California Registered Agent (Agent for Service of Process)

What California requires

Per Corporations Code § 17701.13, every LLC must continuously maintain an Agent for Service of Process with a California street address (no PO Boxes). The agent’s name and address are public.

Who can serve

• An individual who is a California resident with a physical street address
• A corporate agent that has filed a Form 1505 with the Secretary of State
• The LLC member or manager themselves, if they meet the residency requirement

Cost

DIY (serving as your own agent): $0. Professional registered agent services in California typically cost $100 to $300 per year. Higher-end providers include compliance reminders, mail forwarding, and out-of-state operator support.

How to change your agent

File a Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) noting the new agent. There is no separate fee if filed during a normal Statement cycle; otherwise it costs $20.

Why use a professional service

If you do not have a stable California address, work irregular hours, or want to keep your home address off the public record, a commercial registered agent is worth the annual cost. Service of process must be accepted in person during business hours, so a missed delivery can result in a default judgment.

California LLC at a glance

How California compares

California's LLC filing fee is $70, $30 below the national median of $100. 12 of the 51 jurisdictions (50 states and DC) charge less to file. Filing fees are only part of the picture, so the table below sets California beside five states founders often consider.

Forming outside the state where you live and work rarely saves money. A business operating in California that forms elsewhere generally still has to register as a foreign LLC in California and pay both states' fees. Our best states for an LLC guide explains when an out-of-state filing makes sense.