California LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | California amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $70 |
| Statement of Information (LLC-12) | $20 every two years |
| When it is due | Within 90 days of formation, then every two years |
| State tax on the LLC | $800 annual tax, plus an LLC fee from $250,000 of California income |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $890 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $800 |
| Registered agent | Required. Free if you act as your own; commercial services charge a yearly fee |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 |
Fees verified October 2026 against the California Secretary of State and other official California sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in California?
The California Secretary of State charges $70 to file Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1). Paper filings dropped off in person add a $15 handling fee.
The $70 is the smallest part of the cost. Within 90 days you file a $20 Statement of Information, and by the 15th day of the fourth month after formation you pay the first $800 annual tax to the Franchise Tax Board. An LLC formed on 10 October 2026 pays its first $800 by 15 January 2027.
Expedited processing costs $350 for 24-hour service and $750 for same-day service. A name reservation costs $10 and holds the name for 60 days.
Our walkthrough on how to file articles of organization in California covers the form field by field.
How much does a California LLC cost every year?
Every California LLC pays the $800 annual tax to the Franchise Tax Board every year, whether or not it earns money. It is due by the 15th day of the fourth month of the tax year, which is 15 April for a calendar-year LLC.
The first-year exemption that let new LLCs skip the $800 covered only tax years 2021 to 2023. It has expired, and new LLCs pay from year one.
On top of the $800, the Statement of Information costs $20 every two years. Together these make California one of the most expensive states to keep an LLC in: $2,510 in state fees over three years at the minimum.
What does a California LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees a California LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts California charges. The second column adds the BusinessAnywhere registered agent service, which is free for the first year and $147 a year after that.
| Year | State fees only | With a registered agent service |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $890 | $890 |
| Year 2 | $800 | $947 |
| Year 3 | $820 | $967 |
| Three-year total | $2,510 | $2,804 |
Year 3 includes the second $20 Statement of Information. The figures assume California income under $250,000; above that, add the LLC fee each year.
Does California charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
Yes. California charges an $800 annual tax on every LLC, plus an LLC fee once total California income reaches $250,000.
The LLC fee is $900 for $250,000 to $499,999 of total California income, $2,500 for $500,000 to $999,999, $6,000 for $1 million to $4,999,999, and $11,790 for $5 million and over. It is estimated and paid by the 15th day of the sixth month of the tax year.
California also taxes members on their share of California-source profit at personal income tax rates. An LLC formed in another state but doing business in California registers as a foreign LLC for $70 and owes the same $800 annual tax.
How much does a registered agent cost in California?
Every California LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in California. Acting as your own agent costs nothing, but your address goes on the public record and you must be available at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services charge a yearly fee for the same role.
The BusinessAnywhere registered agent service is free for the first year and $147 a year after that, with every document scanned to your online dashboard the day it arrives.
See whether BusinessAnywhere can be your registered agent in California for the state-specific details.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does a California LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. A California LLC needs one to hire employees, to open a business bank account and whenever it has more than one member. US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply through the IRS online EIN application and receive the number at the end of the session.
Founders outside the United States cannot use the online tool. They apply by phone, fax or post with IRS Form SS-4, and do not need an SSN to do it. The BusinessAnywhere EIN application service handles that process for $97. Our guide on how to obtain an EIN for your LLC covers both routes.
What other California LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the California state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $10 for 60 days | |
| Expedited filing | $350 for 24-hour, $750 same day | 4-hour service ($500) is drop-off only with preclearance. |
| Certificate of good standing | $5 | California calls it a Certificate of Status. |
| Certified copy | $5 per document | |
| Amending the articles | $30 | Certificate of Amendment, LLC-2. |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | Set by each county | A Fictitious Business Name Statement is filed with the county clerk, not the state. |
| Changing registered agent | $0 | File an updated Statement of Information. |
| Foreign LLC registration | $70 | Form LLC-5; the $800 annual tax also applies. |
| Reinstatement after dissolution | Handled by the Franchise Tax Board | Revivor requires filing all missing returns and paying taxes owed. |
A California DBA is filed as a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the county clerk, not the state, so the fee depends on your county.
An operating agreement carries no state fee in California, and California does not collect it, but every LLC should have one to set out ownership and decision rights. BusinessAnywhere sells an operating agreement template for $97.
What happens if you miss a California LLC deadline?
A late Statement of Information carries a $250 penalty from the Secretary of State. A late $800 payment adds Franchise Tax Board penalties and interest.
An LLC that keeps missing its tax payments is suspended by the Franchise Tax Board, and a suspended LLC loses the right to use its name and to defend itself in court. Revivor requires filing every missing return and paying all tax, penalties and interest owed.
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in California sets out the steps.
How does California compare with other states?
California is cheap to form in and the most expensive state to keep an LLC in at the low end. Its $70 formation fee is below the national median, but the $800 annual tax is the highest flat yearly charge in the country.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $70 | $800 | $800 annual tax from year one |
| Nevada LLC cost | $425 | $350 | $200 business license every year |
| Wyoming LLC cost | $100 | $60 | $60 minimum license tax, no income tax |
| Delaware LLC cost | $110 | $400 | $400 flat annual tax due 1 June |
| Texas LLC cost | $300 | $0 | $300 to form, $0 yearly under $2.65M revenue |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form a California LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your California LLC for $0 plus the $70 state fee. The filing comes with a free first year of registered agent service, so your first-year cost is the state fee and nothing else.
- Formation: $0 service fee plus the California filing fee.
- Registered agent: free for the first year, then $147 a year.
- EIN application: $97, with no SSN required for non-US founders.
- Compliance reminders: every California deadline on this page tracked in your dashboard.
- Virtual mailbox: a US street address with mail scanning, from $20 a month.
Start with our LLC formation service, or read the full guide on how to start an LLC in California first.
California LLC cost FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in California?
It costs $70 to file Articles of Organization, but the first-year total is at least $890: the $70 filing fee, a $20 Statement of Information and the $800 annual tax due by the 15th day of the fourth month.
Do California LLCs pay $800 in the first year?
Yes. The first-year exemption applied only to LLCs for tax years 2021 to 2023. LLCs formed in 2026 pay the $800 annual tax from their first year.
When is the California $800 LLC tax due?
The first payment is due by the 15th day of the fourth month after the LLC files with the Secretary of State. After that it is due by the 15th day of the fourth month of each tax year, 15 April for calendar-year LLCs.
What is the California LLC fee?
An additional annual fee based on total California income: $900 from $250,000, $2,500 from $500,000, $6,000 from $1 million and $11,790 from $5 million. LLCs under $250,000 pay no LLC fee.
When does a California LLC file a Statement of Information?
Within 90 days of formation and every two years after. The fee is $20, and a late filing carries a $250 penalty.
Can I avoid the $800 by forming in another state?
No, if the LLC does business in California. It must register as a foreign LLC and pays the same $800 annual tax, on top of the fees in its home state.
Sources
- California Secretary of State, domestic LLC forms and fees
- California Franchise Tax Board, limited liability company
- California Secretary of State, Statement of Information LLC-12
- Official California source: Name reservation fee
- Official California source: Expedited filing fee
- Official California source: Certificate of good standing fee
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the California Secretary of State before you file.
