LLC for Beginners

LLC for Beginners › California

Forming an LLC in California for the first time

The California filing fee is $70. For a beginner the best service is Mainstay Filing: $199 a year covers the filing, agent, EIN application and the annual report, so year 1 comes to $269.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026

Your California checklist

  1. File the Articles of Organization (LLC-1). $70 to the California Secretary of State.
  2. Registered agent. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. Mainstay Filing includes it.
  3. EIN. Free from the IRS; included in the application Mainstay Filing prepares.
  4. Operating agreement. Write one even for a single owner. No upcharge at Mainstay Filing.
  5. Annual report. Statement of Information, every two years, $20. Due: Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially.
  6. Anything else. $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Best for beginners

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year + $70 state fee

  • 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.

Total for the first three years

$687 with Mainstay Filing, state fees included. Others: Northwest Registered Agent $379; ZenBusiness $587; Bizee $388; LegalZoom $837 (these totals leave out any charge for filing the annual report).

Questions

What is the best LLC service for a beginner in California?

Mainstay Filing. First year $269 including the $70 California filing fee; $219 in year 2.

Can a beginner file an LLC in California without a service?

Yes: file the Articles of Organization (LLC-1) with the California Secretary of State for $70. Required registered agent: 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.

Sources