The numbers behind California
50th
among 50 states, counting three years of state fees
Charge to form
$70
Statement of Information
$20 / 2 yrs
Timing as the state words it: last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Per
sos.ca.gov, October 2026
Charge when the report is late
$250
Tax owed each year
$800
State total, years 1 to 3
$2,490
Filing fee, then reports for years 2 and 3, together with a tax billed annually
Where we would file in California
Five weighted criteria set the order; three-year provider charges and filings covered carry the most (see the
method).
First stop
1. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a lean first year
Formation $199, year-two price $99
Start with California Registered Agent.ai, where a $199 charge to form and a $99 agent renewal.
Mainstay Filing costs more over three years, and that criterion counts for 36%.
Plan to submit the Statement of Information yourself, every two years.
Price covers
- Formation handled from start to filing
- First year of agent service
Upside
- $199 plus the state fee
- Year-one agent duty is included
- A $99 renewal
Downside
- The owner files the Statement of Information
- EIN application costs $99 extra
Rooted in California
2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for another route for California
Formation $199, year-two price $99
CA Registered Agent.org takes spot 2: a $199 charge to form and a $99 agent renewal.
Plan to submit the Statement of Information yourself, every two years.
It ties with California Registered Agent.ai on price.
Price covers
- Formation handled from start to filing
- First year of agent service
Upside
- A $99 renewal
- Year-one agent duty is included
- $199 plus the state fee
Downside
- The owner files the Statement of Information
- EIN application costs $99 extra
Bundled
3. Mainstay Filing: best for fewer yearly chores
$199 yearly, $269 to cover the state fee
Mainstay Filing takes spot 3: one yearly price of $199 buys the formation, agent for service of process duty and the Statement of Information.
Provider charges over three years are $200 higher than California Registered Agent.ai's, and cost carries 36% of the score.
Mainstay files the Statement of Information; California collects $20 for it, billed to you without a markup.
Price covers
- Formation papers drawn up and filed for you
- Twelve months of agent for service of process duty
- Your Statement of Information drawn up and submitted on time
- Application for your EIN handled as well
- State fee billed exactly as the state sets it
Upside
- EIN paperwork comes with it
- Renewal price stays $199
- One yearly price of $199, the Statement of Information included
Downside
- A yearly bill $100 bigger than California Registered Agent.ai's
California providers on one chart
Prices were taken from each company's own pages on November 12, 2026. Add California's $70 filing fee to every row.
Work out your total
Choose a span of years and a provider. State charges follow the official schedule: $70 to form, the Statement of Information from year two, and the minimum tax every year.
California and the states beside it on the chart
California LLC filing fee and form (official source)
Send the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) to the California Secretary of State along with $70 (Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01). The providers below pass it through without a markup.
$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
California Statement of Information: fee, due date and late charge
California wants the Statement of Information once per cycle at $20, last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Filing late adds $250. Besides the report, $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
How the California ranking was drawn
California Registered Agent.ai pulled ahead of CA Registered Agent.org on service cost across three years, weighted 36%.
Three years with California Registered Agent.ai cost $397 in provider charges, $200 less than Mainstay Filing.
California LLC service questions
What is the state charge for forming an LLC in California?
$70 goes to the state. Provider charges on this page: $199.
What does the California Statement of Information cost the LLC?
$20, every two years; it is filed last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Filing late costs $250.
How does California rank among states on LLC fees?
California is 50th of 50 on three-year state fees, at $2,490; spot 1 has the smallest bill.
Is an agent for service of process compulsory for California LLCs?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Is there a yearly state tax on LLCs?
$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Who should file my LLC?
Rank California Registered Agent.ai first and CA Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing after it; the deciding factor is service cost across three years.
Where each number comes from
- Behind California Secretary of State: sos.ca.gov, seen August 2026.
- Behind California Secretary of State: bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, seen August 2026.
- Behind California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source: sos.ca.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind Cal: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, seen August 2026.
- Behind California registered agent statute: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and: ftb.ca.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and: ftb.ca.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind 6 Del: delcode.delaware.gov, seen August 2026.
- Behind Delaware formation fee: Filing fee, official source: delcode.delaware.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source: corp.delaware.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source: corp.delaware.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source: legis.delaware.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind Nevada formation fee: Fees at formation, official source: nvsos.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind Nevada formation fee: Fees at formation, official source: leg.state.nv.us, seen October 2026.
- Behind Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees: nvsos.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind R.I: webserver.rilegislature.gov, seen August 2026.
- Behind Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sos.ri.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source: docs.sos.ri.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division: docs.sos.ri.gov, seen August 2026.
- Behind Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division: sos.ri.gov, seen August 2026.
- Behind Rhode Island other cost: tax.ri.gov, seen October 2026.
- Behind M.G.L. c. 156C, sec. 12: sec.state.ma.us, seen August 2026.
- Behind Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sec.state.ma.us, seen October 2026.
- Behind Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sec.state.ma.us, seen October 2026.
- Behind Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth: sec.state.ma.us, seen August 2026.
- Behind Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth: malegislature.gov, seen August 2026.
- California Registered Agent.ai, pricing page; company page seen November 12, 2026
- CA Registered Agent.org, pricing page; company page seen November 12, 2026
- Mainstay Filing, California service page; company page seen November 12, 2026