California LLC Formation: Start Your California LLC the Right Way

California LLC at a Glance

California’s filing fee is low, but the yearly tax is not. The $800 annual franchise tax applies to every California LLC, even one with no income. Plan for it before you file, not after.

How to Start an LLC in California in 6 Steps

1. Choose a name. It must end with “LLC,” “L.L.C.” or “Limited Liability Company” and be different from other names on record. You can search names on bizfile Online.
2. Pick a registered agent. California calls this an “agent for service of process.” It can be a person with a California address or a registered agent company.
3. File Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1). File online through bizfile Online.
4. File a Statement of Information (Form LLC-12). This is due within 90 days of forming your LLC. After that, you file it every two years.
5. Get an EIN and write an operating agreement. The EIN is free from the IRS. California expects LLCs to have an operating agreement, and banks will ask for it.
6. Get a seller’s permit if you sell goods. If you sell taxable products in California, register with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). The permit is free.

Our California LLC Package

Our package is one clear price. It covers the state filing, your EIN, a registered agent and a US mailing address for one year, plus our service. There are no separate fees to work out.

Forming Your LLC From Outside the US

You do not need a US visa, an SSN or a trip to the US to form a California LLC. We work with founders in Pakistan, India, the UAE, the UK and many other countries. Here is what we need from you:

• Passport or national ID (for example, a CNIC) for each owner
• Your home address, matching your ID or a recent bill
• Two or three LLC name choices, in order of preference
• Email and WhatsApp number so we can reach you quickly
• What your business will do, in one or two lines

Use your real home address. Banks and payment platforms check it against your ID, and a borrowed address can get accounts closed later.

How Your Order Works

1. Order online. Choose your package and any add-ons on our order page.
2. Upload your documents. Your passport or ID goes to a private folder only our team can open.
3. Pay and send proof. Pay by US bank transfer or, from Pakistan, by Easypaisa or Raast. Send the payment screenshot on WhatsApp.
4. We file your LLC. We check the name and file your Articles with the California Secretary of State.
5. We get your EIN within 24 hours. Once the state approves your LLC, we get your EIN from the IRS, even without an SSN.
6. You get your documents. We send your approved Articles and EIN letter, and your registered agent and US mailing address start.

Within 90 days you file a Statement of Information, and the $800 franchise tax applies every year. We remind you before each deadline.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Expecting the $800 franchise tax only after a profit. It is owed every year, even when the LLC earns nothing.
• Missing the Statement of Information. It is due within 90 days of forming, then every two years.
• Mixing personal and business money. Use a separate business account from day one. It keeps your records clean and protects the LLC’s liability shield.
• Forgetting Form 5472. A single-member LLC owned by a non-US person usually files it with a pro forma 1120 every year, even with no US income.

California’s $800 Franchise Tax Explained

The California Franchise Tax Board charges every LLC that is formed in California, or registered to do business there, a minimum of $800 a year. You pay it even if your LLC has no sales. It stops only when you formally cancel the LLC.

If your LLC’s California income goes over $250,000, you also pay an extra LLC fee on a sliding scale. A CPA can confirm the amount for your business. We are not tax advisors, but we can connect you with one.

Do You Need a California Registered Agent?

Yes. Every California LLC must have an agent for service of process with a California address. If you live outside California, or want to keep your home address private, use a registered agent service. We provide one.

Is California the Right State for Your LLC?

If you live in California or run your business there, you generally need to be registered in California. Forming in another state does not avoid the $800 tax, because an out-of-state LLC doing business in California must register there and pay it too.

If you live outside the US and have no connection to California, California is usually the most expensive choice. Founders in that position often look at Wyoming, New Mexico or Delaware. We walk you through the options.

How LLCPronto Helps With Your California LLC

• Name check on bizfile Online
• Articles of Organization (LLC-1) filed for you
• Statement of Information filed on time
• California registered agent address
• Operating agreement and EIN
• CDTFA seller’s permit if you need one
• Reminders for the $800 tax and every two-year filing

Short on time? Ask about our urgent service. It costs more, and we tell you the price upfront.

Yearly filing: see our California LLC annual report guide for the deadline, fee and how to file.

California LLC FAQs

Compare Other States

Last updated: November 2, 2026