The filing
To form an LLC in California, file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the California Secretary of State and pay the $70 state fee[2]. It must name an agent for service of process with a California address.
Mainstay Filing does the California filing for $199 a year; the state's $70 is added at cost[1].
- State filing fee
- $70
- Form
- Form LLC-1
- Filed with
- California Secretary of State
- Agent for Service of Process required
- Yes
- Periodic report
- Every two years, $20
- Other states’ fees
- 12 lower, 37 higher
Updated October 29, 2026. State fees from official sources.
6 steps, in order
Only step three goes to the state. The others are preparation or follow-up, but each one is something California LLC owners run into in the first year.
- Check the name. Search the California Secretary of State business records for the name you want[3]. The name needs a designator such as "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company."
- Choose who will be the agent for service of process. Owners who live in California qualify as individuals and can take the agent for service of process role themselves. Under Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13, the options are 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.[4]
- File with the state. The document is the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1); the fee is $70, paid to the California Secretary of State[2].
- Put the owners' terms in writing. An operating agreement records who owns what share and who manages the company. The California filing itself does not include it.
- Request an EIN. This federal tax number comes from the IRS, not from California, and most banks ask for it before opening an account.
- Calendar the first Statement of Information. It is filed every two years with the California Secretary of State for $20[5]. It is due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially[5].
What it costs to form an LLC in California
California's $70 filing fee is below the 50-state median of $100: 12 states charge less and 37 charge more.
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee | $70 | [2] leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Statement of Information | $20 every two years | [5] sos.ca.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Filing service, Mainstay Filing | $199 a year plus state fees | [1] Mainstay Filing, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Agent for service of process service (if hired) | $149 a year at Mainstay Filing; $0 to $249 first year elsewhere | 7 other services' published prices, updated October 29, 2026 |
Only the state fee is required. Naming yourself or another qualified person as agent for service of process costs nothing in state fees.
| State | LLC filing fee | Periodic report |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $50 | None |
| Nevada | $425 | $350 yearly |
| Oregon | $100 | $100 yearly |
Same source set as above, one statute or fee schedule per state, verified August 12, 2026.
Two ways to file
With Mainstay Filing, the California filing is prepared and submitted for you. Its price is $199 a year plus the state's $70[1], and that yearly price also covers the agent for service of process, the EIN application and every Statement of Information.
Anyone can also file the Form LLC-1 directly with the California Secretary of State; the state charges the same $70 either way.
The form and where it goes
California calls its formation filing the Articles of Organization, numbered LLC-1. The California Secretary of State accepts it[2].
The governing text:
One or more persons may act as organizers to form a limited liability company by signing and delivering to the Secretary of State for filing articles of organization on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State.
Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01 (California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act)[2].
Acceptance puts the company on the California register. Anything listed on the filing, such as the agent for service of process's address, becomes part of the public record.
California business applications, by the numbers
California logged 553,931 business applications in 2025 by the Census Bureau's count, 14.08 for every 1,000 residents. From January through Sep 2026 there were 497,172, against 421,051 in the same months of 2025.
An application is a request for an EIN, not a state LLC filing. The Census series counts every legal form, so it measures start-up activity rather than California LLC formations.
Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in California?
The state fee is $70 for the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1)[2]. After that, the Statement of Information costs $20 every two years.
Do I need an agent for service of process to form an LLC in California?
Yes. The formation filing names one. Owners who live in California qualify as individuals and can take the agent for service of process role themselves. The company itself cannot be its own agent for service of process.
Is there a service that files it for me?
Yes. Mainstay Filing prepares and files California LLCs for $199 a year plus the $70 state fee[1]. That also covers its agent for service of process service, the EIN application and the Statement of Information, at the same price each year.
Who files the formation document in California?
The California Secretary of State. Its website: www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/.
Sources
- Mainstay Filing pricing, registered agent and FAQ pages. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01 (California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act). leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CORP§ionNum=17702.. Updated October 29, 2026.
- California Secretary of State. www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13 (designated office and agent for service of process); agent qualifications in § 17701.13(c) referencing Corp. Code § 1505. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CORP§ionNum=17701.. Updated October 29, 2026.
- California Secretary of State: Statement of Information rules and fee. www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/statements. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (state annual and monthly series). www.census.gov/econ/bfs/index.html. Updated October 29, 2026.