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Biz Formation Academy

A plain textbook on LLC paperwork, one state per chapter.

Chapter 1 · California

California LLC Formation Chapter (2026): 8 Sections and the 3 Best LLC Services

In 2026 the services this chapter recommends for forming an LLC in California are Mainstay Filing ($199), CA Registered Agent.org ($199) and California Registered Agent.ai ($199), best first. Formation in California comes to 8 sections and a $70 state fee, plus $20 for the Statement of Information.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Essential facts

Fee to form $70 Source text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, August 2026
Statement of Information $20 every 2 years Stated timing: last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
State minimum tax $800 Source text at ftb.ca.gov, October 2026
State fees across three years $2,490 Filing plus the recurring state fees
Section count 8 In sequence

Learning objectives

  • The California formation document, its fee and its recipient
  • What the agent for service of process rule requires
  • Recurring obligations
  • The recommendations and their reasons

Recommended reading for California

The order rests on five weighted criteria described under how we grade, with three-year cost and paperwork completed on top.

1. Mainstay Filing: best for having someone else file the Statement of Information

Best overall
$199 per year; checkout collects $269, which includes the state fee

Mainstay Filing is ranked first in California: $199 per year takes care of three chapters at once: formation, agent for service of process and the Statement of Information.

Set against CA Registered Agent.org, the three-year premium is $200, which the 30% weight on paperwork covered outweighs.

The Statement of Information is handled too, with California's $20 added at cost.

Price covers

  • The formation filing is prepared and submitted
  • Agent for service of process for the full year
  • Statement of Information prepared and filed
  • The EIN application is part of the price
  • State fee at cost

Advantages

  • The renewal stays at $199
  • $199 annually, all inclusive
  • No added charge for the EIN application

Limitations

  • After year one it costs $100 more annually
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for owners who intend to stay in California

Single-state plan
$199 in year one, $99 afterward

Entry number 2 is CA Registered Agent.org, where a formation charge of $199 above state fees, and an agent renewal of $99.

The Statement of Information is not in the price, so the owner files it every two years.

Price covers

  • Filing delivered to the state
  • One year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • A modest $99 renewal
  • Agent covered in year one
  • $199 above the state fee

Limitations

  • The Statement of Information is left for the owner to file
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit CA Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

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

Single-state plan
$199 in year one, $99 afterward

Entry number 3 is California Registered Agent.ai, where a formation charge of $199 above state fees, and an agent renewal of $99.

The Statement of Information is not in the price, so the owner files it every two years.

It charges exactly what CA Registered Agent.org charges.

Price covers

  • Filing delivered to the state
  • One year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • A modest $99 renewal
  • $199 above the state fee
  • Agent covered in year one

Limitations

  • The Statement of Information is left for the owner to file
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit California Registered Agent.ai Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Rankings and prices together

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1 Mainstay Filing $199$199/yr$597 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 CA Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397 Visit CA Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 California Registered Agent.ai $199$99/yr$397 Visit California Registered Agent.ai Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Prices come from each company's own site, consulted November 13, 2026. Every row also owes the $70 state fee.

Forming a California LLC, section by section

  1. Section 1

    Confirm the name is not taken

    Check the name against the California register kept by the California Secretary of State; this avoids a rejected filing.

    Write down an alternate name in case the first is taken.

  2. Section 2

    Appoint an agent for service of process

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

    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.

    Providing the agent for service of process is part of what each recommended service sells.

    Reference: Source text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, October 2026

  3. Section 3

    Decide between self-filing and a service

    Without a service the charge is the state's $70. With a recommended service it grows by $199.

  4. Section 4

    Your paperwork here is the Articles of Organization

    Formation takes effect when the California Secretary of State accepts the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) and $70 under Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01.

    Reference: Source text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, August 2026

  5. Section 5

    One further California condition

    • $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.

    Reference: Source text at ftb.ca.gov, October 2026

  6. Section 6

    Apply for a federal tax identification number

    Approval comes first and the IRS number second. The Mainstay Filing annual price already includes this section.

  7. Section 7

    Write the operating agreement

    Ownership and management rules belong in the operating agreement, an internal record that is separate from the California filing.

  8. Section 8

    Record the recurring deadlines

    Calendar entry for the owner: the Statement of Information, at $20, every two years, due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Lateness is penalized at $250. A yearly tax applies as well: $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.

    Reference: Source text at sos.ca.gov, October 2026

The cost of this chapter

PurposeWho is paidSum
Creating the LLC Government$70
Statement of Information Government$20 every two years
Late charge Government$250
Yearly minimum tax Government$800 a year
Service fees (optional) The provider$199 for year one
State fees across years one to three Government$2,490

The three-year state row is computed as the filing fee, plus the report in each of years two and three, plus any yearly minimum tax. Service fees have their own rows.

Why Mainstay Filing is first

On chapters the price completes (30% of the ranking) came first, with next.

A price that covers the Statement of Information counted for more than CA Registered Agent.org's lower three-year total.

Common questions

How much does it cost to file a new LLC in California?

$70, paid to the state. Paid help raises the first-year bill by $199.

Which form creates the LLC?

The document to look for is the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1); the California Secretary of State receives it.

Is an agent for service of process required?

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

What does California require each year?

The recurring obligation is the Statement of Information ($20, every two years, due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially). A yearly minimum tax also applies.

Can I form the LLC without a service?

Nothing prevents it. California asks $70, and the LLC must name an agent for service of process, which the owner can be or can hire out.

Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?

Mainstay Filing ranks first and CA Registered Agent.org and California Registered Agent.ai follow; Mainstay Filing leads on chapters the price completes.

Further reading

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. Cited for California Secretary of State: sos.ca.gov, edition of August 2026.
  2. Cited for California Secretary of State: bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, edition of August 2026.
  3. Cited for California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source: sos.ca.gov, edition of October 2026.
  4. Cited for Cal: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, edition of August 2026.
  5. Cited for California registered agent statute: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, edition of October 2026.
  6. Cited for California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and: ftb.ca.gov, edition of October 2026.
  7. Cited for California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and: ftb.ca.gov, edition of October 2026.
  8. Mainstay Filing, California service page: consulted November 13, 2026
  9. CA Registered Agent.org, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026
  10. California Registered Agent.ai, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026