California Registered Agent Guide (2026): Rules, Fees and the 3 Best Agents
For registered agent service in California (2026), the order we'd use is CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), Mainstay Filing ($149 a year) and California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year). California requires an agent for service of process for every LLC. Yearly state fees run $810, which ranks 50th of 50.
California agent for service of process requirements (official, Secretary of State)
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. An individual agent's California street address goes on the public record. A registered corporate agent's address is already on file with the state and is not repeated in the company's filing.
Who qualifies: A California resident, or a corporation registered with the Secretary of State as a corporate agent under Corporations Code § 1505. A business cannot act as its own agent for service of process. Statute: Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13.
What California charges each year
$20 every two years for the Statement of Information, due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially; the state writes about it to your agent for service of process's address. $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.
What decided the order
Service fees over three years is worth 35% of the score, and it put CA Registered Agent.org ahead of Mainstay Filing here.
Over three years CA Registered Agent.org charges $297 in service fees, $150 less than Mainstay Filing.
California questions answered
Does California require an agent for service of process?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Who can serve as the agent for service of process?
A California resident, or a corporation registered with the Secretary of State as a corporate agent under Corporations Code § 1505. A business cannot act as its own agent for service of process.
How much does a registered agent cost in California?
The agents we'd use charge $99 to $149 a year.
What does the LLC pay the state each year?
$810 a year on our measure: the Statement of Information ($20 every two years) plus the minimum tax.
Which registered agents are on this page?
CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), Mainstay Filing ($149 a year) and California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), in the order shown.
Which registered agent would you pick?
CA Registered Agent.org first: $99 yearly for a California agent with an in-state office address. Then Mainstay Filing and California Registered Agent.ai.