By StartBusinessByStatePublisher: Robert SmithResearch process
Make your California business official. Have your LLC paperwork prepared and filed so you can focus on getting your business off the ground.
- Your business name checked before filing.
- Your formation paperwork prepared and submitted.
- Your formation documents together in an online account.
$0 service fee + $70 Articles filing fee
Filing service by ZenBusiness. Choose Starter for the $0 service fee. State follow-up charges and optional services and renewals are separate.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Get the paperwork handled and your company underway
With ZenBusiness, you provide the details and its team handles the California formation filing. You get electronic documents and customer support by phone, chat and email.
Use your approved LLC records to open a company bank account, organize your ownership agreement and do business under the company name. The state-specific costs and next steps below help you plan what comes after approval.
What it costs to start a California LLC
A California LLC costs $70 to file Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the Secretary of State. Within 90 days, file the initial Statement of Information for $20. Separately, every California LLC owes the Franchise Tax Board $800 annual LLC tax—and for 2026 formations the temporary first-year exemption has expired, so budget first-year $800 unless a qualifying short-form cancellation exception applies.
Start with the California SOS business-entities fee schedule and the FTB LLC page. SOS and FTB charges are separate from anything a formation company bills you.
| Expense | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (LLC-1) | $70 | Required when forming the LLC |
| Initial Statement of Information (LLC-12) | $20 | Within 90 days after Articles filing; then biennial |
| Minimum Articles filing total | $70 | Excludes SOI, FTB tax, expedites, and optional purchases |
| Near-term SOS total (Articles + initial SOI) | $90 | Within the first 90 days |
| Annual LLC tax (FTB Form 3522) | $800 | Each tax year; first year generally due 15th day of 4th month after SOS Articles filing |
| Additional LLC fee (FTB) | $900–$11,790 | If total California income is $250,000 or more (tiered) |
| SOI late penalty | $250 | SOS penalty for failure to file Statement of Information (collected by FTB) |
| Optional certified copy | $5 | Optional; in-person special handling $15 extra (not for mail) |
Budget example: $70 Articles + $20 initial SOI + $800 first-year annual tax equals $890 in those core government charges for a typical 2026 formation—before any graduated LLC fee, city licenses, insurance, or professional help. The 2021–2023 first-year $800 exemption window is closed on current FTB guidance.
Confirm SOS expedite prices on the Service Options page before paying rush premiums beyond the base $70/$20 amounts.
Choose the services you want with your filing
Starter’s base formation service does not renew. Registered-agent service, an EIN service, an operating agreement and faster preparation are optional purchases.
The preselected website-builder trial renews at $15/month after 30 days; you can remove it at checkout. Optional Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year and renews at $199/year. Registered-agent service is listed separately at $199/year; first-year promotions may differ.
Review the services and renewal terms in your order. Provider details checked October 14, 2026 against ZenBusiness’s formation plans.
How to start your California LLC
Use your company details to get the formation paperwork prepared and submitted. Here is how the filing service works:
- Enter your business details. Choose California, your company name and the information requested for the filing.
- Review your services and order. Select Starter for the $0 base service fee. ZenBusiness prepares and submits the formation document from your answers.
- Save your approved company records. Once the filing office accepts the paperwork, use the documents to finish your banking and business setup.
Your California filing checklist and required next steps
- Check the name. Search bizfile business search and confirm the name includes “limited liability company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC” and meets Corp. Code § 17701.08 restrictions. Optional name reservation is available. Filing acceptance is not a trademark clearance.
- Gather addresses and agent details. Have the California designated-office street address (and mailing if different), agent information, and management structure ready. Do not enter someone else’s signature without permission.
- Decide who manages the company. Choose member-managed or manager-managed as required on LLC-1. Ask your bank what ownership records it needs for an account.
- File Articles of Organization. Prefer bizfile Online and pay $70. Check the current processing dates; they move. Optional expedite services exist—confirm current prices before paying premiums.
- Confirm acceptance, then file SOI and register with FTB. Save the filed Articles. File LLC-12 within 90 days ($20). Calendar the $800 annual tax due date (15th day of the fourth month after Articles filing for the first year) and later biennial SOI periods.
How long does approval take?
bizfile Online is the fastest SOS path, but processing dates still apply—do not treat payment as automatic approval. Expedite options can shorten SOS handling when purchased. A service’s preparation time is separate from California’s review. ZenBusiness lists standard preparation at 7–10 business days before state processing; state review follows the service’s preparation.
If a lease, financing, or opening date depends on the LLC, leave room for name issues, processing backlog, and the separate SOI/FTB steps. Completing an online questionnaire is not the moment the company is approved.
Can I file directly with California?
Yes. You can prepare and submit the filing yourself through the California official LLC filing service. A formation service handles preparation and submission from the information you provide. The government charges and required follow-up steps above still apply.
Choose your California agent for service of process
California requires continuous maintenance of an agent for service of process: an individual California resident with a street address, or a corporation that has complied with Corp. Code § 1505 (corporate agents are listed by name only on the Articles). A member may serve if they are a California resident individual. See Corp. Code § 17701.13 and the LLC-1 instructions on SOS forms.
Consider whether you can reliably receive legal documents at a California street address during business hours. If your work keeps you on job sites, a commercial agent may be more practical. Compare delivery procedures and renewal costs before choosing.
Plan your address use before filing. SOS records are public. The designated office address, mailing address, and agent address are separate fields. Ask which address fields the agent service covers. Supply accurate information in every field.
Statement of Information and the $800 annual LLC tax
California’s ongoing entity compliance has two parallel tracks: SOS Statements of Information and FTB annual tax (plus any LLC fee).
Statement of Information. File the initial LLC-12 within 90 days after the Articles are filed, then biennially during the applicable filing period (Corp. Code § 17702.09). The fee is $20. Missing it can trigger a $250 SOS penalty collected by FTB.
$800 annual LLC tax. Every LLC organized or doing business in California owes $800 to FTB each tax year, generally even if inactive, until the LLC is cancelled with the SOS. Pay with FTB Form 3522. First-year tax is typically due by the 15th day of the fourth month after the SOS accepts the Articles. The temporary first-year exemption for tax years beginning on/after January 1, 2021 and before January 1, 2024 has expired—treat 2026 new LLCs as owing first-year $800 unless FTB’s short-form cancellation exception applies.
If total California income reaches $250,000 or more, an additional graduated LLC fee may apply ($900 to $11,790 depending on the tier). Estimate with FTB Form 3536 and file Form 568 as required. See FTB’s LLC guidance.
Starting near year-end? Forming late in the year still starts the 90-day SOI clock and the first-year $800 due-date clock from the Articles filing date. Choose the formation date around real operations, then calendar both SOS and FTB deadlines immediately.
Get your California LLC filing underway
Put the formation paperwork in ZenBusiness’s hands. Starter has a $0 service fee plus the applicable California charges detailed above.
Continue to ZenBusiness to enter your details and review your order. Optional services and renewal details.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Put your approved LLC to work
- Document how the LLC works. California recognizes operating agreements broadly (Corp. Code § 17701.02). A written agreement is strongly advisable to set ownership, contributions, voting, and exits, and to vary certain default rules with informed consent (§ 17701.10). Do not file the OA with the SOS.Use the basic LLC operating agreement tool as a starting point.
- Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. A paid EIN service handles the application for you.
- Open your business bank account. Ask the bank for its document checklist—many California banks want filed Articles, EIN confirmation, and an operating agreement. Keep trade-name (DBA) filings consistent with contracts.
- Complete taxes and operating approvals. Formation does not issue a city business license, seller’s permit, or professional credential, and it does not by itself elect S-corporation taxation. Review IRS LLC tax classifications, FTB accounts, CDTFA sales/use tax if applicable, and local requirements for your work.
- Check the current BOI rule. As of this review, FinCEN exempts entities created in the United States from beneficial-ownership reporting. A newly created California LLC falls within that exemption. Consult FinCEN directly for the current rule.
Insurance guidance for your California business
Match coverage to your services, employees, equipment and client contracts. Start with the relevant guide:
Continue with the California business guide for the broader startup process.
California LLC questions before you start
What is the cheapest way to form a California LLC?
Articles of Organization (LLC-1) cost $70. You can file directly or use ZenBusiness Starter, which offers a $0 formation service fee plus the same $70 state fee. Budget the $20 initial Statement of Information within 90 days and the $800 Franchise Tax Board annual LLC tax—the temporary first-year exemption window has expired for 2026 formations.
Is the $800 California LLC tax due in the first year?
Yes for typical 2026 formations. FTB’s first-year exemption applied only for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021 and before January 1, 2024. New LLCs generally owe the $800 annual tax by the 15th day of the fourth month after the Articles are filed with the Secretary of State, unless a qualifying short-form cancellation exception applies.
When is the Statement of Information due?
File the initial Statement of Information (LLC-12) within 90 days after the Articles are filed, then biennially during the applicable filing period. The fee is $20. Failure can trigger a $250 penalty collected by FTB.
Does forming an LLC give me a California business license?
Formation creates the entity with the Secretary of State. City business licenses, seller’s permits, professional licenses, and tax accounts are separate steps before you open.
Can I get an EIN without buying a service?
Yes. The IRS issues EINs free. Form the LLC first, then check eligibility for the IRS online application or use its alternative application instructions.
This guide is for creating a new California LLC. If you already have an LLC formed in another state, check California’s foreign LLC registration and tax rules before creating a second company.
Page updated October 14, 2026. State-source review: September 14, 2026. ZenBusiness package terms checked October 14, 2026.