Registered Agent in California
California requires every LLC and corporation to keep a registered agent with a physical California address. Incofile provides one for $119/year — free for the first year when we form your company — with same-day document scanning and compliance reminders.
California at a glance
What California requires from a registered agent
Every California LLC and corporation must list a registered agent on its formation documents and keep one for as long as the company exists. The agent must have a physical street address in California and be available during normal business hours to accept legal papers and official state mail.
Registered agent: Required ("agent for service of process"); a California resident or a registered corporate agent
Should you be your own registered agent in California?
Be your own agent
- No annual fee
- Your name and street address go on the public record
- You must be at that California address in business hours, every working day
- Moving means a state filing to update the address
- Not possible if you live outside California or outside the US
Use Incofile
- $119/year — first year free with any formation package
- Your home address stays private
- Documents scanned and emailed the same day they arrive
- Annual report and compliance reminders for California
- Works for out-of-state and international owners
How Incofile's California registered agent service works
- We are listed on your filing
When Incofile forms your California company, our California address is entered as the registered office — no extra form, no gap. Existing companies can switch to us at any time.
- Mail and legal papers come to us
Service of process, state notices and compliance mail are received at our California address during business hours, as the law requires.
- You get it the same day
Every document is scanned and uploaded to your Incofile client portal with an email alert, so nothing sits in a mailbox.
- We remind you before deadlines
Your portal shows upcoming California filings — including the statement of information (form llc-12) — with reminders ahead of time.
Changing your registered agent in California
If your current agent is retiring, raising prices or simply unresponsive, you can switch. File a change-of-agent form with the California Secretary of State (bizfile Online), pay any state fee, and make sure the new agent has consented. Incofile's change of registered agent service handles the filing for $119, which also includes a full year of our California registered agent service.
California LLC facts
| State filing fee | $70 (Articles of Organization, Form LLC-1) |
|---|---|
| Document filed | Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) |
| Standard approval time | Usually a few business days when filed on bizfile Online |
| Expedited options | 24-hour $350 · same day $750 (state fees, in addition to the filing fee) |
| Statement of Information | $20 — first one within 90 days of formation, then every 2 years |
| Annual franchise tax | $800 minimum every year, first payment due by the 15th day of the 4th month after formation |
| Gross receipts fee | Extra $900–$11,790 a year once California income reaches $250,000 |
| Late penalty | $250 for a late Statement of Information; FTB penalties and interest on late franchise tax |
Figures checked against the California Secretary of State (bizfile Online), September 2026. State fees change — always confirm the current amount before filing.
Get a California registered agent today
Form your California LLC from $0 + state fee and the first year of registered agent service is on us. Already formed? Switch to Incofile in minutes.
Serving founders since 2013 · transparent one-time pricing · real human support
California registered agent — frequently asked questions
Do I need a registered agent for my California LLC?
Yes. California requires every LLC and corporation to name a registered agent on its formation documents and to keep one continuously. The agent accepts service of process (lawsuits) and official notices from the California Secretary of State (bizfile Online) on the company's behalf.
Can I be my own registered agent in California?
You can if you are an adult with a physical street address in California (not a PO box) and you are available there during normal business hours. Many owners prefer a service so their home address stays off the public record, nothing is missed while they travel, and the address does not have to change when they move.
How much does a registered agent cost in California?
Incofile's California registered agent service is $119 per year, and the first year is included free when you form your company with any Incofile package. Acting as your own agent costs nothing in fees but puts your address on the public record.
What happens if my California LLC has no registered agent?
The state can refuse filings, mark the company as not in good standing and eventually administratively dissolve it. Worse, a lawsuit can proceed without you ever being properly notified. Keeping a registered agent on file is one of the cheapest forms of protection a company has.
Can I use a registered agent address as my business address?
A registered agent address is for legal and state mail only. If you need a business street address for banking, invoices or your website, add a virtual business address — Incofile offers one alongside registered agent service.
How do I change my registered agent in California?
File a change-of-registered-agent form with the California Secretary of State (bizfile Online) and pay any state fee. Incofile can prepare and file it for you ($119, which includes a year of our registered agent service) so there is no gap in coverage.