The California Secretary of State requires every CA LLC to have a Registered Agent. Once you have assigned a California Registered Agent, they can receive official correspondence and documents on behalf of your CA business. Registered Agents can be individuals or other specialized Registered Agent service businesses.
Your LLC must have a California Registered Agent at all times. You can appoint a Registered Agent when you first start your business. You can also replace your existing CA Registered Agent at a later date, provided there is a smooth transition between the old and new Registered Agent service.
In California, a Registered Agent is formally known as an “Agent for Formal Service of Process,” and we’ll use that term interchangeable with “Registered Agent” in this section. Their functions and requirements are identical to those of Registered Agents described above.
Here’s some important information from the California Secretary of State on CA Registered Agent services:
“An agent for service of process is an individual who resides in California, or a corporation, designated to accept service of process (court papers) if the business entity is sued. If a corporation is designated as agent for service of process, that corporation must have previously filed a certificate pursuant to California Corporations Code section 1505.”
There are certain rules that you must follow when you’re appointing a California Registered Agent service for your business. They are:
Note that the CA Registered Agent address does not need to be the same as your California LLC business address.
Your California Registered Agent carries out several valuable services for your business. They accept official communications and documents from the CA Secretary of State on your behalf. This may include:
If you have an LLC that’s incorporated in California and you need a CA Registered Agent, we can help. Incfile provides a complete Registered Agent service for any California business. If you form your business through Incfile, we’ll act as your Registered Agent free for your first year (normally a $119 annual cost).
We are authorized to conduct business in California and can legally act as your Registered Agent. Here’s what you need to know about Incfile’s CA Registered Agent service.
Order Incfile’s California Agent for Service of Process service
You can appoint a Registered Agent when you first incorporate your California LLC or at any point after that. Here’s how to go about it.
Your business needs to have a California Registered Agent Service as soon as it’s formed. You can achieve this through one of the following methods.
You will need to include details of your Registered Agent in your Articles of Organization. This is the form that you file with the CA Secretary of State to formally create your business.
When you incorporate through us, we complete and file your Articles of Organization based on the information you’ve provided. Additionally, we give you a free California Registered Agent Service for the first year, and we’ll include details of your CA Registered Agent in the form that we file.
Incorporate your business through Incfile
You can also change your CA Registered Agent service after you’ve formed your LLC. There are a couple of ways to achieve this.
Once you’ve chosen a new California Registered Agent, you can complete form LLC-12, Statement of Information, which is available on the CA Secretary of State website. Once you’ve filled it out, send it to the Secretary of State so they can update your records. The California SOS may charge a nominal fee to assign or change a Registered Agent.
When you choose to use our CA Registered Agent service, we take care of all the form filling and filing for you. We’ll collect important information about your business, complete form LLC-12, Statement of Information on your behalf and send it to the California Secretary of State. We’ll let you know once we officially become your Registered Agent. Note that the California SOS may charge a nominal fee to assign or change a Registered Agent, which will be passed on to you.
Order Incfile’s Agent for Service of Process service
In some situations, you might want to know the name of the Registered Agent that represents another California LLC. If you do, you can search the business database of the California Secretary of State, as these will often provide details of a specific business’s Registered Agent.
If the CA Registered Agent isn’t available from the searchable business registry, contact the California Secretary of State requesting the information.
What happens if you choose not to assign or provide details of a Registered Agent to the California Secretary of State? There are several possible ramifications, including:
Yes. All CA LLCs are required to have a Registered Agent. This is mandated by the California Secretary of State.
You can either do it when you incorporate your California business through paperwork filed with the CA Secretary of State or afterward by filing the correct form. If you form your business through Incfile, we will file all necessary forms on your behalf.
Yes. Additionally, if they are a business providing Registered Agent services, they must be legally able to conduct business in your state.
You might find these resources helpful:
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The state charges this amount to file a new business entity. This fee goes directly to the Secretary of State.
State Fee | State Filing Time | Expedited Filing Time |
$75 | 15 Business Days | 5 Business Days |
This report is mandatory and must be filed within the specified time frame in order for the entity to remain in good standing with the state. Failure to file this report can lead to the company being revoked or administratively dissolved.
Frequency: Biennially
Due Date: During six-month period ending on last day of anniversary month of incorporation or qualification.
Filing Fee: $20
Important:The initial Statement of Information filing is due within 90 days of the entity formation date.
Frequency: Annually
Franchise Tax Fee: $800 (minimum)
$800 payment for the LLC Franchise Tax is due by 15th day of the 4th month after your LLC is filed. The month your LLC is filed counts as Month 1, regardless if you file on the 1st of the month, the last of the month, or any day of the month, really. This means that if you were to file your LLC on March 22nd, then you must pay the $800 fee no later than June 15th (in this example, March is Month 1, April is Month 2, May is Month 3, and June is Month 4). Then, every year after your first payment $800 LLC Franchise Tax will be due by April 15th. You pay the $800 LLC Franchise Tax using Form 3522 called the LLC Tax Voucher.
(We do not assist in the filing of the Franchise Tax Report)
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