CaliforniaFilings.com is a private filing service, not the California Secretary of State. You can file directly with the state at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov.

25 Years of Experience

California LLC formation with privacy for $499

Our clients tell us they saved hundreds compared to others.

In addition to privacy service, your formation includes registered agent service and an address from us to keep your address from showing up on state public records.

Order LLC with privacy, $499 See all options

Need it fast? Next business day with privacy is $625 (order by noon PT), please see the options below or call/text 310-980-4455. California Filings is a private service, not the State of California.

Today’s prices

Today (Pacific Time)

If you want the Next Business Day formation option, order by 12:00 noon PT on a business day for filing that is eligible for approval by the California Secretary of State the next business day.

California LLC formation

We recommend privacy for most owners. Order by noon PT for next-business-day filing.

3 to 5 business days Recommended

California LLC with privacy

$499

Price includes the $70 state filing fee.

What’s included

  • Privacy service: your name and address are not shown on the public state filings
  • Registered agent service and an address from us, so your address stays off state public records (first year included; $75/year after)
  • Operating Agreement and organizational minutes appointing you manager of the LLC, kept in your private records
  • Service to obtain your EIN (federal tax ID), if needed
Order now

Next business day Fastest

California LLC formation with privacy in 24-hrs

$625

Price includes the $70 state filing fee and $350 state 24-hour expedite fee.

What’s included

  • Privacy service: your name and address are not shown on the public state filings
  • Registered agent service and an address from us, so your address stays off state public records (first year included; $75/year after)
  • Operating Agreement and organizational minutes appointing you manager of the LLC, kept in your private records
  • Service to obtain your EIN (federal tax ID), if needed
Order now

3 to 5 business days

California LLC without privacy

$299

Price includes the $70 state filing fee.

What’s included

  • First year’s registered agent service, with a California address for privacy if needed ($75/year after)
  • Service to obtain your EIN (federal tax ID), if needed
Order now

California Corporation formation

Privacy is not available for corporations, which must list officers and directors publicly.

Next business day

California Corporation formation in 24-hrs

$625

Price includes the $100 state filing fee and $350 state 24-hour expedite fee.

What’s included

  • First year’s registered agent service, with a California address for privacy if needed ($75/year after)
  • Service to obtain your EIN (federal tax ID), if needed
Order now

3 to 5 business days

California Corporation formation

$299

Price includes the $100 state filing fee.

What’s included

  • First year’s registered agent service, with a California address for privacy if needed ($75/year after)
  • Service to obtain your EIN (federal tax ID), if needed
Order now

Out-of-state companies registering in California

For LLCs and corporations formed in another state that do business in California (foreign qualification).

Next business day

Register an out-of-state LLC in California in 24-hrs

$625

Price includes the $70 state filing fee and $350 state 24-hour expedite fee.

What’s included

  • First year’s registered agent service, with a California address for privacy if needed ($75/year after)
  • Service to obtain your EIN (federal tax ID), if needed
  • Requires a Certificate of Good Standing from your home state, issued within the last 6 months
Order now

Next business day

Register an out-of-state Corporation in California in 24-hrs

$625

Price includes the $100 state filing fee and $350 state 24-hour expedite fee.

What’s included

  • First year’s registered agent service, with a California address for privacy if needed ($75/year after)
  • Service to obtain your EIN (federal tax ID), if needed
  • Requires a Certificate of Good Standing from your home state, issued within the last 6 months
Order now

Next business day

Register an out-of-state LLC with privacy in 24-hrs

$825

Price includes the $70 state filing fee and $350 state 24-hour expedite fee.

What’s included

  • Privacy service: your name and address are not shown on the public state filings
  • Registered agent service and an address from us, so your address stays off state public records (first year included; $75/year after)
  • Requires a Certificate of Good Standing from your home state, issued within the last 6 months
Order now

Proof of filing: as evidence of your filing, the state-certified documents are emailed to you as soon as we receive them from the California Secretary of State.

Fees and disclosures. CaliforniaFilings.com is a private business filing service owned by Blazing Star LLC. We are not a law firm or a CPA firm, and we do not provide legal, tax or accounting advice. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting on behalf of the California Secretary of State, the Franchise Tax Board, the IRS or any other government agency. You may file formation documents directly with the California Secretary of State and pay only the state fees ($70 for an LLC, $100 for a corporation, plus $350 for optional 24-hour expedited service). Our prices include our service fee for preparing and submitting your documents. Filing times depend on the Secretary of State, and approval is not guaranteed.

How it works

Four steps from order to state-approved company. Most clients spend about ten minutes on their part.

  1. Choose your service

    Pick your LLC with or without privacy, or a corporation, and choose next-business-day or 3 to 5 day filing.

  2. Give us your details

    Company name, business address, who manages the company and the registered agent you want. We review everything for errors that cause rejections.

  3. We file with the state

    Orders received by 12:00 noon PT on a business day are filed that day with the Secretary of State, using expedited service when you choose next business day.

  4. Get your documents

    We email your state-certified documents when the state approves the filing, then help with your EIN if you asked for it.

Why privacy matters for your LLC

When you form a California company, the information you file becomes public on the Secretary of State’s website for anyone to see. Data brokers download those state databases and republish them, so the names and addresses end up on search engines and people-search sites.

Today’s AI-powered search makes that information even easier to find and connect to you. A single search can pull your company, your name and your home address together in seconds. That is why we recommend privacy for most owners instead of having your information searchable by anyone, anywhere on the internet.

With our LLC with privacy service, your name and address are not shown on the public filing, and our registered agent service and address keep your address off the state’s public records. Your ownership is documented in your private Operating Agreement, and we prepare organizational minutes appointing you manager of the LLC.

See private LLC prices How the private LLC works

What appears on the public record
On the public state recordStandard LLCLLC with privacy
Your name as manager or memberShownNot shown
Your address as manager or memberShownNot shown
Registered agentOften you, at your homeOur registered agent and address
Your ownershipPrivate recordsPrivate Operating Agreement and minutes

Privacy keeps your details off the public filings. It does not hide ownership from the IRS, the Franchise Tax Board, banks or a court, which can still require it. The LLC’s principal office street address is also public, so choose it with privacy in mind; we go over the options with you when you order. Privacy is offered for LLCs only, because California corporations must list their officers and directors publicly.

California business formation at a glance

The state rules and fees that apply to every California LLC and corporation.

California formation facts
Filed withCalifornia Secretary of State, Business Programs Division (bizfile Online)
LLC formation documentArticles of Organization (Form LLC-1), $70 state fee
Corporation formation documentArticles of Incorporation, $100 state fee
Out-of-state LLCApplication to Register a Foreign LLC (Form LLC-5), $70, with a home-state certificate of good standing issued within 6 months
Out-of-state corporationStatement and Designation by Foreign Corporation, $100, with a home-state certificate of good standing
State expedite options24-hour $350; same-day $750 (received by 9:30 a.m.). Expedite fees are kept by the state even if a filing is rejected.
Statement of InformationDue within 90 days of filing. LLCs: $20, then every 2 years. Corporations: $25, then every year.
Annual tax$800 minimum, paid to the Franchise Tax Board. See when it is due.
Registered agentRequired. Called an agent for service of process. Must have a California street address.

Sources: California Secretary of State, service options; Franchise Tax Board. Last reviewed October 18, 2026.

The $800 California franchise tax

Every LLC and corporation formed or registered in California owes at least $800 a year to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB). It is owed even if the company makes no money.

LLCs pay the first $800 by the 15th day of the 4th month after the LLC is formed, using FTB Form 3522. After that, it is due by the 15th day of the 4th month of each tax year, which is April 15 for most LLCs.

Corporations are not charged the $800 minimum in their first tax year, but they pay tax on any net income. From the second year, the $800 minimum is paid with the first estimated tax payment.

Full franchise tax guide, with examples

How to pay the FTB

  • Online with FTB Web Pay from a bank account, free
  • By credit card through the FTB’s card processor, for a fee
  • By mail with a check and the voucher (Form 3522 for LLCs)
  • Put the reminder on your calendar the day your company is approved

The FTB is a state agency. We are not a tax firm. Ask a CPA about your situation.

After your company is approved

The filings and tasks that come next, in the order most owners handle them.

  1. Get your EIN

    The IRS issues the federal tax ID you need for a bank account and payroll. Included if you need it.

  2. Sign your records

    Sign the Operating Agreement or bylaws and keep them with your certified documents.

  3. File the Statement of Information

    Due to the Secretary of State within 90 days. What it requires.

  4. Plan for the $800 tax

    Note the FTB due date, and check city business license and seller’s permit needs.

California formation guides

Plain-language answers, checked against the state’s own rules.

California LLC formationHow to form an LLC in California, what you file and what you receive.California corporation formationArticles of Incorporation, shares, directors, bylaws and first steps.Private (anonymous) LLC in CaliforniaKeep your name and home address off the public state record.Register an out-of-state companyHow an LLC or corporation from another state registers in California.California LLC costEvery state fee, expedite option and yearly cost in one place.How long it takes to form an LLCState processing times, expedite levels and the noon PT cutoff.The $800 California franchise taxWho pays it, when it is due and how to pay the Franchise Tax Board.Statement of InformationThe 90-day filing every California LLC and corporation must make.Registered agent in CaliforniaWhat an agent for service of process does and why the address matters.LLC vs. corporation in CaliforniaTaxes, paperwork, privacy and which one fits your plans.California LLC for real estateHolding rental property in an LLC: taxes, transfers and privacy.How to find who owns an LLC in CaliforniaWhere ownership shows up in public records, and what stays private.Change your registered agent in CaliforniaThe free filing that switches your agent for service of process.California LLC name rulesRequired endings, banned words, name searches and reservations.Privacy LLC cost comparisonWhat California LLC privacy costs with us and with other providers.

Questions

How fast can you form a California LLC or corporation?

If you order by 12:00 noon Pacific Time on a business day, we file that day using the state’s 24-hour expedited service, so your LLC or corporation is eligible for approval by the next business day. Our standard service usually takes 3 to 5 business days. For same-day filing, call 310-980-4455.

What does “next business day” mean?

Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding California state holidays. An order placed by noon PT on Tuesday is filed Tuesday and is eligible for approval by Wednesday. An order placed after noon, or on a weekend or holiday, is filed the next business day.

Is next-business-day approval guaranteed?

No one but the Secretary of State can approve a filing. We file on time with expedited service and review your details to avoid rejections, but the state controls approval. If the state rejects a filing, we contact you, fix the issue and resubmit.

What is an LLC with privacy, and is it legal?

It is a standard California LLC set up so your personal name and address are not shown on the public state filings. Your ownership is recorded in your private Operating Agreement, and we prepare organizational minutes appointing you manager. Using a privacy structure is legal. It does not hide you from the IRS, the Franchise Tax Board, banks or courts.

Why is privacy only for LLCs and not corporations?

California requires every corporation to list its officers and directors by name and address on its public Statement of Information. LLCs have more flexibility in how they are managed, which makes a privacy structure possible.

Do your prices include the state filing fees?

Yes. Each price lists the state fees it includes, such as the $70 LLC or $100 corporation filing fee and the $350 state 24-hour expedite fee for next-business-day service. You can also file directly with the state and pay only the state fees.

What do I receive when my company is approved?

We email the state-certified documents as soon as we receive them from the Secretary of State, along with your Operating Agreement or bylaws and organizational documents.

Is CaliforniaFilings.com part of the government or a law firm?

No. CaliforniaFilings.com is a private filing service owned by Blazing Star LLC. We are not a law firm or a CPA firm, and we are not affiliated with the California Secretary of State. You can file directly at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov.

See all questions

Form your California LLC with privacy

$499 total. State filing fee, registered agent service and our address included.

Start your order

Contact us

Questions about forming your company, privacy or an order? Call, email or send us a message. We reply on business days.

Call/text

310-980-4455

Email

Team [at] CaliforniaFilings.com

For same-day filing, please call. Messages sent through the form are answered in order received.

Please don’t send Social Security numbers or payment details through this form. See our privacy policy.

Call/text 310-980-4455Order now