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Formation Math LLC service costs, worked out step by step.

LLC formation worksheets · California

3 Best LLC Services in California (2026): Worked Prices

The 2026 math for California LLC formation services gives Mainstay Filing ($199), CA Registered Agent.org ($199) and California Registered Agent.ai ($199), ranked best value first. The service rows total $397 to $597 over three years; California separately charges $70 to file, whoever does it.
Worked by the Formation Math editorial team

↓ Sorted by: Cost first (42%), items covered second (28%), three smaller checks after. See the working

Results box

State fee to file $70 leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (checked August 2026) as the source
Year-one totals $199 Excludes the state
Three-year range $397 to $597 First year + 2 renewals
State sum, years 1 to 3 $2,490 Filing + reports + any tax
Year the lines meet Does not occur No change in order

Worksheet: California

Ranked by score; every price comes from a company page. The $70 state fee is left out of the rows.

1
Row one

1. Mainstay Filing: best for paying once for filing and upkeep

$199 per year, renewing at $199
Year-1 price $199
Price after year 1 $199/yr
Sum of 3 years $597

Mainstay Filing takes row one because $199 a year pays for the filing, the agent for service of process and the Statement of Information, so year two is $199 again.

Its three-year total is $200 higher than CA Registered Agent.org's, and the extra paperwork it covers is worth more than that in the score.

It files the Statement of Information for you, and the $20 state fee is passed on at cost.

The price buys

  • The LLC formation filing
  • Agent for service of process, covered all year
  • Statement of Information, filed when due
  • EIN application, handled
  • State fee charged at cost

Adds up

  • $199 in year two
  • EIN application is part of the price
  • $199 for the whole bundle

Does not add up

  • Yearly premium over CA Registered Agent.org: $100
2
Local row

2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for the smallest three-year sum

Year 1: $199. Year 2 on: $99.
Year-1 price $199
Price after year 1 $99/yr
Sum of 3 years $397

CA Registered Agent.org scores second. Working: three years add up to $397 because the renewal is only $99.

Its price stops before the Statement of Information.

The price buys

  • Articles of organization, prepared and filed
  • Year-one agent service

Adds up

  • Then $99 a year
  • $199 over the state fee
  • Agent service free in year one

Does not add up

  • Filing the Statement of Information is left to you
  • $99 extra for EIN help
3
Local row

3. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a second in-state filer

Year 1: $199. Year 2 on: $99.
Year-1 price $199
Price after year 1 $99/yr
Sum of 3 years $397

California Registered Agent.ai scores third. Working: three years add up to $397 because the renewal is only $99.

Its price stops before the Statement of Information.

No difference in price from CA Registered Agent.org.

The price buys

  • Articles of organization, prepared and filed
  • Year-one agent service

Adds up

  • Then $99 a year
  • $199 over the state fee
  • Agent service free in year one

Does not add up

  • Filing the Statement of Information is left to you
  • $99 extra for EIN help

Totals after 1, 2, 3 and 5 years

No. Provider Year 1 total Total at year 2 Total at year 3 Total at year 5
1 Mainstay Filing $199 $398 $597 $995 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 CA Registered Agent.org $199 $298 $397 $595 Visit CA Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 California Registered Agent.ai $199 $298 $397 $595 Visit California Registered Agent.ai Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Service fees only, using each company's prices as read on November 13, 2026. None of the rows cross in ten years.

Worksheet calculator

How many years will you keep the company? Choose and compare, with or without the EIN application.

Sum after 3 years: Mainstay Filing $597, CA Registered Agent.org $397, California Registered Agent.ai $397. The least spent: CA Registered Agent.org.

California state fees (official)

Term Value Where it comes from
Formation charge $70 leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (checked August 2026) as the source
Statement of Information $20 every two years sos.ca.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
Late fee $250 sos.ca.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
Yearly minimum tax $800 yearly ftb.ca.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
State side, 3 years $2,490 Adds the rows above

Each state row cites its official source. The 3-year total adds the filing, the year-2 and year-3 reports and any minimum tax.

What settled the order

For California, the term that decided it was items covered per dollar (28% of the score), where Mainstay Filing came out ahead.

California wants the Statement of Information every two years, so a price that files it scored above a lower price that does not.

Include the EIN application in the math and Mainstay Filing passes CA Registered Agent.org in year 2.

California LLC filing fee and rules, from the source

The LLC exists once the California Secretary of State accepts the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) along with $70. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

  • $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.

As written: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (checked August 2026) as the source

Filing it yourself, worked out

Skip the service and California still collects $2,490 across three years while you handle every form. The services charge $397 to $597 for that work.

About these figures

What does an LLC formation service cost in California?

$199 for the service and $70 for the state.

What do the services add up to over three years?

Year one plus two renewals gives $397 to $597.

What is the California fee to file an LLC?

$70 to the state, filed on the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1).

What does California collect each year after formation?

$20 biennially for the Statement of Information, deadline given as last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Count the minimum tax too.

Does the price include the EIN application?

Each row differs: Mainstay Filing (included), CA Registered Agent.org ($99) and California Registered Agent.ai ($99).

In what year does one service pass another in total cost?

The rows do not cross in the first ten years.

Which LLC formation service is best value in California?

Mainstay Filing takes the first row, CA Registered Agent.org the second, California Registered Agent.ai the third.

More worksheets

LLC formation worksheets, all 50 states Best LLC services overall The method

Inputs and sources

  1. Source of California Secretary of State: sos.ca.gov, August 2026.
  2. Source of California Secretary of State: bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, August 2026.
  3. Source of California yearly filing: Statement of: sos.ca.gov, October 2026.
  4. Source of Cal: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, August 2026.
  5. Source of California registered agent statute: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, October 2026.
  6. Source of California other cost: Annual LLC: ftb.ca.gov, October 2026.
  7. Source of California other cost: Annual LLC: ftb.ca.gov, October 2026.
  8. November 13, 2026 copy of the Mainstay Filing California service page
  9. November 13, 2026 copy of the CA Registered Agent.org pricing page
  10. November 13, 2026 copy of the California Registered Agent.ai pricing page