California Registered Agent

California LLC Registered Agent

To form a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in California, the state requires you to designate an Agent for Service of Process (commonly known as a Registered Agent). This agent is responsible for receiving official legal and tax correspondence, such as lawsuits and subpoenas, on behalf of your business.

CA Registered Agent

The requirements for registered agents are strictly defined under California law:

  • California Corporations Code Section 17701.13: Mandates that every LLC must continuously maintain an agent for service of process in the state.
  • California Corporations Code Section 1505: Outlines the requirements for corporate agents (registered agent services), requiring them to file a specific certificate to be authorized to operate as an agent in California.

An individual serving as an agent must be a California resident at least 18 years old and must have a physical street address in California (P.O. Boxes are strictly prohibited). An LLC cannot act as its own registered agent.

Registered Agent Services in California

The core step in establishing your California LLC is submitting the Articles of Organization. In California, this is officially designated as Form LLC-1. As of 2025, the state strongly encourages filing online through the Secretary of State's bizfileOnline portal.

Registered Agent CA

Be prepared for the following mandatory state fees when forming and maintaining your LLC:

  • Form LLC-1 Filing Fee: $70 (initial formation fee).
  • Statement of Information (Form LLC-12): $20 fee. Must be filed within 90 days of registering your LLC, and every two years thereafter.
  • California Annual Franchise Tax: $800 minimum annual tax payable to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), regardless of business activity or income.

Expedited processing (for in-person drop-offs) incurs additional fees, starting at a $15 counter drop-off fee up to higher amounts for guaranteed rapid processing.

Find Registered Agent Requirements by County

While state requirements are universal, finding local resources and county clerk information can be helpful for local business licenses. Select a county below to learn more: