LLC Services Compared › California
The three-year cost of a California LLC (2026)
California charges $70 to file an LLC. Over three years, with a registered agent and the state’s report fees, Mainstay Filing (best overall) totals $687; the other four services total $379 to $837.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
- Prices verified October 2026
Year by year
| Service | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Service total | With state costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199 | $199 | $597 | $687 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 | $125 | $125 | $289 | $379 |
| ZenBusiness | $99 | $199 | $199 | $497 | $587 |
| Bizee | $0 | $149 | $149 | $298 | $388 |
| LegalZoom | $249 | $249 | $249 | $747 | $837 |
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, $687 over three years with California costs
- 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.
California state costs
- Filing fee
- $70 for the Articles of Organization (LLC-1), to the California Secretary of State
- Yearly state report
- Statement of Information, every two years: $20
- Other required costs
- $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
- Registered agent
- Required. 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.
California questions
What does an LLC cost in California over three years?
State costs are $90 ($70 to file, plus 1 report at $20). Adding a service and registered agent gives $379 (Northwest Registered Agent) to $837 (LegalZoom). Mainstay Filing is $687.
Does California require an annual report?
Statement of Information, every two years: $20.
Why do the services differ most after year one?
Agent pricing: Northwest Registered Agent $39 then $125 a year, Bizee free then $149, ZenBusiness $99 then $199, LegalZoom $249, Mainstay Filing $199 flat.
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
Provider prices: each company’s own pages, checked October 2026.