The agents on this page charge $99 to $149 a year.
What does the state itself charge an LLC each year?
About $810 a year by our yearly measure, which comes from the Statement of Information ($20 every two years) and the minimum tax.
Which registered agents are recommended on this page?
California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), ranked from best to last.
Which registered agent is the best choice?
California Registered Agent.ai first, then CA Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing. What separates California Registered Agent.ai is three-year service charge.
Sources for this chapter
- California Secretary of State comes from sos.ca.gov; page opened August 2026
- California Secretary of State comes from bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov; page opened August 2026
- California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source comes from sos.ca.gov; page opened October 2026
- Cal comes from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov; page opened August 2026
- California registered agent statute comes from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov; page opened October 2026
- California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and comes from ftb.ca.gov; page opened October 2026
- California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and comes from ftb.ca.gov; page opened October 2026
- Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees comes from nvsos.gov; page opened October 2026
- Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source comes from corp.delaware.gov; page opened October 2026
- Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source comes from corp.delaware.gov; page opened October 2026
- Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source comes from legis.delaware.gov; page opened October 2026
- Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division comes from docs.sos.ri.gov; page opened August 2026
- Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division comes from sos.ri.gov; page opened August 2026
- Rhode Island other cost comes from tax.ri.gov; page opened October 2026
- Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth comes from sec.state.ma.us; page opened August 2026
- Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth comes from malegislature.gov; page opened August 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
- Mainstay Filing lists its California service page; we copied it November 12, 2026