Form an LLC by State › California
Cheapest and fastest way to file an LLC in California (2026)
Filing an LLC in California costs $70 in state fees. The fastest route listed is same day (by 9:30 a.m.), +$750 on top of the filing fee ($820 all in). Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, files it for you and keeps the registered agent.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
Cheapest vs fastest in California
| Route | What you get | State cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | Online: filings from 09/28/2026 being processed on Sept 30, 2026 | $70 |
| Fast, no extra fee | None listed | — |
| Paid lane | 24 hours | $420 |
| Paid lane | 4 hours (drop-off, pre-cleared only) | $570 |
| Paid lane | Same day (by 9:30 a.m.) | $820 |
Paid lanes are the filing fee plus the expedite fee. The biennial report is $20 afterwards.
What the California Secretary of State says
Current Processing Dates, "Last updated: September 30, 2026": LLC Formations/Registrations online 09/28/2026, in person 09/22/2026, mail 09/21/2026. LLC-1: "online submissions given priority".
Processing, read October 1, 2026
Online or Sacramento drop-off: 24-hour $350, same day $750 (received by 9:30 a.m.); 4-hour $500 (drop-off, precleared only). Drop-off special handling $15.
Expedite, read October 1, 2026
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, same at renewal
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Questions
What is the cheapest way to file an LLC in California?
The cheapest route is the plain filing at $70, with the state’s stated turnaround of online: filings from 09/28/2026 being processed on sept 30, 2026.
What is the fastest way to file an LLC in California?
The fastest route listed is same day (by 9:30 a.m.), +$750 on top of the filing fee ($820 all in).
How much does it cost to expedite a California LLC?
The state lists 3 options: 24 hours (+$350); 4 hours (drop-off, pre-cleared only) (+$500); same day (by 9:30 a.m.) (+$750).
Sources
- Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01 (California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act) (multira state research spine): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CORP§ionNum=17702.01., checked August 12, 2026
- California Secretary of State (multira state research spine): www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/statements, checked August 12, 2026
- California Secretary of State (multira state research spine): bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov/llc/forms/llc-12-112021.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source read 2026-10-01: www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/forms/limited-liability-companies-statement-information, checked October 1, 2026
- California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and timing, official source read 2026-10-01: www.ftb.ca.gov/file/business/types/limited-liability-company/index.html, checked October 1, 2026
- California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and timing, official source read 2026-10-01: www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2026/2026-3522.pdf, checked October 1, 2026
- California registered agent statute (Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CORP§ionNum=17701.13., checked October 20, 2026
- California processing (California Secretary of State, official page read): www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/processing-dates, checked October 1, 2026
- California expedite (California Secretary of State, official page read): www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/service-options, checked October 1, 2026
- California Secretary of State: www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/, checked October 20, 2026