California Secretary of State

How Much Does an LLC Cost in California?

Forming an LLC in California means filing the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the California Secretary of State. The calculator below separates official government fees from estimates, and fixed costs from variable ones.

Entity type

LLC Corporation

An S corporation is a federal tax election, not a state entity type — both LLCs and corporations may qualify for it.

Registered agent

Act as my own agent — $0Generally allowed if you have an in-state address and are available during business hoursHire a service — about $200/yrMarket estimate (typically $100–$300/yr), not a state fee

Processing speed

First-year government fees — California LLC

$890

Official state fees

Articles of Organization filing fee$70

Initial Statement of InformationDue within 90 days of formation$20

Annual franchise tax (minimum)First payment due by the 15th day of the 4th month after formation; then annually by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year$800

Ongoing fixed fees

Annual franchise tax (minimum)First payment due by the 15th day of the 4th month after formation; then annually by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year$800 / yr

Statement of Information (biennial)Due every two years during the six-month window ending in the anniversary month of formation$20 / 2 yrs

≈ $810/yr annualized for comparison — actual payment schedule shown above.

Five-year outlook

Fixed government fees (5 yrs)$4,130

Estimated total (5 yrs)$4,130

Varies by business — excluded from totals

LLC fee (based on total California income). Applies only when total California income is $250,000 or more; the fee ranges from $900 (income of $250,000–$499,999) to $11,790 (income of $5 million or more).

Educational estimate based on official fee schedules verified July 12, 2026 — not legal or tax advice. Fees, rules, and processing times change; confirm with the state or a qualified professional before relying on them.

The numbers behind this page

Every figure comes from the typed data record for California, verified July 12, 2026 against the sources listed at the bottom of this page.

Formation fees — California LLC
Fee	Amount	Schedule	Type
Articles of Organization filing fee	$70	One-time	Official state fee
Initial Statement of Information	$20	One-timeDue within 90 days of formation	Official state fee

† Partially verified — corroborated but not confirmed on a machine-readable official page.

Recurring & conditional obligations — California LLC
Fee	Amount	Schedule	Type
Annual franchise tax (minimum) Paid to the Franchise Tax Board, not the Secretary of State. The first-year exemption that applied to LLCs formed in 2021–2023 has expired, so new LLCs currently owe the $800 annual tax in their first year.	$800	AnnualFirst payment due by the 15th day of the 4th month after formation; then annually by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year	Official state fee
Statement of Information (biennial)	$20	Every 2 yearsDue every two years during the six-month window ending in the anniversary month of formation	Official state fee
LLC fee (based on total California income) Applies only when total California income is $250,000 or more; the fee ranges from $900 (income of $250,000–$499,999) to $11,790 (income of $5 million or more).	Varies	ConditionalEstimated fee due by the 15th day of the 6th month of the tax year when it applies	Official state fee

† Partially verified — corroborated but not confirmed on a machine-readable official page.

Filing process & processing times

File online through bizfile Online with the Secretary of State.

Processing options for California LLC filings
Option	Typical turnaround	Added fee	Notes
Standard processing (online)	3–10 business days	None	Turnaround varies with filing volume; the Secretary of State posts current processing times
24-hour expedited service	1–1 business days	$350	Available only for documents dropped off in person in Sacramento
Same-day expedited service	0–1 business days	$750	Available only for documents dropped off in person in Sacramento by 9:30 a.m.

Processing times are estimates based on currently available official guidance and change with filing volume — they are not guaranteed.

Registered agent costs

Every California LLCmust continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical in-state address. Acting as your own agent costs $0 where you meet the state's eligibility rules; commercial services typically run $100–$300 per year. The calculator uses $200 — the midpoint of that range — when you choose a hired service.

Midpoint of the typical advertised price range for national commercial registered-agent services as of July 2026 (e.g. Northwest Registered Agent $125/yr, ZenBusiness $199/yr, LegalZoom $249/yr). Budget providers advertise below this range and premium corporate-service firms above it. Serving as your own agent costs $0 where you meet state eligibility rules.

Worth knowing about California

California's $800 annual franchise tax is paid to the Franchise Tax Board and is separate from Secretary of State filing fees — it is the largest recurring cost for most small California entities.
Statements of Information can be filed online through bizfile Online; late filing can trigger a $250 penalty assessed by the Franchise Tax Board.

California LLC cost FAQs

How much does it cost to start an LLC in California?

The California Secretary of State charges $90 to file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1). Including the other required government fees that typically come due within the first year, plan on about $890 in state fees. That figure excludes optional services and any variable taxes, which depend on your circumstances.

What are the ongoing costs of an LLC in California?

California LLCs generally must pay the annual franchise tax (minimum) of $800 per year (first payment due by the 15th day of the 4th month after formation; then annually by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year) and the statement of Information (biennial) of $20 every two years (due every two years during the six-month window ending in the anniversary month of formation). In addition, LLC fee (based on total California income) may apply depending on your revenue, assets, or activity — these are variable, so they aren't included in fixed totals.

How long does it take to form an LLC in California?

Standard processing generally takes about 3–10 business days. Expedited options are available: 24-hour expedited service for $350 and same-day expedited service for $750. Processing times change with filing volume, so confirm current turnaround with the state before relying on a date.

Do I need a registered agent for an LLC in California?

Yes. Every California LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state to receive legal and official mail. You can generally act as your own agent at no cost if you meet the state's eligibility rules, or hire a commercial service — typically $100–$300 per year. Whether serving as your own agent is practical depends on your circumstances, including privacy and availability during business hours.

How does the California LLC fee work for LLCs?

Applies only when total California income is $250,000 or more; the fee ranges from $900 (income of $250,000–$499,999) to $11,790 (income of $5 million or more). Estimated fee due by the 15th day of the 6th month of the tax year when it applies. Because the amount depends on factors like revenue or assets, it is shown separately and never folded into the fixed totals above. Consult a qualified tax professional about how it may apply to you.

What this page doesn't cover

Federal, state, and local taxes beyond the fixed fees shown — income-dependent taxes are listed as variable obligations and never included in exact totals.
Business licenses, local permits, industry-specific registrations, and DBA filings.
Attorney, accountant, or filing-service fees beyond the labeled registered-agent estimate.
Whether an LLC — or California — is the right choice for your situation. FormedIn provides general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice, and nothing here recommends an entity type or formation state for any specific person.

Fees, rules, deadlines, and processing times change. Confirm current requirements with the California Secretary of State and consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or tax professional about your specific circumstances.

Sources

California data last verified July 12, 2026.

Forms, Samples and Fees — Business Entities— California Secretary of StateOfficialaccessed July 12, 2026
Limited Liability Company — Annual Tax and LLC Fee— California Franchise Tax BoardOfficialaccessed July 12, 2026
Service Options — Business Entities— California Secretary of StateOfficialaccessed July 12, 2026
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost? 2026 Guide— RegisteredAgentCost.comaccessed July 12, 2026
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?— ZenBusinessaccessed July 12, 2026