California LLC Cost

How Much Does an LLC Cost in California?

Complete 2026 cost breakdown for forming and maintaining an LLC in California — state filing fees, annual compliance costs, hidden fees, and how to save money.

Total 1st-year cost for an LLC in California

~$190

State filing + registered agent + annual report (if required)

Complete Cost Breakdown

Item	Cost	When
State filing fee	$70	One-time at formation
Registered agent (year 1)	~$100	Annually
EIN (IRS)	Free	One-time
Operating Agreement	Free (FormifyAI)	One-time
BOI report (FinCEN)	Free	Within 30 days of formation
Annual report	$20	Year 2+ annually
Total 1st-year cost	~$190	All-in

Hidden Costs to Watch For in California

$800/yr minimum franchise tax (Form 568) — due even with $0 revenue
LLC gross receipts fee: $0-$11,790 based on revenue tiers above $250K
Statement of Information biennial filing: $20
Local business license fees vary by city ($50-$500 typical)

How to Save Money on Your California LLC

File in your home state

Forming in California while living elsewhere means paying fees in both states plus foreign qualification. If you operate in California, file there locally.

Get your EIN directly from the IRS

The IRS charges $0. Any service charging $100+ for "expedited EIN" is upcharging — unless you specifically need international expediting.

Use a commercial registered agent

~$100/yr is cheaper than a PO Box + mail forwarding + missing service of process. Your home address also stays off public records.

Skip third-party LLC kits

Physical LLC binders and seal kits are a relic. Operating agreements are digital. Save the $50-$200.

Bundle formation services

FormifyAI bundles state filing + RA + operating agreement + EIN + BOI filing for one monthly fee — often cheaper than buying each separately.

Ongoing Annual Costs (Year 2+)

State annual report$20/yr

Registered agent~$100/yr

Ongoing minimum$120/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in California?

The state filing fee in California is $70, plus a $20 annual report fee. Including a registered agent (~$100/yr), expect total 1st-year costs around $190. FormifyAI starts at $39/month annual, which includes the state filing, registered agent, operating agreement, and EIN.

What are the ongoing annual costs for an LLC in California?

Year 2+ expect $20/yr annual report fee + ~$100/yr for a registered agent. Total minimum ongoing: $120/yr. Additional costs may include bookkeeping, tax preparation, and any industry-specific licensing.

Are there any hidden fees when forming an LLC in California?

California has several compliance costs beyond the base filing fee: $800/yr minimum franchise tax (Form 568) — due even with $0 revenue; LLC gross receipts fee: $0-$11,790 based on revenue tiers above $250K. Always budget an extra 20-30% for unexpected compliance, banking, accounting, and industry-specific licensing costs in your first year.

How long does it take to form an LLC in California?

Standard processing in California takes 5-10 business days. Expedited processing is available in most states for an additional fee (same-day to 24-hour). FormifyAI submits your filing within 24 hours of signup.

Can I form an LLC in California myself to save money?

You can file directly with the California Secretary of State, but you'll still pay the $70 filing fee plus need to handle your own registered agent, operating agreement, EIN application, and BOI report. FormifyAI bundles all of these at $39/month annual (less than $500 first-year total including state fees), which is often cheaper than buying each service separately.

California resources

Cost calculators

Ready to form your California LLC?

FormifyAI bundles the California state filing, registered agent, EIN, operating agreement, and BOI report. Starting at $39/month with annual billing.

Start your LLC See pricing

Item

Cost

When

State filing fee

$70

One-time at formation

Registered agent (year 1)

~$100

Annually

EIN (IRS)

Free

One-time

Operating Agreement

Free (FormifyAI)