LLC Startup Cost › California
California LLC startup cost (2026)
Starting a California LLC costs $70 to file and $870 once the quantified extras are added. With Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, the first-year total is $1,069, with the agent, EIN application and report filing included. The first report later costs $20.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
California budget, line by line
| Line | What it is | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee | Articles of Organization (LLC-1), California Secretary of State | $70 |
| First-year state tax | $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information. | $800 |
| Registered agent | Required; the company cannot be its own agent | $149 with Mainstay Filing |
| EIN | Issued by the IRS online | $0 |
| State total | Filing fee plus quantified extras | $870 |
| With Mainstay Filing | State total plus the first-year price (agent, EIN application, report filing) | $1,069 |
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, same at renewal
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in California?
The state filing fee is $70; with the quantified extras the state total is $870. With Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, the first-year total is $1,069.
Does California charge anything besides the filing fee?
$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Can I be my own registered agent in California?
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.
Sources
- Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01 (California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act) (multira state research spine): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CORP§ionNum=17702.01., checked August 12, 2026
- California Secretary of State (multira state research spine): www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/statements, checked August 12, 2026
- California Secretary of State (multira state research spine): bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov/llc/forms/llc-12-112021.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source read 2026-10-01: www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/forms/limited-liability-companies-statement-information, checked October 1, 2026
- California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and timing, official source read 2026-10-01: www.ftb.ca.gov/file/business/types/limited-liability-company/index.html, checked October 1, 2026
- California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and timing, official source read 2026-10-01: www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2026/2026-3522.pdf, checked October 1, 2026
- California registered agent statute (Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CORP§ionNum=17701.13., checked October 20, 2026
- California Secretary of State: www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/, checked October 20, 2026
- IRS: Get an employer identification number: www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number, checked October 21, 2026