California Business Registration Fee Calculator
Forming an LLC in California costs $70 to file, and the state collects a $800 minimum franchise/privilege tax each year. Incorporating costs $100 up front and about $825 per year. Pick your entity type above for the itemized breakdown.
Your business
- Statement of Information (biennial)Shown as per-year average$10.00
- Annual franchise tax$800 minimum to the Franchise Tax Board every year, regardless of income$800.00
- LLC formation filing (Articles of Organization)$70.00
Estimate only — actual fees are set by your state and county at the time of registration. Data last reviewed 2026-07-17. This state's full local formula is not yet implemented; see the notes below the calculator.
Good to know
- The $800/year franchise tax is the big cost of a California entity — it's due even if the business makes nothing.
- LLCs with California income over $250,000 pay an additional gross-receipts fee of $900–$11,790.
What determines business cost in California?
- Entity type (LLC vs. corporation)
- Formation filing fee ($70 LLC / $100 corp)
- Annual/biennial report fees
- Franchise or privilege taxes
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in California?
The state filing fee for Articles of Organization is $70. That's the mandatory government cost — registered-agent services, operating agreements, and expedited processing are optional extras.
What does an LLC cost per year in California?
About $810 per year: a $20 statement of information (biennial) every 2 years plus a $800 minimum annual franchise tax.
How much does it cost to incorporate in California?
Filing Articles of Incorporation costs $100, then about $825 per year in report fees and minimum franchise tax.
More California calculators
Business Registration calculators for other states
Official California resources
Estimates here are informational — the state is the only source of an official quote.
Data last reviewed 2026-07-17.