California LLC cost: filing fee, annual costs & how to form
Forming an LLC in California costs $890 in state charges in the first year, then about $810 a year to maintain. Here is every state charge, the deadlines, typical processing times, and the formation steps in order.
California LLC cost summary
| Articles of Organization | $70 |
| Initial Statement of Information (due within 90 days) | $20 |
| Recurring charge (Statement of Information: within 90 days of filing, then every 2 years by the end of the anniversary month) | $20 every 2 years |
| Franchise / minimum tax | $800 / year |
| First-year total (state charges) | $890 |
| Ongoing cost per year | $810 |
| Foreign LLC registration (if formed elsewhere) | $70 |
Totals exclude optional costs: a hired registered agent (~$100–$300/yr), publication where required, and expedited processing.
Deadlines & processing
| Filing office | California Secretary of State (bizfile Online) |
| Recurring due pattern | Statement of Information: within 90 days of filing, then every 2 years by the end of the anniversary month |
| Standard processing | Online Articles of Organization are typically processed in 3–5 business days (Bizee’s California filing guide). Counter and expedited services cost extra — one guide cites $350 for 24-hour and $750 for same-day processing. |
Run your own numbers
The calculator on the homepage totals any state’s filing fee, recurring charges, and franchise-tax minimum — with optional registered agent service added: Open the LLC cost calculator →
How to form an LLC in California, step by step
- Check name availability in the California Business Search.
- File Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) online — $70.
- Within 90 days, file the initial Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) — $20. Missing it triggers a $250 penalty.
- Pay the $800 annual franchise tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522) by the 15th day of the 4th month after formation — April 15 for calendar-year filers.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS; register with the CDTFA for a seller’s permit if you sell taxable goods, and with the EDD if you hire employees.
- Every two years, file an updated Statement of Information ($20) by the end of the anniversary month.
California quirks that change the real cost
- The $800 annual tax applies to every California LLC regardless of profit — even a dormant LLC owes it until formally dissolved.
- California LLCs also pay an additional gross-receipts-based fee (Form FTB 3536) starting at $900 once California income passes $250,000 — on top of the $800.
- A first-year $800 waiver applied to LLCs formed in 2021–2023; whether any waiver applies to a 2026 formation should be confirmed with the FTB before relying on it.
Registered agent: hire one or be your own?
A commercial agent typically costs $100–$300 a year; acting as your own is free if you meet the address rules. The full cost guide: Registered agent cost guide →
First-year cost, in one view
Year one in California: $70 to file, plus $20 for the required first-year filings, plus $800 of franchise/minimum tax = $890. From year two, budget $810 a year (the $20 biennial charge averaged across years), plus a registered agent if you hire one. Operating in California but formed elsewhere? Registration as a foreign LLC costs $70 — see the foreign LLC guide.
Other state guides
TexasFloridaNew YorkWyomingDelawareNevadaArizonaColorado
Educational information only. LLC Cost Guide is not a law firm, accounting firm, or filing service, and nothing on this page is legal or tax advice. Fees and deadlines change; confirm the current figures with your Secretary of State (or Division of Corporations) before filing, and consult a licensed attorney or CPA for advice about your specific situation.