Registered Agent Service
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Free California Registered Agent Service
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If you have an existing or are forming a new California Corporation, Limited-Liability Company, Limited Partnership, Foreign Filing or any other corporate entity, almost every jurisdiction requires by law that you must have a registered agent located in that jurisdiction.
California Registered Agent service alone can cost you up to $320 per year with some companies. FreeRegisteredAgent.com, through an affiliation with InCorp Services, Inc., will provide your first year of registered agent service with us for FREE and $129 per year thereafter!
Included in the service is full access to InCorp's industry leading client website where you may check the status of your entities in multiple jurisdictions on the same page, check compliance events, download or view FREE copies of your filed documents at any time from anywhere, make payments to your account and even check for mail that's been forwarded to you!
There is no catch whatsoever except that the corporate entity requiring service can't currently be represented by InCorp Services already. After the first year, if you choose to stay with InCorp Services, Inc., you will pay just $129 per year for the same great services!
California registered agent facts
| Registered agent statute | Cal. Corp. Code §§ 1502 (corporations), 17701.13 (LLCs) |
|---|---|
| LLC filing fee | $70 (Articles of Organization, Form LLC-1) |
| Corporation filing fee | $100 (Articles of Incorporation, general stock) |
| Annual report fee | Statement of Information: $20 for LLCs (every two years), $25 for stock corporations (every year); $800 minimum annual franchise tax paid separately to the Franchise Tax Board |
| Annual report due | Initial Statement of Information within 90 days of registration, then annually (corporations) or biennially (LLCs) during the anniversary-month window |
| Typical processing time | Varies with volume; the Secretary of State posts current dates on its Processing Dates page, and bizfile Online submissions process fastest, with paid expedite options for in-person submissions |
Registered agent requirements in California
California never adopted the phrase registered agent - its Corporations Code requires every entity to designate an agent for service of process, and the paperwork lives in a filing most states do not have. For corporations, Cal. Corp. Code § 1502 requires the agent’s designation in the annual Statement of Information; for LLCs, Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13 makes the designated office and agent part of the records every company must continuously maintain under the Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The agent must be a California resident individual or a corporate agent that has filed the certificate required by § 1505, with a physical street address in the state - and an entity may never act as its own agent.
Formation runs through bizfile Online, the Secretary of State’s e-filing portal: $70 for LLC Articles of Organization and $100 for general stock Articles of Incorporation. The distinctive compliance beat comes 90 days later, when the initial Statement of Information falls due. Corporations then refile every year for $25; LLCs refile every two years for $20, each during the window that ends with the anniversary month. Miss the deadline and the Secretary of State certifies the lapse to the Franchise Tax Board, which assesses a $250 penalty, and prolonged neglect brings suspension - a status that strips the entity’s right to sue, defend, or enforce its contracts in California courts.
Separate from all of this, nearly every California LLC and corporation owes the Franchise Tax Board a minimum $800 annual franchise tax. It is a tax obligation rather than a Secretary of State filing, but founders routinely conflate the two, and either agency’s suspension is fatal to good standing. Processing times at the Secretary of State swing with filing volume; the office publishes live dates on its Processing Dates page, and online submissions consistently outpace paper.
With two agencies, two calendars, and a 90-day initial deadline, California punishes inattention more than most states - and every notice starts at the agent’s address. FreeRegisteredAgent.com provides the first year of California registered agent service free through InCorp, then $129/yr.
California registered agent FAQ
- Can I be my own agent for service of process in California?
- Yes, if you are a California resident with a physical street address in the state. California calls the role agent for service of process rather than registered agent. An entity cannot name itself, and a corporate agent must be registered under Cal. Corp. Code § 1505, which is why most companies appoint either an individual or a professional registered corporate agent.
- What is California's Statement of Information and when is it due?
- It is California's version of the annual report, required by Cal. Corp. Code § 1502 for corporations and § 17701.13's record requirements for LLCs. The first one is due within 90 days of formation or registration, then corporations refile every year ($25) and LLCs every two years ($20) during the window ending in their anniversary month. Late or missing statements draw a $250 penalty and can lead to suspension.
- Does the $800 California franchise tax go to the Secretary of State?
- No. The $800 minimum annual franchise tax is a separate obligation paid to the Franchise Tax Board, on top of the Secretary of State's filing fees. Both agencies can suspend an entity independently, so staying current with one does not protect you from the other.
- What happens if my California LLC ignores its Statement of Information?
- The Secretary of State certifies the delinquency, the Franchise Tax Board assesses a $250 penalty, and continued noncompliance can end in suspension or forfeiture of the entity's powers, rights, and privileges - including the ability to sue, defend, or enforce contracts in California courts.
- How much does a registered agent cost in California?
- Commercial agents in California commonly charge $100 to $300 per year. FreeRegisteredAgent.com provides your first year of California agent for service of process free through InCorp, then $129 per year after that.
Further information about California corporations, corporate law and California Registered Agent Service:
California Secretary of state's website | California Registered Agent Statutes | Compare California Registered Agents