Filed electronically with the California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division by our formation team. One flat service fee. State filing fee paid separately.
California charges a mandatory $800 minimum franchise tax on every LLC, every year, whether or not the LLC earns a dollar. We show that cost up front before you commit — no surprises after formation — and handle the filing with the Secretary of State.
Eight short guides covering the filing process, costs, your EIN, agent for service of process, and annual compliance — written for California specifically.
Step-by-step process
02 / Guide Filing costsState + service breakdown
03 / Guide EIN guideFederal tax ID
04 / Guide FAQCommon questions
05 / Guide Name searchCheck availability
06 / Guide Operating agreementWhat yours should cover
07 / Guide Agent for service of processIncluded for one year
08 / Guide Annual complianceReports + deadlines
Same flat fee in every state we work in. California's state filing fee is listed separately so you know exactly what you're paying, and to whom.
Your California filing, step by step — with realistic durations based on current California Secretary of State processing.
Takes about three minutes. We ring you on the next business day to confirm ownership, California mailing address, and name availability on California Secretary of State.
Our team prepares your Articles of Organization and a custom operating agreement, then reviews both for consistency with your stated ownership and member count.
Submitted electronically via California Secretary of State. Your agent for service of process of record is our Sacramento office. Filing receipt forwarded to you the same day.
Typical online processing is five to seven business days. You get the stamped Certificate of Status by email the moment it clears the state's queue.
Federal EIN issued directly by the IRS, delivered alongside your executed operating agreement and a bank-ready welcome packet with instructions for your first deposit.
Every filing ships with the same four pieces, finished. This is what sits in your inbox when we're done.
Our team prepares, reviews, and submits your Articles directly with the California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division. Name availability checked on California Secretary of State before submission. Stamped certificate returned by email.
Your Employer Identification Number, obtained directly from the IRS once California approves your LLC. Required to open a business bank account, hire employees, or accept online payments.
Drafted for your actual ownership structure, member count, and voting rules — not a fill-in-the-blank template. Reviewed by the filer before delivery, ready for signature and bank onboarding.
One full year of agent for service of process service in California. Our Sacramento office receives service of process and state correspondence on behalf of your LLC, scans it, and forwards it to you within the hour.
California LLCs must file an annual report with the California Secretary of State every two years. The fee is $20. Miss the deadline and the state imposes a state-imposed late fee, plus the risk of administrative dissolution.
We send you reminders 60, 30, and 7 days out — every year — with a one-click link to file. No storage of your payment information between years, and no auto-charging.
A short list. Have this ready when we call and your filing goes out the same day.
Must end in "LLC," "L.L.C.," or "Limited Liability Company" and be distinguishable from other California entities. We check California Secretary of State before filing — if your first choice is taken, we'll call before submitting anything.
Required by statute. Our Sacramento office serves as your agent for service of process for the first year at no additional cost. You can switch to a different agent at any time.
Your LLC's mailing address. It can be a home address, a commercial address, or a mail-forwarding address. This becomes part of the public record on California Secretary of State.
The individual or entity who owns or manages the LLC. California allows single-member LLCs. If you have partners, we'll draft the operating agreement to reflect ownership splits and voting rights.
You can specify a future effective date up to 90 days out — useful for aligning a January 1 start for tax purposes. We'll ask on the reservation call.
Your assigned filer serves as the authorized representative for submission. You countersign the operating agreement at the end.
Reservation takes three minutes. One formation specialist. $299 flat, plus California's $70 state fee. That's it.