Go straight to the worksheet
Formation Math LLC service costs, worked out step by step.

Registered agent worksheets · California

3 Best Registered Agents in California (2026): Worked Prices

The 2026 math for California registered agents gives Mainstay Filing ($149/yr), CA Registered Agent.org ($99/yr) and California Registered Agent.ai ($99/yr), ranked best value first. Year one costs $99 to $149, and adding two renewals gives $297 to $447.
Worked by the Formation Math editorial team

↓ Sorted by: Score = 42% three-year total + 28% coverage + three smaller terms (details)

The working so far

Required? Yes leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
Totals after one year $99 to $149 Annual bill
Three-year results $297 to $447 Opening price and two renewals
Statement of Information $20 per 2 yrs sos.ca.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
Crossing point Never No row ever passes another

Worksheet: California

Service prices only. The state charges the same no matter which agent you name.

1
Highest score

1. Mainstay Filing: best for one price that holds in every state

Year 1: $149. Year 2: $149.
Year-1 price $149
Renewal price $149/yr
Sum of 3 years $447

Mainstay Filing comes out on top. Working: a flat $149 yearly that does not depend on the state.

Its three-year total is $150 higher than CA Registered Agent.org's, and the extra paperwork it covers is worth more than that in the score.

The price buys

  • A street address in the state
  • Three government mailings per year, scanned for free
  • Works for LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits

Adds up

  • One account serves any state
  • A constant $149 per year

Does not add up

  • A yearly gap of $50
  • Does not file the yearly report
2
In-state provider

2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for LLCs that stay in one state

Year 1: $99. Year 2: $99.
Year-1 price $99
Renewal price $99/yr
Sum of 3 years $297

Row 2 belongs to CA Registered Agent.org because $297 across three years for a company that stays put.

The price buys

  • An in-state office address
  • Legal documents posted to your account

Adds up

  • Less per year than Mainstay Filing
  • A constant $99 per year

Does not add up

  • California only
  • The Statement of Information remains your task
3
In-state provider

3. California Registered Agent.ai: best for staying entirely local

Year 1: $99. Year 2: $99.
Year-1 price $99
Renewal price $99/yr
Sum of 3 years $297

Row 3 belongs to California Registered Agent.ai because $297 across three years for a company that stays put.

Year one and renewal both match CA Registered Agent.org.

The price buys

  • An in-state office address
  • Legal documents posted to your account

Adds up

  • Less per year than Mainstay Filing
  • A constant $99 per year

Does not add up

  • California only
  • The Statement of Information remains your task

What each row adds up to

No. Provider Year 1 total Total at year 2 Total at year 3 Total at year 5
1 Mainstay Filing $149 $298 $447 $745 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 CA Registered Agent.org $99 $198 $297 $495 Visit CA Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 California Registered Agent.ai $99 $198 $297 $495 Visit California Registered Agent.ai Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Company prices from November 13, 2026, summed year by year. No row passes another within ten years.

Break-even check

The calculator adds year one and the renewals for every row once you choose the years.

After 3 years, the totals are Mainstay Filing $447, CA Registered Agent.org $297, California Registered Agent.ai $297. Lowest of the totals: CA Registered Agent.org.

Official state amounts

Term Value Where it comes from
Cost to form $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 report $250 sos.ca.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
Minimum tax each year $800 yearly ftb.ca.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
Three-year state total $2,490 Calculated from the rows above

Our state figure adds three things: the filing, two years of reports and a minimum tax where there is one. Variable costs like publication stay out.

Why row one is row one

Mainstay Filing scored above CA Registered Agent.org on items covered per dollar, a 28% term.

On coverage across states, CA Registered Agent.org cannot match it.

California agent for service of process rules, from the source (California Secretary of State)

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

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. Governing rule: Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13.

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.

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

Filing it yourself, worked out

With no service the agent term is zero, as long as you qualify, and the state charges the same. Services run $99 to $149 a year.

California price questions, answered

What does a registered agent in California cost per year?

Our rows bill $99 to $149 per year.

What do three years of agent service cost?

Year one plus two renewals gives $297 to $447.

Does California require an agent for service of process for an LLC?

Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Can the owner be the agent for service of process?

You can, so long as you meet both the address and eligibility rules.

What does the state collect from the LLC each year?

Statement of Information at $20 per two-year cycle, due last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. The yearly minimum tax is on top.

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

Not within ten years; no row passes another.

Which registered agent 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

Registered agent worksheets, all 50 states Best registered agents overall The method

Inputs and sources

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