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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 · registered agent

3 Best Registered Agents in California (2026)

Researched and written by the Launchwise Review editorial team
For a 2026 launch in California, Launchwise Review grades registered agents this way: California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and Mainstay Filing ($149 a year). California Registered Agent.ai earns the top grade here: a flat $99 a year, with scans of papers served on the company in your account.
1
Our top pick in California

1. California Registered Agent.ai: best for the smallest annual bill we rank here

$99 a year, flat

Our mark 9.6 out of 10

Top grade, California Registered Agent.ai: $99 a year, with no jump at renewal, the lowest yearly price on this list.

California Registered Agent.ai puts its in-state street address on file as the company's registered office and scans served legal papers to you.

On a three-year bill it comes in under Mainstay Filing, and that is a heavily weighted criterion for us.

In the price

  • An in-state street address as the registered office
  • You get scans of served legal papers online

Pros

  • Costs less per year than Mainstay Filing
  • You pay $99 a year, renewals included
  • LLC formation with year-one agent service included

Less good

  • You still file the Statement of Information
  • Made for California; other states need their own agent
Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the California Registered Agent.ai launch review
2
Best for a California-only company

2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for California specialists

$99 a year, flat

Our mark 9.3 out of 10

Next up is CA Registered Agent.org: $99 a year, with no jump at renewal, the lowest yearly price on this list.

CA Registered Agent.org handles the registered office with a state street address and scans whatever is served there for you.

California Registered Agent.ai and CA Registered Agent.org post the same price and the same features, so you can choose either.

In the price

  • An in-state street address as the registered office
  • You get scans of served legal papers online

Pros

  • A lower yearly price than Mainstay Filing
  • LLC formation with year-one agent service included
  • $99 annually with no renewal bump

Less good

  • You still file the Statement of Information
  • Made for California; other states need their own agent
Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the CA Registered Agent.org launch review
3
Best all-in coverage

3. Mainstay Filing: best for all fifty states

$149 a year, flat

Our mark 9.2 out of 10

Rounding out the list is Mainstay Filing: the price stays $149 a year if you stay put or expand, and your first three government letters each year are scanned free.

Launching a new company? The $199 yearly package also takes care of the California filing and the Statement of Information.

California Registered Agent.ai is $150 lower across three years, which puts Mainstay Filing behind it on cost.

In the price

  • A street address in the state for your registered office
  • Anything served on the company scanned the same business day at no fee
  • Three letters from government offices scanned each year at no charge
  • Compliance reminders

Pros

  • Papers served on the company are scanned the same business day, free
  • $149 a year and it does not rise
  • Works for LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits
  • Your first three government letters each year are scanned free

Less good

  • The agent plan alone costs $50 a year more than California Registered Agent.ai
  • Without the formation package, you file the annual report yourself
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Mainstay Filing launch review

The 3 grades at a glance

Place Company Launch grade Per year At renewal Best fit Go
1 California Registered Agent.ai 9.6 $99 $99/yr The lowest yearly price among the picks we rank here Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 CA Registered Agent.org 9.3 $99 $99/yr The lowest yearly price among the picks we rank here Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Mainstay Filing 9.2 $149 $149/yr An agent for every state you may enter Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
The 10-point grades are editorial, built from the criteria on How we rank. They are not customer ratings.

California registered agent cost in 2026: first year, renewals, three-year total

Company Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Three years, total Renewal price matches
California Registered Agent.ai $99 $99 $99 $297 Yes
CA Registered Agent.org $99 $99 $99 $297 Yes
Mainstay Filing $149 $149 $149 $447 Yes
Prices were copied from each company's own pages on November 12, 2026. California's own fees do not change with your choice of agent.

Why California Registered Agent.ai grades first

What made the call in California was cost to launch and stay. The grading method sets cost to launch and stay at 26%, launch paperwork handled at 26% and renewal behavior, state match and price transparency at 48% combined.

California Registered Agent.ai comes to $297 over three years, $150 under Mainstay Filing. A launch that only needs an agent in California gets little from fifty-state reach, so the lower yearly price took it.

Every criterion and weight is listed on How we rank.

California agent for service of process rules, straight from California Secretary of State

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. An individual agent's California street address goes on the public record. A registered corporate agent's address is already on file with the state and is not repeated in the company's filing. Law behind it: Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13.

California Statement of Information: date and fee

Put the Statement of Information on your California calendar every two years. Count on a $20 state charge, with the deadline at last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Miss it and $250 gets added. Your agent for service of process receives the state's notices about it.

Quick answers about California registered agents

Do I have to line up a agent for service of process before launching a California LLC?

Yes. Put a agent for service of process with a physical California address on the paperwork, because the state will not accept an LLC without one.

What should I budget each year for a California registered agent?

Expect $99 to $149 a year, and each company keeps its price at renewal.

Could I just serve as my own agent for service of process?

Often yes, if you meet the state's conditions. A California resident, or a corporation registered with the Secretary of State as a corporate agent under Corporations Code § 1505. A business cannot act as its own agent for service of process.

When does the California Statement of Information come due?

Put last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially on your calendar. The state asks $20, and a late filing adds $250.

Which registered agents are graded on this page?

California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), top grade first.

Which California registered agent should a new company pick first?

California Registered Agent.ai, because a California specialist at $99 a year, supplying an in-state street address for the registered office.

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. From California Registered Agent.ai: pricing and service pages, copied November 12, 2026
  7. From CA Registered Agent.org: pricing and service pages, copied November 12, 2026
  8. From Mainstay Filing: California service page, copied November 12, 2026