Register your California LLC Online
Complete the form below in 2–3 minutes. Your LLC and EIN come at no extra cost — you only pay California’s own $70 state fee.
- Enter your desired LLC name
- Choose your state
- Receive your LLC and free EIN by email
Trusted by Thousands Nationwide
What is an LLC in California?
Before you file anything, California asks what kind of company you're forming. Most people choose an LLC because it keeps the business separate from your personal name and lets you add or remove owners later without starting over.
That separation goes further than the name. If the business owes money or gets sued, your house, car, and personal bank accounts are generally off-limits — as long as you run the LLC properly. It doesn't protect you from something you personally did wrong.
A sole proprietorship skips all of that — you're doing business under your own name or a DBA. That's fine if it'll only ever be you. The moment you want to bring on a partner, sell the business, or have it read as a real company instead of a side gig, that's the moment an LLC earns its keep.
A corporation does the same separation an LLC does, but it's built for a different job: issuing stock and bringing in outside investors. If that's not you right now, an LLC is simpler to run and cheaper to file — $70 versus $100 to start.
Benefits of an LLC in California
- Add partners or co-owners whenever you're ready
- Transfer ownership if you sell the business
- “California Company, LLC” shows you’re a real business
- Shows you’re registered (California Secretary of State)
- Get a matching domain like CaliforniaCompanyLLC.com
- Simpler upkeep than forming a corporation
What's different about a California LLC
California doesn't guarantee a turnaround for standard processing — filings typically clear in a few business days, and the state sells faster tiers if you need a date: 24-hour service starts at $350, same-day runs $750.
California LLCs also pay an annual minimum tax to the Franchise Tax Board (a separate agency from the one that files your LLC) — full details in the FAQ below, since it's the one number worth reading closely rather than skimming past.
California also requires a separate $20 filing (a Statement of Information) within 90 days of forming your LLC, then again every two years — a short form, not a tax, but easy to forget. And a small number of LLCs with over $250,000 in California income owe an additional fee on top of the annual tax; most new LLCs won't hit that threshold in year one.
California doesn't require a newspaper notice to form the LLC itself, unlike a handful of other states.
Cost to start an LLC in California
$70 to the California Secretary of State — that's it to file. We don't charge a fee on top of it. A California corporation runs $100 through the same process. See the FAQ below for California's ongoing annual tax, separate from this one-time filing fee.
| What you get |  | Others |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (Tax ID) | Free | up to $99 |
| Registered agent | Freefirst year | up to $249per year |
| Name check | Free | usually free |
| California state filing feespaid to the state — same for everyone | $70 | $70 |
Free EIN with your California LLC
Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is what opens a business bank account and identifies your company to the IRS — it's like a Social Security Number for your LLC. It's included at no extra cost, right alongside your LLC.
LLC vs Corporation in California
An LLC is simpler to run and easier to keep up every year. A corporation (sometimes taxed as an S corp or a C corp) is built for a company that plans to issue stock or bring in investors — more paperwork, more formality, and a board structure most new businesses don't need yet. If that's not your situation, an LLC does the job. You can always change how it's taxed later without changing the company itself.
What is a Sole Proprietor in California?
A sole proprietorship is the default if you do nothing — there's no filing, no fee, and everything is tied to your own name. It works fine for testing an idea, and it skips California's annual LLC tax entirely. The trade-off: you can't add a partner or co-owner to it, and if you ever want to sell the business or bring someone else on, you'll need to become an LLC anyway. Most people who are serious about the business decide the yearly cost is worth what an LLC gives them.
File a DBA Under Your LLC
California calls a DBA a Fictitious Business Name. It lets one LLC operate under more than one business name. In California, that's a filing with your county, not the Secretary of State — most counties also require publishing it in a local newspaper for 4 weeks.
A DBA isn't required if you're fine using your LLC's own name.
Example: California Company, LLC dba California Auto Brokers.
DBA vs LLC in California
A DBA only gives you another name to use. The LLC is the actual business entity that owns the DBA name and holds all legal rights.
Common Questions
Why start an LLC in California?
It separates the business from your own name, lets you add or remove owners as the business grows, and reads as a real, established company — to customers, banks, and anyone you do business with.
What is California's $800 LLC tax?
Every California LLC pays an $800 minimum annual tax to the Franchise Tax Board, due even in a year with no income, starting about 3–4 months after you form. It's separate from the one-time $70 filing fee above, and it continues every year the LLC exists. A new law drops this to $400 for a first tax year that starts in 2027 or later — forming today still means the full $800 for year one. Most people still find an LLC worth it for what it protects and enables; this is the honest, full cost so there's no surprise later.
How long does it take to get a California LLC?
Filing takes a few minutes on this page. California typically approves standard filings within a few business days; paid rush options exist starting at $350 for 24-hour service.
Do I need an EIN for my California LLC?
Yes, for a business bank account and for the IRS to recognize your company. It's included free when you file here.
What's a registered agent, and do I need one?
California calls it an "agent for service of process" — the person or company your LLC designates to receive legal mail. Every LLC needs one, and it's included free for your first year when you file here.
Do I need an operating agreement?
California doesn't require one to file, but a bank often asks for one to open your business account. You can add it when you file, or write your own later.
Still deciding on a name?
Try the free name generator — type a word you like, get real available options back, then come straight here to file.
Page updates (1)
- July 13, 2026 — California enacted SB 180, cutting the first-year LLC minimum tax from $800 to $400 for LLCs whose first tax year begins 2027–2029. California Revenue & Taxation Code §17941 →
Sources (6)
Every fact on this page was checked directly against California's own filing agency, tax agency, and statutes — verified September 20, 2026.
- California Secretary of State — LLC forms and fees — the $70 filing fee, Statement of Information
- Franchise Tax Board — Limited Liability Company — the $800 annual tax, due dates, consequences
- Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code §17941 — the $800 tax and the new 2027–2029 $400 rate
- California Secretary of State — Service Options — expedited filing tiers and pricing
- California Secretary of State — LLC Filing Tips — confirms no publication requirement to form
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §17917 — the county-level DBA publication requirement