Aurages
California · CA

Form a company in California

⚠️ A mandatory $800 annual franchise tax applies even with zero revenue. Only choose it if you have genuine presence in the state.

Best for: Only companies with an office or staff in California

LLC filing fee
$70
C-Corp filing fee
$100
Turnaround
15 business days
Recurring state fees
$820

What does it cost to form a company in California?

The table below is the government fee paid to California directly, with no Aurages markup. The plan subscription is separate and published on the pricing page, and nothing else appears at checkout.

Government fees to form a company in California
Articles of organization — LLC$70
Articles of incorporation — C-Corp$100
Annual reportخلال ٩٠ يوماً من التأسيس ثم سنوياً$20
Minimum annual franchise tax$800
Registered agent (per year)Included in every Aurages plan$50
Expedited filing (optional)Cuts the wait to 1 business day$350
Total government fees — first year (LLC)Filing + annual report + franchise tax$890
Recurring government fees — every year after$820

These figures reflect the rates published by the California Secretary of State when this page was last updated. States change them without notice; we confirm the fee that applies to you before you pay.

How long does formation take in California?

The standard route in California takes about 15 business days for the formation documents to issue, or 1 business day with expedited filing.

The EIN is a separate track at the IRS and is unaffected by how fast the state moves; the bank account starts after it issues. Your order's full timeline appears in the dashboard, step by step.

Tax and annual obligations

  • State income tax: levied — but whether it applies to you follows real activity in the state, not the fact of forming there
  • Sales tax: levied on sales inside the state
  • Annual report: required, due خلال ٩٠ يوماً من التأسيس ثم سنوياً
  • Federal obligations: unchanged whichever state you pick — the annual return, and Form 5472 with 1120 for a foreign owner where it applies. The federal BOI report has not applied to US-formed companies since March 2025

What Aurages handles in California

Checking the business name against the state register and reserving it
Drafting and filing the formation documents with the state
Operating agreement or bylaws
Registered agent and address inside California
EIN application without a Social Security Number
Preparing your bank file and guiding you through the application
A compliance calendar covering state deadlines and federal filings
Support in Arabic or English, with every document stored in your dashboard

How California compares

Where you incorporate is a cost-and-obligation decision, not a reputation one. Here are the numbers for the other states we file in.

StateLLC filingRecurringTurnaroundBest for
Delaware$110$35010 business daysStartups · Fundraising · C-Corp
Wyoming$100$605 business daysE-commerce · Amazon FBA · Solo founders
New Mexico$50—7 business daysLowest cost · Side projects · Tight budgets
Florida$125$138.757 business daysTrade · Real estate · Local services
Texas$300—7 business daysEnergy · Logistics · Companies with physical presence
Nevada$425$3507 business daysAsset protection · Privacy
See the full state comparison

Questions about forming in California

What does it cost to form an LLC in California?

The filing fee in California is $70 for an LLC and $100 for a C-Corp. A further $820 a year follows after that, so total government fees in the first year come to $890. These are the government's own fees, paid to it directly with no Aurages markup; the plan subscription is separate and published.

How long does it take to form a company in California?

Formation documents in California usually issue within 15 business days on the standard route, or 1 business day with expedited filing for an extra $350. The EIN takes additional time on a separate track at the IRS and is unaffected by how fast the state moves.

Do I have to file an annual report in California?

Yes. California requires an annual report with a $20 fee due خلال ٩٠ يوماً من التأسيس ثم سنوياً, plus a minimum annual franchise tax of $800. Missing it incurs a penalty and can go as far as the state administratively dissolving the company — which is why the date sits in the compliance calendar in your dashboard with a reminder ahead of it.

Do I pay California state income tax?

California levies a state income tax, but whether it reaches you depends on having real activity — nexus — inside the state, not on the fact of forming there. Many non-resident-owned companies with no activity in the state do not owe it. We review your position and set out what applies; this is general information and does not replace advice from a licensed accountant.

Can I form a company in California from outside the United States?

Yes. California requires no US citizenship, no residency and no personal appearance, and you can own the company outright — 100%. What the state does require is a registered agent and an address inside it to receive official correspondence, and both are included in every Aurages plan.

Ready to form your company in California?

It starts with clear steps that show the fees and timing before you pay, and ends with a registered company and its documents in your dashboard.

Start nowSee plans and pricing