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Filing MapperRoutes through every state's LLC paperwork, priced leg by leg.

Registered agent guide · California

California Registered Agent Route (2026): Rules, State Fees and the 3 Best Agents

Plotting a registered agent in California for 2026, the route we recommend runs California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), Mainstay Filing ($149 a year) and CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year). Carrying an agent for service of process is part of staying legal in California. The state's tolls repeat at $810 a year, mile 50th of 50.

Surveyed by the Filing Mapper team

California survey figures

50th

along the 50-state route, yearly tolls

The route starts at the smallest toll. Open the 50-state route map

Agent for service of process required
Yes
October 2026 survey: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Statement of Information
$20 / 2 yrs
The checkpoint closes, in the state's words: last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. October 2026 survey: sos.ca.gov
Yearly minimum tax
$800
October 2026 survey: ftb.ca.gov
State toll, one year
$810
A year of the report toll, plus any minimum tax

California route picks

How the stops were ordered: cost over three years, steps covered, renewal, California fit, fee labeling (method).

1. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a small agent budget

Route pick$99/yr to begin, $99/yr later

The route starts with California Registered Agent.ai, where a flat $99 each year, and papers served on the company are scanned and forwarded.

Cost decides this stop: three years here come in under three years with Mainstay Filing.

The fare covers

  • Genuine office address in California
  • Served papers reach you as scans

On the plus side

  • $99 per lap
  • A lighter yearly fare than the national pick

On the minus side

  • A one-state route
  • You clear the Statement of Information yourself
Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who expect to grow

All fifty states$149/yr to begin, $149/yr later

Stop 2, Mainstay Filing: a single $149 agent fare that goes along if the company crosses into another state.

California Registered Agent.ai comes in $150 lower over the three years.

The fare covers

  • A physical office address the state recognizes
  • If papers are served on the company, they are scanned the same business day at no cost
  • Letters from government offices are scanned free, the first three each year
  • The same service runs for corporations, partnerships and nonprofits

On the plus side

  • A single provider for any destination
  • Fare $149, renewal fare $149

On the minus side

  • $50 extra a lap against California Registered Agent.ai
  • This ticket does not include report filing
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for specialists in California

Local pick$99/yr to begin, $99/yr later

Farther along, CA Registered Agent.org, where a flat $99 each year, and papers served on the company are scanned and forwarded.

Compared with California Registered Agent.ai, the fares come out level.

The fare covers

  • Genuine office address in California
  • Served papers reach you as scans

On the plus side

  • A lighter yearly fare than the national pick
  • $99 per lap

On the minus side

  • A one-state route
  • You clear the Statement of Information yourself
Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Fares in a row

StopProviderYearly rateRenewal rateProvider cost, three years
1California Registered Agent.ai$99$99/yr$297Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$149$149/yr$447Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3CA Registered Agent.org$99$99/yr$297Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Each fare was read from the provider's own pages on November 12, 2026. California's own tolls do not change with the agent you name.

Agent route calculator

Each agent fare is paired with the state tolls that repeat (the Statement of Information beginning in year two) and the minimum tax. The opening fee is not in the total.

California Registered Agent.ai for 3 years totals $2,717: $2,420 in state tolls and $297 in provider fares.

California and the stops on either side of it

MileStateYearly state fees
46thNevada$350
47thDelaware$400
48thRhode Island$450
49thMassachusetts$500
50thCalifornia$810

The full route map measures every state the same way.

California agent for service of process rules in the state's own words

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. An individual agent's California street address goes on the public record. A registered corporate agent's address is already on file with the state and is not repeated in the company's filing.

Parties the state permits: A California resident, or a corporation registered with the Secretary of State as a corporate agent under Corporations Code § 1505. A business cannot act as its own agent for service of process. Source of the rule: Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13.

California's repeating tolls

$20 every two years for the Statement of Information, last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially; the state writes to the address of your agent for service of process about it. $800 a year minimum LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board (Form FTB 3522), separate from the Statement of Information.

Why California Registered Agent.ai leads the route

California Registered Agent.ai pulled ahead of Mainstay Filing on three-year charge on the route, weighted 35%.

The three-year bill with California Registered Agent.ai is $297, a saving of $150 against Mainstay Filing.

Questions along the way

Does every California LLC have to carry an agent for service of process?

Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Who is allowed to serve as the agent for service of process on a California route?

A California resident, or a corporation registered with the Secretary of State as a corporate agent under Corporations Code § 1505. A business cannot act as its own agent for service of process.

What does registered agent service cost per year for California?

Our picks cost $99 to $149 per lap.

What does the state toll an LLC every year?

$810 a year by our one-year measure, which is the Statement of Information ($20 every two years) plus the minimum tax.

Which registered agents are on this route?

California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), Mainstay Filing ($149 a year) and CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), stop by stop.

Which registered agent should I take?

Start at California Registered Agent.ai: a California-only fare: $99 a year, $99 later. Further along, Mainstay Filing and CA Registered Agent.org.

Other routes

Survey markers for this route

Survey marker
  1. Marker, California Secretary of State: documented by sos.ca.gov and logged August 2026.
  2. Marker, California Secretary of State: documented by bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov and logged August 2026.
  3. Marker, California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source: documented by sos.ca.gov and logged October 2026.
  4. Marker, Cal: documented by leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and logged August 2026.
  5. Marker, California registered agent statute: documented by leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and logged October 2026.
  6. Marker, California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and: documented by ftb.ca.gov and logged October 2026.
  7. Marker, California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and: documented by ftb.ca.gov and logged October 2026.
  8. Marker, Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees: documented by nvsos.gov and logged October 2026.
  9. Marker, Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source: documented by corp.delaware.gov and logged October 2026.
  10. Marker, Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source: documented by corp.delaware.gov and logged October 2026.
  11. Marker, Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source: documented by legis.delaware.gov and logged October 2026.
  12. Marker, Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division: documented by docs.sos.ri.gov and logged August 2026.
  13. Marker, Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division: documented by sos.ri.gov and logged August 2026.
  14. Marker, Rhode Island other cost: documented by tax.ri.gov and logged October 2026.
  15. Marker, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth: documented by sec.state.ma.us and logged August 2026.
  16. Marker, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth: documented by malegislature.gov and logged August 2026.
  17. California Registered Agent.ai (pricing page), survey of November 12, 2026
  18. Mainstay Filing (California service page), survey of November 12, 2026
  19. CA Registered Agent.org (pricing page), survey of November 12, 2026