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How much does an LLC cost in California? (2026)
Forming an LLC in California costs $70 in state filing fees. Year one comes to $890 and 5 years to $4,130, above the median state ($335). Most of the long-run cost is the annual LLC tax (Franchise Tax Board), $800 a year, on top of the Statement of Information at $20 every two years.
California LLC, 5 years
State fees, acting as your own registered agent
Year 1
Years 2 to 5
Assumes the recurring report is first due in year 1 and the minimum state tax every year from year 1. Income-based taxes and county or newspaper costs are not included.
Fees and official sources
| Fee | Amount | How often | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation filing | $70 | once | official page |
| Recurring report | $20 | every two years | official page |
| Annual LLC tax (Franchise Tax Board) | $800 | every year | official page |
Adding a registered agent
You can be your own registered agent if you have a street address in California and are there in business hours. With the lowest standalone price on our list, Harbor Compliance (registered agent) at $99 a year, the 5-year cost becomes $4,625. Compare registered agent prices.
California deadlines and late penalties
- The first Statement of Information is due within 90 days of forming the LLC, then every two years by the end of the calendar month of the original registration date.
- Not filing the Statement of Information can bring a $250 penalty, which the Franchise Tax Board collects for the Secretary of State.
What to know before you file in California
- On top of the $800 annual tax, LLCs with California-source total income above the state's threshold pay a separate LLC fee to the Franchise Tax Board, based on that income. Our totals leave it out.
- State tax: $800 annual LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board, due by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year. Plus an annual LLC fee of $900 to $11,790 based on California-source total income, due the 15th day of the 6th month. The first-year exemption applied only to LLCs organized/registered Jan 1, 2021 to Dec 31, 2023.
California compared with nearby states
California is the most expensive of this group: Arizona costs $4,080 less over 5 years. The state where you form is usually the state where the LLC does business; forming elsewhere can mean registering in both.
| State | To file | Year 1 | Average per year after | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $70 | $890 | $810 | $4,130 |
| Arizona | $50 | $50 | $0 | $50 |
| Oregon | $100 | $100 | $100 | $500 |
| Nevada | $425 | $425 | $350 | $1,825 |
Questions
- How much does it cost to start an LLC in California?
- The state filing fee is $70. Counting the recurring report and minimum state tax, year one costs $890 in state fees if you act as your own registered agent.
- How much does an LLC cost per year in California?
- After the first year, state fees average $810 a year: the Statement of Information is $20 every two years, and the annual LLC tax (Franchise Tax Board) is $800 a year.
- Is California a cheap state for an LLC?
- Over 5 years California costs $4,130 in state fees, which ranks 49 of 49 jurisdictions we have confirmed, cheapest first. The median is $335.
Sources, read verified 2026-11-15: sos.ca.gov/business-programs/cannabizfile/cannabis-forms-and-fees/limi · sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/faqs · ftb.ca.gov/forms/misc/3556.html · bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov/bizfile/welcome-letter-universal.pdf · ftb.ca.gov/file/business/types/limited-liability-company/index.html