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Researched and written by the Launchwise Review editorial team
Launchwise Review

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

Launch guide · California · LLC service

3 Best LLC Services in California (2026)

Researched and written by the Launchwise Review editorial team
For a 2026 launch in California, Launchwise Review grades LLC services this way: CA Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and California Registered Agent.ai ($199). CA Registered Agent.org earns the top grade here: it forms the LLC in California for $199 over the state's fee, with the agent for service of process free for year one, and keeps the agent for $99 a year.
1
Best here

1. CA Registered Agent.org: best for a California LLC that wants to stay close to home

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

Our mark 9.3 out of 10

Top grade, CA Registered Agent.org: $199 for formation plus the state fee, then $99 yearly for the agent.

You get an in-state street address for the registered office, and any papers served on the company are scanned into your online account.

The Statement of Information is not in its published price, so that task stays on your list with California, due every two years.

Add up three years and it lands below Mainstay Filing; cost is one of our two biggest criteria.

In the price

  • The formation filing
  • Your agent for service of process for year one

Pros

  • The agent costs $99 a year after year one
  • Formation costs $199 before state fees
  • Free agent for service of process service in year one

Less good

  • No Statement of Information filing in the price
  • EIN application costs extra ($99)
Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the CA Registered Agent.org launch review
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All-in price

2. Mainstay Filing: best for formation, agent and Statement of Information wrapped into one price

$199 yearly, state fee billed on top ($269 at checkout in all)

Our mark 9.0 out of 10

Next up is Mainstay Filing: $199 a year covers the California filing, agent for service of process duty for the year and the Statement of Information; it renews at $199.

When renewal comes, Mainstay prepares and files the Statement of Information so it is off your list. The California fee is $20 every two years, with a last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially deadline, and being late adds $250; Mainstay passes the fee along at cost.

CA Registered Agent.org is $200 lower across three years, which puts Mainstay Filing behind it on cost.

In the price

  • Preparation and filing of the formation document
  • Your agent for service of process all year
  • Statement of Information, prepared and filed each cycle
  • Your EIN application, done for you

Pros

  • A single $199 yearly price that covers the Statement of Information
  • Your EIN application is included
  • Renews at $199 without add-ons
  • California's fee goes through at cost

Less good

  • After year one the agent portion is $100 a year above CA Registered Agent.org's
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Mainstay Filing launch review
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Best value here

3. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a launch that stays in California

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

Our mark 8.9 out of 10

Rounding out the list is California Registered Agent.ai: $199 for formation plus the state fee, then $99 yearly for the agent.

You get an in-state street address for the registered office, and any papers served on the company are scanned into your online account.

The Statement of Information is not in its published price, so that task stays on your list with California, due every two years.

Nothing in the published price or features separates CA Registered Agent.org from California Registered Agent.ai; go with whichever you like.

In the price

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

Pros

  • Then $99 a year to keep the agent
  • Formation costs $199 before state fees
  • Free agent for service of process service in year one

Less good

  • No Statement of Information filing in the price
  • EIN application costs extra ($99)
Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the California Registered Agent.ai launch review

The 3 grades at a glance

Place Company Launch grade Service price Second year Best fit Go
1 CA Registered Agent.org 9.3 $199 $99/yr A California launch on a tight budget Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Mainstay Filing 9.0 $199 $199/yr Formation, agent and Statement of Information wrapped into one price Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 California Registered Agent.ai 8.9 $199 $99/yr A California launch on a tight budget Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Each grade out of 10 reflects our editors' reading of the weighted criteria on How we rank, not a customer rating.

California LLC service cost in 2026: first year, renewals, three-year total

Company Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Three years, total Files the Statement of Information for you
CA Registered Agent.org $199 $99 $99 $397 No
Mainstay Filing $199 $199 $199 $597 Yes
California Registered Agent.ai $199 $99 $99 $397 No
Prices were copied from each company's own pages on November 12, 2026. Add California's $70 filing fee to any row; it is not in the totals.

Why this order

Launchwise Review puts 26% on cost to launch and stay and 26% on launch paperwork handled, then spreads 48% over renewal behavior, state match and price transparency. For California, the call came down to cost to launch and stay.

CA Registered Agent.org comes to $397 over three years, $200 under Mainstay Filing. Mainstay would file the Statement of Information too, but an owner can handle it alone for the state fee, so the lower price took this page.

Every criterion and weight is listed on How we rank.

Launching in California: the state filing fee and form

Plan on $70 at the California Secretary of State when you file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1). Each company below adds that state fee at cost.

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

Your California LLC after launch: the upkeep list

Next on the list: the Statement of Information, every two years, due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Set aside $20 for the state. Late filing adds $250. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Quick answers about California LLC services

What will it cost to launch an LLC in California?

The state filing fee is $70; add a service fee of $199.

Which form starts the LLC?

Look for the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) at the California Secretary of State.

Is a agent for service of process required on the California formation form?

Yes. You name one on the formation form and keep one on file, with a street address in California.

What stays on the to-do list after the LLC is launched?

The Statement of Information is the recurring item, filed every two years with a last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially deadline and a $20 state charge.

Will the EIN application be handled in this price?

Mainstay Filing folds it into the yearly price. The application runs $99 at CA Registered Agent.org and California Registered Agent.ai. Founders can also get an EIN from the IRS directly, with no fee.

Which service is the best start for a new California LLC?

CA Registered Agent.org, because California formation at $199 on top of the state fee, year-one agent for service of process service included, then $99 a year.

More from us

Sources and dates

  1. California Secretary of State, dated August 2026
  2. California Secretary of State, dated August 2026
  3. California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source, dated October 2026
  4. Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01, dated August 2026
  5. California registered agent statute, dated October 2026
  6. California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and timing, official source, dated October 2026
  7. California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and timing, official source, dated October 2026
  8. From CA Registered Agent.org: pricing and service pages, copied November 12, 2026
  9. From Mainstay Filing: California service page, copied November 12, 2026
  10. From California Registered Agent.ai: pricing and service pages, copied November 12, 2026