Place1
Best hereCalifornia Registered Agent.ai
1. California Registered Agent.ai: best for a low California agent renewal
$199 to register, $99 yearly after
Our mark9.5out of 10
Top of our list: California Registered Agent.ai, for $199 plus the state fee with a year of agent for service of process service included, then $99 a year for the agent.
It provides the in-state registered office address and posts scans of served legal papers online.
Its edge over Mainstay Filing is cost, which carries the most weight in our scoring.
What you get
- Registration prepared and filed
- A year of agent for service of process service
Why pick it
- A year of agent for service of process service included
- Low $99 agent renewal
- $199 over the state fee
Less good
- Focused on California; your home state needs its own agent
- Charges $99 for the EIN application
Place2
Best local optionCA Registered Agent.org
2. CA Registered Agent.org: best for a local California filer
$199 to register, $99 yearly after
Our mark9.2out of 10
CA Registered Agent.org comes second with $199 plus the state fee with a year of agent for service of process service included, then $99 a year for the agent.
It provides the in-state registered office address and posts scans of served legal papers online.
Same prices and features as California Registered Agent.ai; pick whichever you prefer.
What you get
- Registration prepared and filed
- A year of agent for service of process service
Why pick it
- Low $99 agent renewal
- $199 over the state fee
- A year of agent for service of process service included
Less good
- Focused on California; your home state needs its own agent
- Charges $99 for the EIN application
Place3
One price, any stateMainstay Filing
3. Mainstay Filing: best for companies registered in several states
$199 to register, $149 yearly after
Our mark8.9out of 10
Mainstay Filing ranks third: $199 plus the state's own fee, with your agent for service of process free for the first year and one price in every state.
Year two onward, $149 a year for the agent, in any state.
The extra $100 over three years is the reason it trails California Registered Agent.ai on our cost score.
What you get
- Registration prepared and filed
- Service of process scanned the same business day, no fee
Why pick it
- Service of process scanned the same business day, no fee
- Fifty-state coverage
- $199 + the California fee
Less good
- $149 agent renewal, $50 above California Registered Agent.ai
Quick comparison: California
| Rank | Service | Our score | Service fee | Year two | Best for | Link |
|---|
| 1 | California Registered Agent.ai | 9.5 | $199 | $99/yr | Lowest agent renewal on this list | Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
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| 2 | CA Registered Agent.org | 9.2 | $199 | $99/yr | Lowest agent renewal on this list | Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
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| 3 | Mainstay Filing | 8.9 | $199 | $149/yr | Companies registered in several states | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
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The scores are ours: editorial marks out of 10 built from the weighted criteria on How we rank, not ratings from customers.
California foreign registration service cost over three years (2026)
| Service | Year one | Year two | Year three | Three-year total | Agent in year one |
|---|
| California Registered Agent.ai | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 | Included |
|---|
| CA Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 | Included |
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| Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149 | $149 | $497 | Not stated |
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We read these prices on the companies' own sites on November 12, 2026. Every service adds the $70 state fee, so it is left out above.
What decided the ranking
Our method scores three-year cost (30%) and what one price covers (30%) most heavily, then renewal terms, fit for the state and price clarity. Here the order came down to three-year cost.
Over three years California Registered Agent.ai comes to $397, $100 under Mainstay Filing. Year one is a wash; the lower renewal decided it.
Our method page lists all five criteria.
California foreign LLC registration (2026)
Registering costs $70 at the California Secretary of State, Business Entities, using the Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) (Form LLC-5). California also wants certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, dated within 180 days.
After registering, the company files the Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 ($20), due within 90 days of registering, then every 2 years.
Your checklist
- Certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, issued no more than 180 days before you file.
- Legal name and formation date from the home state.
- A agent for service of process in California; each service on this page acts as one.
- The $70 state fee, paid with the filing.
- A date in your calendar for the Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 and its $20 fee.
Penalties for not registering in California
An unregistered foreign LLC cannot bring a lawsuit in the state's courts until it registers (Corp. Code 17708.07(a)).
Foreign registration services in California: questions
Do I need to register my out-of-state LLC in California?
Yes, if the company transacts business there. Until it registers it cannot bring a lawsuit in the state's courts.
How much does foreign registration cost in California?
$70 to the state, plus $199 for a service.
Which form does the state use?
The Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) (Form LLC-5), filed with the California Secretary of State, Business Entities.
Do I need a certificate from my home state?
Yes: certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state, dated within 180 days of filing.
Do I need a agent for service of process after registering?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which foreign registration service is best in California?
California Registered Agent.ai tops our list: the California registration filed for $199, the first agent year included and $99 a year after.