Start Your LLC in California

Select your filing state to get started:

Is this your first time forming an LLC?

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Have you started doing business?

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How It Works

How it works:

1.Choose your state of formation
2.Fill out the online application
3.Pay state fees
4.Receive your formation documents

The Process of LLC Application

Creating a California LLC is the cleanest way to put a legal wall between your personal life and your business. The LLC is its own legal entity: it owns the company's assets, signs its contracts, and absorbs its debts.

Registering an LLC in California comes down to a few required steps. You choose a unique business name, appoint a registered agent with a physical California street address, and file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) to register your LLC with the California Secretary of State. FormationHub files the paperwork for you, can serve as your California registered agent, and sends your stamped formation documents back once the state approves them. Most orders are filed the same business day.

After approval, most owners get an EIN from the IRS and put an Operating Agreement in place. We can file your EIN and prepare a California-tailored Operating Agreement so your foundation is set up correctly from day one.

How Much Does an LLC Cost in California?

The $70 filing fee for your Articles of Organization goes straight to the California Secretary of State, not to us. It's low, but California also charges every LLC an $800 minimum annual franchise tax, due even in your first year and even if the business makes no money. There is also a $20 Statement of Information every two years. So the real first-year state cost is closer to $870, not $70. None of that goes to us; our own service fee is separate, added on top, and shown as its own line item before you pay, with no surprises.

California LLC FAQs

Get answers to common questions about LLC formation

An LLC, or Limited Liability Company, is a business structure that separates you personally from your business. Owners are called members, and an LLC can have one member or many. Most small business owners pick it because it's simpler to run than a corporation while still giving you legal separation between you and the business.

The main reason people form an LLC is liability protection. If your business runs into debt or gets sued, your personal assets, including your home, savings, and car, are generally separate from the business. Only what's inside the LLC is on the line. The protection isn't bulletproof (you still have to keep business and personal finances separate and file properly), but it's a meaningful legal wall you don't get as a sole proprietor.

By default, an LLC is taxed as a pass-through entity. The business itself doesn't pay federal income tax. Profits and losses pass through to the members and show up on their personal returns, which avoids the double taxation a C-corp can face. LLCs can also elect S-corporation tax treatment if it fits the owners' situation. Talk to your tax advisor about which option works best for you.

It costs $70 to file your Articles of Organization and form your California LLC. That fee is set and collected by the state of California, not by us. Our service is a separate line item you approve before paying, never folded into the state fee, and the full first-year breakdown is in the cost section above.

Yes. California charges every LLC an $800 minimum annual franchise tax, paid to the Franchise Tax Board. It is due even in your first year and even if your LLC makes no money, and it is separate from the $70 filing fee and from our service fee, it goes to the state, not to us. If your California LLC earns more than $250,000 in a year, an additional income-based fee applies on top of the $800.

No. The $70 Articles of Organization fee is set by California and required, and every California LLC also owes the $800 annual franchise tax. Services that advertise "$0 formation" still pass these state costs on to you, and often charge for registered agent service or your EIN on top. We show the full cost up front, the state fees plus our service, with nothing hidden.

The core of the process is the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) submitted to California Secretary of State. You'll need a unique business name, a registered agent with a California street address, and your business details. We collect everything we need through one online form and file it with the state on your behalf.

You'll spend about 5 to 10 minutes filling out our online form. We file with California Secretary of State the same business day, usually within hours of your order. From there, the timeline is on the state's clock, and California's processing time can vary depending on their current workload.

Yes, every California LLC needs one. The registered agent must have a physical street address inside California (P.O. boxes don't qualify), and that address can't be the same as your LLC's principal business address. The agent has to be available during normal business hours to accept legal mail. We can be your registered agent if you don't have a qualifying address.

Living in California isn't a requirement. You can form a California LLC from anywhere. What matters is that your LLC has a registered agent with a physical address inside California. We can fill that role for owners who don't have one.

Once California approves your filing, you'll receive a filed copy of your Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), the official record that your LLC exists. You can also have us file your EIN with the IRS at the same time, so you're ready to open a business bank account as soon as your filing is approved.

California requires LLCs to file an initial Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) within 90 days of formation and biennially thereafter during the applicable filing window based on the formation anniversary. We can handle that filing for you so it doesn't slip through the cracks. We'll remind you when it's due and submit it on your behalf.

California doesn't legally require one, but every LLC should have an Operating Agreement. It defines ownership percentages, profit splits, management, and what happens when members leave or join. Most banks will ask for it when you open a business account. We offer a California-tailored Operating Agreement that covers all of this. You can add it to your filing.

There's a short list of things most new owners handle next. You'll likely want an EIN from the IRS so you can open a business bank account and hire employees. Some banks ask for a certified copy of your Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), which is different from the standard filed copy you'll receive from the state. The federal Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report isn't required right now, but the rule keeps changing, and we can file it on your behalf now if you'd rather get it out of the way. Every two years, California requires you to file a report to keep your LLC in good standing. We can help with all of these.

Opening or creating an LLC in California takes a few steps. You file your formation paperwork with the California Secretary of State, name a registered agent with a California street address, and pay the state filing fee. FormationHub handles that paperwork for you, can act as your California registered agent, and gets your EIN. Most California filings are approved within a few business days. Expedited processing is available if you need your LLC sooner.

FormationHub provides document preparation and filing services for business formations. We are not a law firm, accounting firm, or government agency, and we do not offer legal, tax, or financial advice. The information on this site is for general informational purposes only. Our service handles the preparation and submission of your LLC formation documents to the appropriate state authority on your behalf. FormationHub operates independently and is not endorsed by, affiliated with, or connected to any Secretary of State office or government body. We strongly recommend consulting a qualified attorney or tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.