CA · Incorporation
Form an LLC or corporation in California.
California's modern accounting partner for formation, registered agent, and the books that come next.
At a glance
California formation snapshot
- LLC filing fee
- $70
- Corp filing fee
- $100
- Annual / franchise
- $800 minimum franchise tax
- Annual report due
- LLC: 15th day of 2nd month after anniversary; corps: varies
- State income tax
- Graduated personal; 8.84% corporate
- Typical processing
- 2–5 weeks
Fees and timelines can change. We confirm current amounts before we file.
Why this state
Why form in California
California is often the right formation state when your market, team, or investors are already here. Market access is the advantage. Cost and compliance are the tradeoff.
Expect the $800 minimum franchise tax for most corporations and LLCs after the first-year rules that apply to your entity type, plus SOS filing fees.
If you only need California customers without a California home base, foreign qualification and tax registration may be enough. We help you choose before you file.
Process
Step-by-step formation in California
- 1Name reservation (when required)
- 2Articles of Organization or Incorporation filing
- 3Registered agent designation
- 4EIN application
- 5Operating agreement or bylaws
- 6BOI / FinCEN filing when required
- 7State and local business licenses
- 8First-year compliance calendar
Compliance
Ongoing compliance in California
- Most LLCs and corporations owe the $800 minimum franchise tax on a set schedule after formation.
- Statement of Information filings are periodic and easy to miss without a calendar.
- Sales tax, employment tax, and city business licenses often stack on top of SOS filings.
State-specific notes
- The $800 minimum franchise tax is the compliance item founders forget most often.
- California is precise about naming, agent addresses, and incomplete Statements of Information.
Tax snapshot
California tax at a glance
Graduated personal; 8.84% corporate
FAQ
California formation questions
Ready to form in California?
Tell us your entity type and timeline. We confirm live fees, file, and set your first-year compliance calendar.