California · Limited liability company
What an LLC costs in California
$890 in your first year. That's $70 to file with California Secretary of State (formation, Statement of Information); Franchise Tax Board (annual LLC tax), and about $810 a year to keep it in good standing after that.
First-year breakdown
- State filing fee $70 One-time, paid when you form the LLC
- Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) $20 Initial Statement due within 90 days of registration; thereafter every two years during a filing period tied to the month of original registration.
- Minimum state tax $800 $800 annual minimum franchise tax to FTB for every LLC organized in or doing business in California, due by the 15th day of the 4th month after formation and each tax year after. The temporary first-year exemption applied only to tax years beginning 2021-2023 and has EXPIRED - LLCs formed in 2026 owe $800 in year one. Additional income-based LLC fee if CA-source total income exceeds $250,000 ($900 to $11,790 by tier).
- Total, first year $890
Don't file on this alone. We're still verifying figures state by state. Open the source link below and confirm before you pay anything or rely on a deadline.
Keeping it alive
Your statement of information (form llc-12)
| Filing | Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) |
|---|---|
| How often | biennial |
| Fee | $20 |
| When it's due | Initial Statement due within 90 days of registration; thereafter every two years during a filing period tied to the month of original registration. |
| If you're late | Commonly reported as $250 for failure to file, NOT verified against a fetched official source. |
| If you keep ignoring it | FTB/SOS can suspend or forfeit an LLC's rights, powers and privileges for failing to pay the annual tax/fee or file required statements. |
State tax: $800 annual minimum franchise tax to FTB for every LLC organized in or doing business in California, due by the 15th day of the 4th month after formation and each tax year after. The temporary first-year exemption applied only to tax years beginning 2021-2023 and has EXPIRED - LLCs formed in 2026 owe $800 in year one. Additional income-based LLC fee if CA-source total income exceeds $250,000 ($900 to $11,790 by tier).
What we're less sure about
Caveats on this page
- $70 + $20 initial Statement of Information + $800 first-year franchise tax = $890.
- Expedite fees and exact late-filing penalty unconfirmed.
Ready to file?
You can file directly with California Secretary of State (formation, Statement of Information); Franchise Tax Board (annual LLC tax) yourself — that's always the cheapest route, and we link to the form above. If you'd rather someone handle the paperwork and act as your registered agent, we compare the services that do it.
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