Registered agent price index · California
3 Best Registered Agents in California (2026): Price Index
Index basis: Rows follow our value index, led by three-year cost
California in figures
California ledger, best value first
1. California Registered Agent.ai: best for the smallest yearly agent bill
Best value on the ledgerBest value in California is California Registered Agent.ai: $99 a year with an in-state street address on file.
Its three-year subtotal is under Mainstay Filing's, and three-year cost carries 38% of the index.
Line includes
- An office address in the state
- Scans of served papers
Credits
- A yearly bill below Mainstay Filing's
- Price $99, renewal $99
Debits
- A one-state service
- No help with the Statement of Information
2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for keeping everything local
In-state lineCA Registered Agent.org indexes second. The entries: $99 a year with an in-state street address on file.
On price alone it is a tie with California Registered Agent.ai.
Line includes
- An office address in the state
- Scans of served papers
Credits
- A yearly bill below Mainstay Filing's
- Price $99, renewal $99
Debits
- A one-state service
- No help with the Statement of Information
3. Mainstay Filing: best for a price that never changes by state
Covers the most itemsMainstay Filing indexes third. The entries: $149/yr here and the identical $149 in any other state.
Its subtotal runs $150 above California Registered Agent.ai's over three years, and cost is 38% of the index.
Line includes
- A real address in the state
- Three government mailings a year, scanned at no cost
- Serves nonprofits, corporations, LPs and LLPs along with LLCs
Credits
- Price $149, renewal $149
- One price in all fifty states
Debits
- A yearly gap of $50
- Report filing requires the formation package
Cumulative ledger
| Line | Provider | Total, year 1 | Total, year 2 | Total, year 3 | Total, year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Registered Agent.ai | $99 | $198 | $297 | $495 | Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | CA Registered Agent.org | $99 | $198 | $297 | $495 | Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $149 | $298 | $447 | $745 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Crossover check
What California charges itself
| Entry | Amount | Cited from |
|---|---|---|
| Formation filing charge | $70 | leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (read August 2026) per the state |
| Statement of Information | $20 every two years | sos.ca.gov (read October 2026) per the state |
| Penalty for filing late | $250 | sos.ca.gov (read October 2026) per the state |
| Minimum yearly tax | $800 each year | ftb.ca.gov (read October 2026) per the state |
| State total, years 1 to 3 | $2,490 | Filing + reports + any tax |
The California index, explained
Three-year cost index settled line one. That column is 38% of the index; coverage per dollar, renewal step, crossover year and price transparency make up the rest.
Three years with California Registered Agent.ai cost $297, while Mainstay Filing runs $150 higher.
Official California agent for service of process requirements (California Secretary of State)
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A California resident, or a corporation registered with the Secretary of State as a corporate agent under Corporations Code § 1505. A business cannot act as its own agent for service of process. Statute: Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13.
An individual agent's California street address goes on the public record. A registered corporate agent's address is already on file with the state and is not repeated in the company's filing.
Citation: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (read October 2026) per the state
If you file it yourself
Without a service the agent line is zero, provided you meet the rules, and the state bills the same either way. Services run $99 to $149 a year.
Common questions
How much does a California registered agent charge each year?
$99 to $149 a year among our lines.
What do three years of agent service cost?
$297 to $447 in service fees, state charges excluded.
Does California require an agent for service of process for every LLC?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
May I serve as my own agent for service of process?
Yes, provided you qualify under the rules above.
What does the state collect from the LLC every year?
$20 every second year for the Statement of Information, payable last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. The yearly minimum tax is extra.
When does one line pass another in total cost?
Within ten years, never: the order of the subtotals stays the same.
Which registered agent indexes best in California?
California Registered Agent.ai indexes first. CA Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing follow.
Source lines
- Line for California Secretary of State: sos.ca.gov, August 2026.
- Line for California Secretary of State: bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, August 2026.
- Line for California yearly filing: Statement of: sos.ca.gov, October 2026.
- Line for Cal: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, August 2026.
- Line for California registered agent statute: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, October 2026.
- Line for California other cost: Annual LLC: ftb.ca.gov, October 2026.
- Line for California other cost: Annual LLC: ftb.ca.gov, October 2026.
- California Registered Agent.ai pricing page (read November 13, 2026)
- CA Registered Agent.org pricing page (read November 13, 2026)
- Mainstay Filing California service page (read November 13, 2026)