California LLC Cost (2026)

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Not legal or tax advice. Confirm current fees on the linked official sources before you file.

Quick cost snapshot

Formation filing$70Articles of Organization (LLC-1)

Statement of Information$20Initial within 90 days; then every 2 years

Annual tax (FTB)$800Due even with little or no income

Name reservation$10Optional

Fees checked: October 27, 2026 (America/New_York). Always confirm on the linked official pages before you file.

Formation filing fee

Filing Articles of Organization with the California Secretary of State costs $70. Online filing is available through bizfileOnline.

Optional certified copy: $5 (per SOS form LLC-1 cover sheet).
In-person special handling (paper, excluding Statements of Information): $15.

Source: California SOS LLC forms and fees; Form LLC-1; Gov. Code § 12190.

Name reservation

Reserving an LLC name costs $10 (Gov. Code § 12190(a)). Optional.

Statement of Information (biennial report)

California LLCs must file a Statement of Information for $20:

Initial statement due within 90 days of registration.
Then every two years thereafter.

Source: California SOS LLC fees.

Franchise / privilege tax

Every LLC organized or doing business in California generally must pay an $800 annual tax to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), in addition to any income-based LLC fee if California income exceeds thresholds.

First-year annual tax is typically due by the 15th day of the 4th month after the taxable year begins (or after SOS filing for the first year).
The temporary first-year $800 exemption applied only to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021 and before January 1, 2024 — it does not apply to LLCs formed in 2026.

Source: FTB — Limited liability company (page last updated March 5, 2026).

Registered agent

California LLCs must designate an agent for service of process (an individual California resident or a registered corporate agent). A commercial registered agent is optional but common if you do not want a personal address on the public record. Commercial agent fees vary by provider (often roughly $100–$300/year; not a state fee).

Publication requirement

None for California LLCs (unlike New York).

Expedite fees

Online filings through bizfileOnline are generally prioritized over paper. Confirm current processing times on the SOS processing dates page. In-person special handling for many paper submissions is $15.

First-year cost estimate

Assumptions: domestic California LLC, calendar year, DIY filing online, first Statement of Information filed in year 1, $800 FTB annual tax owed in year 1, optional name reservation not used, no certified copies, commercial registered agent optional.

Approach	Rough first-year total
DIY (state fees only)	~$890 ($70 filing + $20 Statement of Information + $800 FTB tax)
DIY + commercial registered agent	~$990–$1,190 (adds typical agent service; not a state fee)
With a formation service	State fees above plus the service’s package price (packages vary; state fees are still owed to California)

These are planning estimates, not quotes. Tax and fee rules can change; verify with FTB and SOS.

FAQ

Is the $800 tax due in the first year?

For LLCs formed in 2026, yes in general — the temporary first-year exemption ended for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2024. See the FTB LLC page.

Do I need an annual report every year?

The SOS Statement of Information is due initially within 90 days, then every two years ($20). The FTB $800 annual tax is yearly.

Can I be my own registered agent?

An individual California resident can serve as agent. Many organizers still hire a commercial agent for privacy and reliability. This is not legal advice.

Sources

Checked October 27, 2026.