The California Secretary of State's published fee schedule lists $70 for the Articles of Organization and $20 for the Statement of Information. The Statement of Information is due within 90 days of registration and every 2 years after that. The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) charges an $800 annual LLC tax, and the first-year exemption has expired. According to the FTB, it applied only to tax years from January 1, 2021 to before January 1, 2024. For an LLC formed in 2026, the first $800 is due by the 15th day of the 4th month after filing with the Secretary of State. A service does not change any of these amounts.
What a service sells is time, deadline reminders and, most often, a registered agent. The Secretary of State's FAQs say an entity cannot act as its own agent for service of process, so someone has to fill that role. Paying a service is one way to do it. ZenBusiness, for example, charges $0 plus the state fee on its Starter tier. Its registered agent is a separate $199 per year, discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with them.
Two items cost nothing on any route. An EIN is free directly from the IRS. According to FinCEN, companies formed in the US are exempt from federal beneficial ownership (BOI) reporting.
File yourself if you can handle the agent requirement without paying for it and you will keep track of your own deadlines. If you want a paid agent and ongoing reminders, a service can be worth its price. It will not be cheaper.
California LLC costs and requirements at a glance
| Item | Amount or requirement | When | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $70.00 | At formation | California Secretary of State, LLC forms and fees |
| Statement of Information | $20.00 | Within 90 days of registration, then every 2 years | California Secretary of State, LLC forms and fees |
| Statement of Information not filed | Suspension or forfeiture | On failure to file | California Secretary of State, status definitions |
| Annual LLC tax | $800 per year | First year: 15th day of the 4th month after filing with the SOS | Franchise Tax Board, LLC page |
| First-year $800 exemption | Expired | Applied only to tax years from 1/1/2021 to before 1/1/2024 | Franchise Tax Board, LLC page |
| Short form cancellation | Avoids the first-year $800 | Within one year | Franchise Tax Board, LLC page |
| Operating agreement | Required, not filed with the state | At formation | California Secretary of State, business entity types |
| Agent for service of process | The LLC cannot act as its own agent | At formation | California Secretary of State, FAQs |
| EIN | $0 | After forming with the state | IRS, Get an EIN |
| Federal BOI report | US-formed companies exempt | Not applicable | FinCEN, BOI |
Each amount was read from the named official source on September 28, 2026. State charges and service charges are different things, and this page never adds them into one number.
What you pay the state either way
Every charge in the table above goes to California or the IRS, not to a formation company. If you file through the Secretary of State's bizfile Online system yourself, you pay the $70 filing fee, the $20 Statement of Information fee, and the $800 annual tax on the FTB's schedule. If a service files for you, you pay exactly the same amounts, plus whatever the service charges.
The $800 is the figure that surprises people. Guides written before 2024 often mention a first-year exemption, but the FTB states that it covered only tax years from January 1, 2021 to before January 1, 2024. An LLC formed in 2026 owes the tax in its first year. The FTB also describes a short form cancellation within one year as a way to avoid the first-year $800, which matters if you are unsure the business will go ahead. This page covers only the charges listed above. The FTB's LLC page is the place to check anything else that applies to your LLC.
What a filing service adds
A service does not unlock anything the state withholds from you. It fills out the same forms, handles the registered agent role if you pay for it, and reminds you about deadlines. The reminders matter more than they sound. The Secretary of State's status definitions say that failing to file the Statement of Information causes suspension or forfeiture, and the first one is due within 90 days of registration.
Some items should never cost you money through a service. The IRS says an EIN is free and warns against paying a third party for one. The IRS also says to form the entity with the state before applying. The operating agreement is required, but the Secretary of State notes that it is not filed with the state, so you can write your own.
When filing yourself is the better call
Filing yourself makes sense if you are comfortable completing the Articles of Organization online, you have a way to meet the agent requirement without paying for it, and you will put the 90-day Statement of Information deadline and the FTB due date on your own calendar. In that situation a service adds cost and very little else. Nothing in the formation itself requires a paid provider.
When a service like ZenBusiness fits
A service earns its fee when you want a professional registered agent, often so that your own address is not the one listed for service of process, and when you would rather have deadline reminders than track filings yourself. For that reader, ZenBusiness is a reasonable fit, because its Starter tier costs $0 plus the state fee. In practice, the formation step costs the same as filing yourself, and what you are really paying for is the agent: $99 for the first year when you form with them, then $199 per year. Be clear about one point before you choose a tier. The agent is separate on every tier, including Premium, so Pro at $199 per year and Premium at $299 per year do not include it.
Comparing formation services (listed alphabetically, not ranked)
This site earns a commission on some links on this page. That does not change which option the page recommends. Pricing for providers other than ZenBusiness changes often, so check each provider's current terms as of 2026 rather than relying on a figure here.
Bizee is worth a look if you want a formation service and are willing to compare its add-ons carefully before checkout. Its formation pricing and registered agent terms as of 2026 are published on its own site.
LegalZoom suits a reader who expects to buy other legal services from the same company later. Confirm its current formation pricing and registered agent terms as of 2026 before you commit.
Northwest Registered Agent makes the most sense when the registered agent is your main reason for using a service at all. Its pricing as of 2026 is listed on its site.
ZenBusiness charges $0 plus the state fee on its Starter tier, $199 per year for Pro and $299 per year for Premium. The registered agent is a separate $199 per year on every tier, discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with them. It fits the reader who wants an agent and deadline reminders alongside the filing.
FAQs
What is the California LLC state filing fee on bizfile Online in 2025 and 2026?
The Secretary of State's published fee schedule lists $70.00 for the Articles of Organization. The Statement of Information that follows costs $20.00, due within 90 days of registration and every 2 years after that.
Is the California LLC Articles of Organization filing fee $70 online in 2026?
Yes. The Secretary of State lists the Articles of Organization fee at $70.00. That fee is the same whether you file yourself or a service files for you. The Secretary of State's schedule is the place to confirm any charge tied to a particular filing method.
Is there a California LLC $800 franchise tax first-year exemption in 2025 or 2026?
No. The FTB states that the first-year exemption from the $800 annual LLC tax applied only to tax years from January 1, 2021 to before January 1, 2024. An LLC formed in 2025 or 2026 owes $800 for its first year, due by the 15th day of the 4th month after filing with the Secretary of State. A short form cancellation within one year avoids the first-year $800.
Do I need to pay a service for an EIN?
No. The IRS issues EINs free and advises against paying a third party for one. Form the LLC with the state first, then apply.
Sources
- California Secretary of State, “Limited Liability Companies (LLC) - California”
- California Secretary of State, “Starting a Business – Entity Types”
- California Secretary of State, “Business Entities Frequently Asked Questions”
- California Secretary of State, “Field Status Definitions and Suspensions”
- California Franchise Tax Board, “Limited Liability Company”
- Internal Revenue Service, “Get an employer identification number”
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, “Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”
This page is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by state and change over time.