File California Articles of Organization through bizfile Online. Then submit the initial Statement of Information and add the state tax deadlines to your calendar.

This guide covers forming a new California LLC. If your LLC already exists in another state or country, use the foreign-registration process instead.

California LLC at a glance

Official filing website
California Secretary of State
Business name check
Search business namesA name search does not reserve or approve the name.
Formation document
Articles of Organization (LLC-1)
State filing fee
$70Formation filing only; other required costs and optional services are separate.
Processing time
OnlineQueue: receipts from Oct 30, 2026PaperQueue: receipts from Oct 28, 2026Agency queue snapshot. SOS snapshot published Nov 5, 2026. These are dates of filings being reviewed, not promised completion dates.
Ongoing report or tax
Statement of Information
Report / renewal charge
$20Statement of Information fee only. California’s separate LLC annual tax is not included.
Frequency / due date
Within 90 days, then every two years
Sales tax base rate
7.25%Local rates may apply. July 1, 2026 snapshot; not an address-specific rate. 7.25% is the statewide base including uniform local components. District taxes can raise the address-specific rate.Official tax agency ↗
Names in formation records
No management roster requiredLLC-1 asks for the management type rather than a membership roster. The separate initial and biennial Statement of Information has additional person fields. Other filings and private bank/tax records may identify owners.

Before you file in California

Choose the name, principal and mailing addresses, registered agent and management structure. The agent receives legal papers for the LLC. Most licensed professional services cannot use an ordinary California LLC.

Search business names ↗

File the Articles of Organization (LLC-1)

Start California LLC articles ↗

  1. In bizfile Online, select “Articles of Organization – CA LLC.”
  2. Enter the business addresses, agent and management choice. Have the organizer sign the application.
  3. Pay and submit. Download the approved articles and entity number.
Hand-drawn path from choosing a name to filing the LLC and organizing the next steps.
Prepare, file, then complete the post-approval tasks.

What to enter in the form

Principal office
Enter a street address. Use the separate mailing-address field for correspondence.
Agent
Choose the individual agent or the registered corporate-agent option that matches your appointment.
Management
Select “All LLC Members” when the owners will manage the company. For appointed managers, choose “One Manager” for one person or “More than One Manager” for several.
Organizer
The organizer signs the articles. Keep ownership percentages in the operating agreement.

Formation form or legal requirements ↗

After approval in California

  • File LLC-12, the initial Statement of Information, within 90 days.
  • LLCs taxed as disregarded entities or partnerships generally owe California’s separate $800 annual tax, subject to exceptions. An income-based LLC fee may also apply; the old broad first-year exemption does not cover new 2026 formations.

Statement of Information

File a Statement of Information ↗

  1. Find the LLC in bizfile Online and start its Statement of Information.
  2. Enter the business addresses, agent and the managers or members the form requests. File every two years after the initial statement, even if nothing has changed.
  3. Pay the statement fee and save the accepted filing. Send state tax returns and payments separately to the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB).

Compare the filing cycles in our annual report and recurring-fee table.

Next steps: operating agreement · get an EIN · starting checklist.

Sources and filing links

Sources checked . Confirm the state’s current fees and instructions before filing.

Research and walkthrough references

These references provide background and filing walkthroughs. Follow current state instructions if an older walkthrough differs.

See our editorial policy for the research process and contact page for correction information.