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Filing Verdict

Rankings of registered agents, LLC formation and foreign registration services in all 50 states.

Foreign registration verdict · California

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in California (2026)

Filing Verdict's 2026 verdict on foreign registration services in California: Mainstay Filing ($199), California Registered Agent.ai ($199) and CA Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. Mainstay Filing takes first place: it prepares the California registration for $199 and serves as your agent for service of process, free in year one, then $149 a year.
The Filing Verdict editorial team
Our top pick in California
Spot 1

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies working in several states

$199 on top of the state fee ($269 due at checkout); the agent is $149 a year from year two

9.1Editorial score
out of 10

Mainstay Filing wins here: $199 on top of the state fee, the same in any state, with the first year of agent for service of process service included.

The agent renews at $149 a year after the free first year, in this state or any other.

The three-year bill is $100 higher than California Registered Agent.ai's, and the wider coverage is worth that to us.

What you get

  • Foreign registration paperwork prepared and filed
  • Same-business-day scan and upload of served papers, no charge

What we like

  • Same-business-day scans of served papers, free
  • One price in all fifty states
  • Service fee of $199, plus the state's fee

Cons

  • After year one its agent runs $149 a year, $50 above California Registered Agent.ai
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Our full Mainstay Filing verdict
Best value here
Spot 2

2. California Registered Agent.ai: best for companies adding only California

Service fee $199, state fee extra; agent $99 yearly after year one

8.9Editorial score
out of 10

Second place goes to California Registered Agent.ai: $199 over the state fee to register in California, with the agent renewing at $99.

The plan gives the company an in-state street address as its registered office, and papers served on the company are scanned to your online account.

What you get

  • The registration filing
  • A year of agent for service of process service up front

What we like

  • First-year agent for service of process service comes with it
  • $99 per year keeps the agent from year two
  • A $199 service fee plus the registration fee

Cons

  • Covers California only; your home state needs its own agent
  • The EIN application is billed separately ($99)
Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Our full California Registered Agent.ai verdict
Low renewal
Spot 3

3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for California registrations only

$199 service fee, state fee added; $99 a year from year two

8.7Editorial score
out of 10

Third place goes to CA Registered Agent.org: $199 over the state fee to register in California, with the agent renewing at $99.

The plan gives the company an in-state street address as its registered office, and papers served on the company are scanned to your online account.

CA Registered Agent.org copies California Registered Agent.ai on price and plan features, so the order between them is a close call.

What you get

  • The registration filing
  • Year-one agent for service of process service

What we like

  • Files the registration for $199 plus fees
  • Includes the first year as your agent for service of process
  • $99 per year keeps the agent from year two

Cons

  • Covers California only; your home state needs its own agent
  • The EIN application is billed separately ($99)
Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Our full CA Registered Agent.org verdict

The 3 verdicts at a glance

No.ServiceVerdict scoreService feeYear twoBest forVisit
1Mainstay Filing9.1$199$149/yrCompanies registered in several states Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2California Registered Agent.ai8.9$199$99/yrThe lowest agent renewal here Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3CA Registered Agent.org8.7$199$99/yrThe lowest agent renewal here Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Each mark out of 10 is our own judgment from the weighted criteria on How we rank. None of it comes from customer ratings.

California foreign registration service prices for 2026: year one, renewals and three years

ServiceYear 1Year 2Year 3Total, 3 yearsAgent covered in year one
Mainstay Filing$199$149$149$497Not stated
California Registered Agent.ai$199$99$99$397Included
CA Registered Agent.org$199$99$99$397Included
Prices were read from each company's own pages on November 12, 2026. California's $70 registration fee goes on top of every row and is not counted in these totals.

The reasoning behind the order

What settled California: paperwork the price handles. The method puts 35% on total over three years, 35% on paperwork the price handles and spreads 30% across renewal behavior, match to the state and up-front pricing.

Registering in a second state involves two states, so one provider with one price in both scored best on coverage, ahead of California Registered Agent.ai.

The full list of criteria and weights is on How we rank.

California foreign LLC registration: the fee, the form and the filing office

The company registers with the California Secretary of State, Business Entities by filing the Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) (Form LLC-5). The state fee is $70. California also asks for certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, issued within 180 days of filing.

Afterwards the company files the Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 ($20), due within 90 days of registering, then every 2 years.

Before you file: a checklist

  • Certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, issued within 180 days before you file.
  • The exact legal name from the home state, and the date the company was formed there.
  • A agent for service of process with a street address in the state; each service on this page can act in that role.
  • The $70 state fee, paid with the filing.
  • A calendar entry for the Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 and its $20 fee.

What skipping California registration can cost

Until it registers, an out-of-state LLC cannot bring suit in California courts (Corp. Code 17708.07(a)).

California foreign registration service: questions answered

Does California require an out-of-state LLC to register?

Yes, once it transacts business there. Until it registers, it cannot bring suit in the state's courts.

What does foreign registration cost in California?

The state fee is $70, and the service fee is $199.

Which form does California use for foreign registration?

Use the Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) (Form LLC-5), filed with the California Secretary of State, Business Entities.

Does California want a certificate from my home state?

Yes. It asks for certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, issued within 180 days of filing.

Is a agent for service of process required once I have registered?

Yes. The company still needs a agent for service of process here, with a street address in the state.

Which foreign registration service is the best pick in California?

Mainstay Filing, because $199 plus the state's own fee, with the agent for service of process free for the first year and one price in every state.

See also

Sources and dates

  1. California Secretary of State, confirmed August 2026
  2. California Secretary of State, confirmed August 2026
  3. California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source, confirmed October 2026
  4. Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01, confirmed August 2026
  5. California registered agent statute, confirmed October 2026
  6. California Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms, confirmed October 2026
  7. Form LLC-5, confirmed October 2026
  8. Corporations Code section 17708.03, confirmed October 2026
  9. Revenue and Taxation Code section 19135, confirmed October 2026
  10. Franchise Tax Board, LLC filing requirements, confirmed October 2026
  11. California Corporations Code 17708.07, confirmed November 2026
  12. Checked November 12, 2026: Mainstay Filing, California service page
  13. Checked November 12, 2026: California Registered Agent.ai, pricing and service pages
  14. Checked November 12, 2026: CA Registered Agent.org, pricing and service pages