LLC service ratings · California
3 Best LLC Services in California (2026)
1. Mainstay Filing: best for formation, agent and Statement of Information on a single line
$199 a year plus the state fee, $269 due at checkout
Mainstay Filing is rated first: $199 a year includes the formation filing, the agent for service of process and the Statement of Information; renewal is $199.
Mainstay files the Statement of Information at each renewal. The state's line is $20 every two years, due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially, with $250 added if late, and Mainstay passes that fee on at cost.
On three-year sums Mainstay is $200 above California Registered Agent.ai; the wider coverage justifies that gap in the rating.
What you get
- The formation, prepared and filed for you
- A agent for service of process all year
- Statement of Information prepared and filed
- EIN application
Pros
- One $199 yearly line that includes the Statement of Information
- EIN application is in the package
- California's fee goes through at cost
- $199 on renewal with no extras
Trade-offs
- Agent renews $100 a year above California Registered Agent.ai
2. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a California LLC that will not expand
$199 to form, $99 a year for the agent, state fee extra
California Registered Agent.ai is rated second: $199 to form, state fee on top, then $99 a year for the agent.
The plan lists an in-state street address as the registered office and scans papers served there into your account.
The Statement of Information sits outside its published prices; you file it with California yourself every two years.
What you get
- Articles prepared and filed
- Agent for service of process service for year one
Pros
- A year of agent for service of process service is in the price
- Year-two agent amount: $99
- Forms the LLC for $199 plus state fees
Trade-offs
- The Statement of Information is not on its price list
- EIN application billed at $99
3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for staying local in California
$199 to form, $99 a year for the agent, state fee extra
CA Registered Agent.org is rated third: $199 to form, state fee on top, then $99 a year for the agent.
The plan lists an in-state street address as the registered office and scans papers served there into your account.
The Statement of Information sits outside its published prices; you file it with California yourself every two years.
California Registered Agent.ai and CA Registered Agent.org list identical amounts and plan features, so the ratings are close and either is a fair pick.
What you get
- Articles prepared and filed
- A year of agent for service of process service at the start
Pros
- A year of agent for service of process service is in the price
- $99 a year for the agent after year one
- Forms the LLC for $199 plus state fees
Trade-offs
- The Statement of Information is not on its price list
- EIN application billed at $99
The 3 ratings summarized
| Line | Service | Rating | Service fee | Year two | Best for | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | 9.5 | $199 | $199/yr | Formation, agent and Statement of Information on one line | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | California Registered Agent.ai | 9.3 | $199 | $99/yr | A California-only LLC counting every dollar | Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | CA Registered Agent.org | 9.2 | $199 | $99/yr | A California-only LLC counting every dollar | Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
California LLC service amounts for 2026: year one, renewal and three-year sum
| Service | Year one | Year two | Year three | Three-year sum | Statement of Information filed by them |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199 | $199 | $597 | Yes |
| California Registered Agent.ai | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 | No |
| CA Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 | No |
What decided the order
Inclusions per price decided the order in California. Of the rating, 27% is cost over years one to three, 27% is inclusions per price and 46% is renewal price and terms, fit with state rules and price clarity.
California requires a report every other year at $20, with $250 added for a late one. Mainstay's amount covers that filing while California Registered Agent.ai's does not, so coverage outweighed California Registered Agent.ai's lower three-year sum.
Each criterion and its weight is listed on How we rank.
California LLC formation: official amount and form
Filing the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) costs $70, paid to the California Secretary of State. Each service here passes that amount through at cost, added to its own.
$800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
Ongoing items for a California LLC
Plan on the Statement of Information every two years; the date is last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. State amount: $20. Late: $250 extra. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
California LLC service: your questions
What are the total costs to form an LLC in California?
$70 to the state plus $199 to the service.
What is the formation document called?
It is the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), lodged with the California Secretary of State.
Is a agent for service of process a requirement for a California LLC?
Yes. California wants a agent for service of process on file at all times, with a physical street address in the state.
Which filings recur each year for a California LLC?
One line item: the Statement of Information, every two years, due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially, fee $20.
Is the EIN application a separate charge?
Mainstay Filing includes it in the yearly price. California Registered Agent.ai and CA Registered Agent.org charge $99 separately. At the IRS the EIN itself costs nothing.
Which LLC service holds the top rating in California?
Mainstay Filing, as the California formation, the agent for service of process and the Statement of Information are bundled into $199 a year.
Source lines
- California Secretary of State (ledger date August 2026)
- California Secretary of State (ledger date August 2026)
- California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source (ledger date October 2026)
- Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01 (ledger date August 2026)
- California registered agent statute (ledger date October 2026)
- California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and timing, official source (ledger date October 2026)
- California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and timing, official source (ledger date October 2026)
- Mainstay Filing, California service page: amounts read November 12, 2026
- California Registered Agent.ai, pricing and service pages: amounts read November 12, 2026
- CA Registered Agent.org, pricing and service pages: amounts read November 12, 2026