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LLC Formation in California: Cost, Steps & How to File

In California, the hard part of an LLC formation is usually finding the right office — not the form. That office is named below, followed by the general US process and the typical cost range of $50–$500.

California filing fee
$70
State fee, every 2 years
$20
Typical timeline
1–20 days
Who needs it
anyone starting a business as a legal entity

Depending on the state this recurring amount is called an annual report fee, a franchise tax, or a business privilege fee. It is the amount an LLC pays the state to stay in good standing. In California it is charged every two years, not annually.

What we verified for California

Every figure in this box was found on the page linked underneath it, by machine, on 9 August 2026 — we publish no number we could not locate on the government page we cite. It is the part of this page that is actually about California; the process, documents and ranges further down are the national pattern.

Issuing office
California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division
Fee
$70
Renewal fee
$20

Source

Who issues an LLC Formation in California

In California, an LLC formation is issued by the office below. That is the office to confirm every figure with.

Starting point for anything else in California: the state business portal, https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov. It is a starting point, not the issuer of this permit.

The general US process

This sequence is the shape the process takes across the US. It is not a list of California requirements, and no step here should be read as one — the issuing office named above sets the actual requirements.

  1. Step 1: Pick a name and check it against the state's business-entity register — most states let you search this online for free.
  2. Step 2: Name a registered agent with a physical street address in the state; a PO box is generally not accepted.
  3. Step 3: File the formation document — usually called Articles of Organization or a Certificate of Formation — with the state's business-filing office.
  4. Step 4: Pay the state filing fee. This is the one figure on this page that we do hold per state, shown above.
  5. Step 5: Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free, online, and usually issued immediately.
  6. Step 6: Open a business bank account in the LLC's name using the EIN and the filed formation document.
  7. Step 7: Write an operating agreement. A handful of states require one; in the rest it is optional and still worth having.

What varies: the filing fee, the name of the form, how often the state wants a report, and whether the state adds its own publication or franchise-tax step. New York, for example, adds a newspaper publication requirement.

Documents usually asked for

A typical list, not a California checklist.

Heads up: Once you've filed, keep a copy in your business records. Proof of a filing gets asked for at awkward moments — an audit, a tax filing, a related application — and reproducing a lost one costs more than the original did.

Related permits in California

Business License in CaliforniaSales Tax Registration in CaliforniaEmployer Registration in CaliforniaDBA Filing in California

LLC Formation in states bordering California

Rules stop at the state line — same permit, each state bordering California:

LLC Formation in ArizonaLLC Formation in NevadaLLC Formation in Oregon

See LLC Formation in all 50 states & DC →

Frequently asked questions

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

California's formation filing fee is $70. On top of that, the recurring amount to stay in good standing is $20 every two years. Expedited processing, a registered agent service and a name reservation cost extra. Some states add their own steps with their own costs.

Does California charge a recurring fee for an LLC?

Yes — $20 every two years. Depending on the state this recurring amount is called an annual report fee, a franchise tax, or a business privilege fee. It is the amount an LLC pays the state to stay in good standing. Confirm the amount and the due date with the office linked above; due dates commonly key off your formation date.

Who issues an LLC filing in California?

California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division. The state office named at the top of this page.

What is California-specific on this page: the issuing office, the two California fees, every figure in the verified California box, each one located on the government page it cites. Everything else — the numbered process, the document list, the cost and timeline — is the general US pattern, not a California rule, and is labelled that way above. Requirements, fees and deadlines are set by the issuing office; confirm with it before you file or pay.