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Filing Verdict

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

LLC service verdict · California

3 Best LLC Services in California (2026)

Filing Verdict's 2026 verdict on LLC 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: $199 a year pays for the formation filing, a full year as your agent for service of process and the Statement of Information, renewing at $199.
The Filing Verdict editorial team
Best here
Spot 1

1. Mainstay Filing: best for formation, agent and Statement of Information for one price

$199 each year plus the state fee ($269 due at checkout)

9.5Editorial score
out of 10

Mainstay Filing wins here: the California formation, your agent for service of process and the Statement of Information all sit in a single $199 yearly charge.

Mainstay files the Statement of Information for you as part of the renewal. California charges $20 every two years, due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially, and a late filing adds $250; the state's fee is passed through at cost.

The three-year bill is $200 higher than California Registered Agent.ai's, and the wider coverage is worth that to us.

What you get

  • The formation filing, prepared and submitted for you
  • Service as your agent for service of process all year
  • The Statement of Information, prepared and filed
  • The EIN application

What we like

  • The EIN application comes with it
  • California's fee is passed through at cost
  • $199 at renewal, nothing extra
  • One $199 yearly price that includes the Statement of Information

Cons

  • From year two its agent costs $100 a year more than California Registered Agent.ai's
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. Our full Mainstay Filing verdict
Best for a California-only company
Spot 2

2. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a California LLC that plans to stay local

Formation $199, then $99 a year for the agent, plus the state fee

9.2Editorial score
out of 10

Second place goes to California Registered Agent.ai: $199 plus the California filing fee, with the first year of agent for service of process service included, then $99 a year.

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.

The Statement of Information filing is not in its published prices, so you file it with California yourself every two years.

What you get

  • Articles prepared and filed
  • Year-one agent for service of process service

What we like

  • Then $99 a year for agent service
  • A $199 service fee plus the filing fee
  • A year of agent for service of process service is part of the price

Cons

  • Does not take over the Statement of Information
  • 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
Best for a California-only company
Spot 3

3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for a local California filing

Formation $199, then $99 a year for the agent, plus the state fee

8.9Editorial score
out of 10

Third place goes to CA Registered Agent.org: $199 plus the California filing fee, with the first year of agent for service of process service included, then $99 a year.

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.

The Statement of Information filing is not in its published prices, so you file it with California yourself every two years.

California Registered Agent.ai and CA Registered Agent.org publish identical prices and plan features, so little separates them; either is a safe pick.

What you get

  • Articles prepared and filed
  • A first year of agent for service of process service

What we like

  • A $199 service fee plus the filing fee
  • A year of agent for service of process service is part of the price
  • $99 a year for the agent after year one

Cons

  • Does not take over the Statement of Information
  • 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 Filing9.5$199$199/yrFormation, agent and Statement of Information, one price Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2California Registered Agent.ai9.2$199$99/yrA California-only LLC watching its budget Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3CA Registered Agent.org8.9$199$99/yrA California-only LLC watching its budget Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Every score here is Filing Verdict's own editorial mark out of 10, set from the criteria on How we rank. No customer ratings are involved.

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

ServiceYear 1Year 2Year 3Total, 3 yearsStatement of Information handled for you
Mainstay Filing$199$199$199$597Yes
California Registered Agent.ai$199$99$99$397No
CA Registered Agent.org$199$99$99$397No
Prices were read from each company's own pages on November 12, 2026. California's $70 filing fee goes on top of every row and is not counted in these totals.

What settled the order

The method behind this ranking weighs total over three years at 35% and paperwork the price handles at 35%, with renewal behavior, match to the state and up-front pricing sharing the remaining 30%. For California, paperwork the price handles decided the order.

California wants a report every two years with a $20 state fee, and filing late adds $250. Mainstay's price includes that filing and California Registered Agent.ai's does not, so the coverage score outweighed California Registered Agent.ai's lower three-year cost.

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

California LLC filing fee and form: official figures

Filing the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) costs $70 at the California Secretary of State. Each service on this page adds that fee on top of its own price, at cost.

$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.

California LLC upkeep after the filing

The Statement of Information is filed every two years, due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. The state fee is $20. A late filing adds $250. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

California LLC service: questions answered

What does it cost to form an LLC in California?

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

Which form do I file to create the LLC?

You file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the California Secretary of State.

Does a California LLC have to name a agent for service of process?

Yes. California requires every LLC to keep a agent for service of process on file, and the agent needs a street address in the state.

Which yearly filings does a California LLC owe?

Just the Statement of Information, every two years, due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially ($20 state fee).

Does the price include the EIN application?

Mainstay Filing includes it in the yearly price. California Registered Agent.ai and CA Registered Agent.org bill $99 extra. The IRS charges nothing for an EIN.

Which LLC service is the best pick in California?

Mainstay Filing, because one $199 yearly price that files the California formation, acts as your agent for service of process and files the Statement of Information, renewing at $199.

Read next

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 other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and timing, official source, confirmed October 2026
  7. California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and timing, official source, confirmed October 2026
  8. Checked November 12, 2026: Mainstay Filing, California service page
  9. Checked November 12, 2026: California Registered Agent.ai, pricing and service pages
  10. Checked November 12, 2026: CA Registered Agent.org, pricing and service pages