While state requirements are universal, finding local resources and county clerk information can be helpful for local business licenses. Select a county below to learn more:
To form a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in California, the state requires you to designate an Agent for Service of Process (commonly known as a Registered Agent). This agent is responsible for receiving official legal and tax correspondence, such as lawsuits and subpoenas, on behalf of your business.
The requirements for registered agents are strictly defined under California law:
An individual serving as an agent must be a California resident at least 18 years old and must have a physical street address in California (P.O. Boxes are strictly prohibited). An LLC cannot act as its own registered agent.
The core step in establishing your California LLC is submitting the Articles of Organization. In California, this is officially designated as Form LLC-1. As of 2025, the state strongly encourages filing online through the Secretary of State's bizfileOnline portal.
Be prepared for the following mandatory state fees when forming and maintaining your LLC:
Expedited processing (for in-person drop-offs) incurs additional fees, starting at a $15 counter drop-off fee up to higher amounts for guaranteed rapid processing.