Updated 2026-04-30 · Verified against California Secretary of State
Every California LLC and corporation must continuously maintain a registered agent under Cal. Corp. Code §17701.13. California requires that the agent’s address be a physical location within the state and that someone be available during ordinary business hours; a P.O. box alone does not qualify. The agent’s name and street address are filed with the California Secretary of State and become part of the public business record.
Formation of a California LLC involves filing the Articles of Organization with the California Secretary of State for $70, after which the entity must keep its registered agent information current and file an annual report ($20) biennially via Statement of Information (Form LLC-12). California LLCs also owe an $800 annual franchise tax to the Franchise Tax Board, separate from the Statement of Information.
| # | Service | Price/yr | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest Registered Agent | $125 | privacy-focused customers |
| 2 | ZenBusiness | $199 | new businesses bundling formation |
| 3 | LegalZoom | $249 | customers wanting brand-name support |
| 4 | Mainstay Filing | $99 | balanced value |
California-specific option: California Registered Agent.ai operates exclusively in California and specializes in same-state filings. Best for businesses that want a state-focused provider with local-only operations.
| Physical address required | Yes — must be a street address in California |
|---|---|
| P.O. box allowed | No |
| Business hours availability | Required during normal business hours |
| Resident requirement | Must be a California resident OR a business entity authorized to do business in California |
| Listed in public record | Yes — name and address are publicly searchable via California Secretary of State |
| Statute reference | Cal. Corp. Code §17701.13 |
| Filing Type | Fee | Renewal | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC formation (Articles of Organization) | $70 | biennially via Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) | $20 |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | $26 | Every 5 years | $26 |
| Registered Agent change | $30 | — | — |
| Annual Report | $20 | biennially via Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) | $20 |
Yes — if you are a California resident with a physical street address and are available during business hours.
Yes. California law requires every LLC to maintain a California-based registered agent regardless of where the owner lives.
The California Secretary of State can administratively dissolve your business after approximately 60 days of non-compliance.
Yes — file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the California Secretary of State for $30.
$50–$150 per year for commercial services; free if you self-serve.
Yes. The agent's name and address are searchable via the California Secretary of State business records.
Same-day with most commercial services; same-business-day filing if submitted online before the daily cutoff.
This page provides general information about California registered agent requirements, not legal advice. Filing fees and procedures may change; verify current details with the California Secretary of State before filing. We may receive compensation from services listed in our comparisons; this does not influence our editorial selections.