What an LLC costs in California
California is cheap to file ($70) but the most expensive state to keep an LLC: an $800 minimum franchise tax is due every year, starting the first taxable year, regardless of income.
Every LLC has two kinds of cost: a one-time state filing fee to form it, and recurring costs to keep it in good standing — the annual or biennial report, any franchise/privilege tax, and a registered agent. The calculator above adds these up for your first year and over five years so you can compare California honestly against other states.
How this is calculated
- Filing fee — the standard online Articles of Organization fee, charged once.
- Report fee — California's annual or biennial report; biennial fees are shown as a per-year average.
- Franchise / privilege tax — any flat state tax an LLC owes each year regardless of income.
- Publication — a one-time newspaper-publication cost, which only New York, Arizona, and Nebraska require.
- Registered agent — $0 if you act as your own, or a yearly fee for a commercial service.
What it doesn't include: income-based taxes (e.g. gross-receipts or margin taxes that only apply above high revenue thresholds), business licenses specific to your industry, or professional fees. It's a clean baseline of the mandatory state costs.
Data as of July 2026. California filing and report fees are from the state Secretary of State, cross-checked against LLC-cost datasets. Fees change — confirm on the state's own site before filing.
LLC cost in other states
California LLC cost FAQ
How much does it cost to start an LLC in California?
It costs $70 to file the Articles of Organization for a California LLC (standard online). With first-year upkeep and acting as your own registered agent, budget roughly $880 for year one.
What are the annual LLC fees in California?
California requires a $20 report every two years, plus a flat $800/yr franchise tax. Being your own registered agent keeps the agent cost at $0; a commercial agent adds about $125/yr.
Can I be my own registered agent in California?
Yes, if you have a physical street address in California (not a PO box) and are available during business hours to receive legal mail. That makes the registered-agent cost $0. Otherwise a commercial service runs about $100-$300 per year.
This calculator is an educational estimate, not legal or tax advice. State fees change frequently — verify with the California Secretary of State before filing. Income-based and industry-specific costs are not included. Data as of July 2026.