The $70 state fee, the paperwork, the registered agent requirement — here's exactly what it costs, how long it takes, and the fastest legitimate path to an approved LLC. (Budget separately for California's $800 minimum annual franchise tax — more on that below.)
California's paperwork is straightforward, but the $800 annual franchise tax is the detail most new owners miss — plan for it from day one.
Must include "LLC" or "L.L.C." — search the California Secretary of State's business search first, since a taken name is the #1 reason filings bounce.
Non-negotiable under California law. Needs a real street address, staffed during business hours — no P.O. boxes.
Your Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), filed online or by mail with the $70 state fee. This is the step that makes it official.
Free straight from the IRS — you'll need it before a bank will let you open a business account.
File your Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) within 90 days of formation, then every 2 years after ($20 fee) — and budget for the $800 minimum Annual Franchise Tax due every year regardless of income, plus an extra LLC fee if gross receipts top $250,000.
Northwest handles all five steps above and includes your California registered agent free for year one.
Wrong entity designator, missing registered agent info, and name conflicts account for most bounced filings. Here's what changes with a formation service handling it.
| What matters | Filing it yourself | Using a formation service |
|---|---|---|
| Time spent | 3–5 hours of research + filing | ~10 minutes |
| Total cost | $70 state fee only | $70 state fee + service fee |
| Registered agent | Separate purchase, $100–$300/yr | Often included year one |
| Compliance reminders | You track manually | Automated deadline alerts |
| Rejection risk | Common on first attempt | Reviewed before submission |
Northwest handles the filing, includes your registered agent for the first year, and flags California's mandatory $800 annual franchise tax and Statement of Information deadline before you're caught off guard.
Files your Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) directly with the California Secretary of State, includes a California-address registered agent for the first year at no extra cost, and flags the $800 annual franchise tax and Statement of Information deadline before you submit.
"Filed online and had my Articles of Organization approved in a little over two weeks. Didn't expect the registered agent to already be set up when the confirmation came through."
"I tried filing myself first and nearly missed the Statement of Information deadline 90 days in — didn't even know it existed. Second time, went through a service and it was tracked automatically."
"Nobody told me about the $800 franchise tax until I was already filed. Would've budgeted differently from day one if I'd known."
Northwest Registered Agent, $39 plus your $70 state fee, no long-term contract.