LLC Formation Costs

LLC Formation Costs › California

How Much Does an LLC Cost in California? Year One and Every Year After

Starting a California LLC costs $70 to file ($870 with the required extras). After that, Statement of Information, every two years, $20. The state side over three years is $2,490.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026

Every cost, itemised

CostWhenAmountDetail
State filing feeOnce$70Articles of Organization (LLC-1), California Secretary of State
Statement of InformationEvery 2 years$20Statement of Information, every two years, $20
State taxYearly$800$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Registered agentYearlyfrom $149Required. 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.
ExpediteOptional+$350 to +$75024 hours +$350; 4 hours (drop-off, pre-cleared only) +$500; Same day (by 9:30 a.m.) +$750
EINOnce$0Issued free by the IRS

Over time

HorizonState sideWith Mainstay Filing
1 year$870$1,069
3 years$2,490$3,087
5 years$4,110$5,105

With Mainstay Filing: $199 a year plus the California fee at cost, covering the formation, registered agent, EIN application and annual report. It renews at the same $199.

Our pick

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year + $70 state fee

Questions

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

$70 to file, $870 with the required extras we could price. Over three years the state side is $2,490; with Mainstay Filing it is $3,087.

What is the yearly cost of a California LLC after the first year?

Statement of Information, every two years, $20. Plus $800 a year in state tax.

Sources