The California tally
Service prices only. The $70 state fee is identical in every row.
1. Mainstay Filing: best for several registrations
Row one
$199 plus the $70 state fee; renewal $149
- First year
- $199
- Later years
- $149/yr
- Three-year tally
- $497
Mainstay Filing tops the California tally: $199 over the state fee, agent for service of process free in year one, then $149/yr after.
Three years cost $100 over CA Registered Agent.org, and coverage settles the order.
After the free year the agent line books $149 yearly, in every state.
Included lines
- The registration filing
- One fee, every state
Gains
- $199, with state fees on top
- One fee for any state
Minus column
- Renewal lands $50 over CA Registered Agent.org
2
2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for a lean registration
In-state
$199 plus the $70 state fee; renewal $99
- First year
- $199
- Later years
- $99/yr
- Three-year tally
- $397
CA Registered Agent.org takes line 2 since a $199 filing fee and a $99 agent renewal in California.
Included lines
- California registration filing
- Agent service, year one
Gains
- A free agent year at the start
- Only $199 to register
- Then $99 annually
Minus column
- Another company is needed for the home state
3
3. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a one-state add-on
In-state
$199 plus the $70 state fee; renewal $99
- First year
- $199
- Later years
- $99/yr
- Three-year tally
- $397
California Registered Agent.ai takes line 3 since a $199 filing fee and a $99 agent renewal in California.
Line for line, it ties CA Registered Agent.org.
Included lines
- California registration filing
- Agent service, year one
Gains
- Only $199 to register
- A free agent year at the start
- Then $99 annually
Minus column
- Another company is needed for the home state
Cumulative totals
Year one and then renewals, per the prices read November 13, 2026. The ranking stays the same for ten years.
Break-even check
How long will you keep the company? Pick the years and compare.
California state fees (official)
Each row above links its official source. The final line is our own addition of the filing, two reports and any minimum tax, and it leaves out variable costs such as publication.
How the rows were ranked
Mainstay Filing ranks first on jobs ticked off, worth 28%, with CA Registered Agent.org next.
A foreign LLC already spans two states, so one provider for both ranked first.
California foreign LLC registration fee and rules (official)
An LLC formed in another state registers with California before doing business there, by filing the Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) (Form LLC-5) with the California Secretary of State, Business Entities ($70). The filing needs certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state dated no earlier than 180 days.
What an unregistered LLC may face: its access to the courts as a plaintiff is suspended (Corp. Code 17708.07(a)).
Per from ftb.ca.gov, recorded October 2026 as a ledger line
If you file it yourself
With no service you pay the state $2,490 over three years and handle every form. Hiring costs $397 to $497 more for that work.
California price questions
What does California charge to register an LLC formed elsewhere?
$70 for the filing itself, plus a service fee of $199.
What do three years of service add up to?
$397 to $497 in service fees, not counting state fees.
Which form registers the LLC?
The registration is Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) (Form LLC-5), submitted to the California Secretary of State, Business Entities.
Does California want a document from the home state?
Yes, and it must be dated within 180 days: certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state.
What recurring filing follows the registration?
The Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 costs $20.
When does one service turn into the lower total?
Within ten years, never: the order of the totals does not change.
Which foreign registration service is the best value for California?
Mainstay Filing ranks first on jobs ticked off, then CA Registered Agent.org and California Registered Agent.ai.
Sources and price pages
- California Secretary of State, recorded from sos.ca.gov in August 2026
- California Secretary of State, recorded from bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov in August 2026
- California yearly filing: Statement of, recorded from sos.ca.gov in October 2026
- Cal, recorded from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov in August 2026
- California registered agent statute, recorded from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov in October 2026
- California Secretary of State, foreign, recorded from sos.ca.gov in October 2026
- Form LLC-5, recorded from bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov in October 2026
- Corporations Code section 17708.03, recorded from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov in October 2026
- Revenue and Taxation Code section, recorded from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov in October 2026
- Franchise Tax Board, LLC filing, recorded from ftb.ca.gov in October 2026
- California Corporations Code 17708.07, recorded from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov in November 2026
- California other cost: Annual LLC, recorded from ftb.ca.gov in October 2026
- Mainstay Filing, California service page: entered November 13, 2026
- CA Registered Agent.org, pricing page: entered November 13, 2026
- California Registered Agent.ai, pricing page: entered November 13, 2026