What's the real cost of starting one?
The state fee is $70. Hire a service and add $199.
Add the state's fees from filing through year three: $2,490. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, last seen August 2026
- $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
What exactly am I filing?
The form is the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), and the office is the California Secretary of State.
Statute: Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, last seen August 2026
Is an agent for service of process a legal requirement?
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.
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, last seen October 2026
What do I owe after the LLC is formed?
Plan for the Statement of Information ($20, biennial). It's due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially, so add the date to your calendar. Budget for the minimum tax each year, too.
Miss the deadline and the state tacks on $250.
sos.ca.gov, last seen October 2026
Do I have to pay a service at all?
Yes, you can. On your own you'd owe just the state's fees, which come to $2,490 over three years.
Hiring a service runs $397 to $597 over three years, and Mainstay Filing folds the reports into that price, in exchange for the filing work.
Why is the list in this order?
CA Registered Agent.org leads on cost across three years, a 33% check.
Five checks set the order: cost across three years (33%), work taken off your hands (31%), prices stated clearly (14%), renewal price (12%) and where it works (10%).
CA Registered Agent.org comes out at $397 for three years, $200 below Mainstay Filing.
How we pick