Are you planning to form a limited liability company (LLC) in California?
If so, you should keep in mind that every California LLC needs a registered agent (also known as a statutory agent). So you’re probably in the market for one.
In this guide, we explain the state requirements for appointing your agent and provide a list of 7 professional registered agent services providers in California.
List of Registered Agents in California
- Northwest Registered Agent: $125/year+
- MyCorporation: $120/year+
- MyTaxFiler: Request a quote
- Doola: $199/year+
- PFSS: $120/year+
- MyUSACorp: $195/year+
- Bay Area Accounting: $99/year+
Top 7 Registered Agent Services in California
1. Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent is our top recommendation for anyone looking for a registered agent service in California.
They offer a complete, well-rounded registered agent service with excellent customer support, favorable conditions, good privacy, and an easy, straightforward sign-up process.
Northwest Registered Agent also distinguishes itself with a customer-friendly 90-day return policy. Should you decide to cancel your service, Northwest will offer you a prorated refund of the fees and costs you paid.
If you are interested in a more detailed assessment of the company and the services they offer, consider reading our in-depth review of Northwest Registered Agent.
- Cost: $125/year
- Visit Website
- Address: 2108 N Street, Sacramento CA, 95816
2. MyCorporation
MyCorporation also provides a spectrum of business services for corporations and LLCs. Apart from registered agent services, you can also request their help for a trademark application, operating agreement creation, or new tax class election for federal tax purposes.
Or you can opt for a consolidated “Maintain My Business” service package that includes four business filings every 12 months.
- Cost: $120/year+
- Visit Website
- Address: 26025 Mureau Rd, Suite 120, Calabasas, CA, 91302
3. MyTaxFiler
As the name implies, MyTaxFiler provides various tax and consulting services and can be appointed to serve as your registered agent with the state.
The company has offices in Texas, California, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
It may be a good choice if you operate companies in several locations.
- Cost: Request a quote
- Visit Website
- Address: 38350 Fremont Blvd #203, Fremont, CA, 94536
4. Doola
Doola, formerly known as StartPack, provides LLC formation, tax compliance, and registered agent services.
The company’s head office is in New York, but it serves clients nationwide. They primarily specialize in helping non-US nationals navigate all the company formation steps in the startup state.
Its LLC formation package for California costs $1999/year + $70 California fee. Registered agent services are bundled into the price.
- Cost: $199/year+
- Visit Website
- Address: 115 West 27th Street, New York, NY 10011
5. PFSS
PFSS provides business filing, document search, and document retrieval services in all 50 states.
The company also offers a registered agent service through its partnership with Registered Agent Solutions, Inc. (RASi) for California-based businesses.
- Cost: $120/year+
- Visit Website
- Address: 3511 Del Paso Road #160-104, Sacramento CA, 95835
6. MyUSACorp
MyUSACorp provides LLC formation, incorporation, compliance, and business management services on top of registered agent service.
The company works with both domestic and international clients. Its mission is to “guide our fellow entrepreneurs around the world to start their own businesses in the United States.”
If you’re a recent transplant, the team can help you navigate all the ropes.
- Cost: $195/year+
- Visit Website
- Address: 333 N. Lantana Street, Suite 110 Camarillo CA, 93010
7. Bay Area Accounting Solutions
Bay Area Accounting Solutions provides various accounting services to small and medium-sized businesses.
Their accounting team also offers a California registered agent service, should you like to bundle things up.
The costs are affordable, and the quality of services is high.
- Cost: $99/year+
- Visit Website
- Address: 39159 Paseo Padre Pkwy STE 115, Fremont, CA, 94538
Who can be a registered agent for an LLC in California?
Any private person can be a registered agent for a California LLC provided that they meet three criteria:
- They’re over 18.
- Have a physical street address in the state (a P.O. box won’t do).
- Can be available at their registered office during regular business hours every working day of the year in case a service of process notice arrives.
Many business owners name themselves, or an executive of the company, as the registered agent. If you personally (or your business associate) don’t fit this box, you can appoint a commercial registered agent service provider instead.
The other rule to remember is that you’ll need to update your LLC’s registered agent information every two years when filing your biennial Statement of Information with local authorities.
Note: California doesn’t require LLCs to file an annual report. Instead, LLCs file reports every two years.
If you don’t maintain a registered agent for your business, you can lose good standing with the state.
How do I appoint a registered agent in California?
Registered agent appointments are easy. You simply need to list their details — registered agent’s name, registered agent’s address, and contact information — in the Articles of Organization.
Then file the company formation documents or Biennial Statement of Information with the California Secretary of State. Once these are approved, your registered agent appointment becomes valid.
How do I change my registered agent in California?
There’s no particular “registered agent name/address” change form in California.
Instead, you name your new registered agent in a Statement of Information filing. You can submit it via your online account or by mail.
The filing fee for the mandatory biennial Statement of Information is $20, and $5 for a disclosure fee.
No state fees are required for submitting a Statement of Information to update your LLC record in between filing periods.
FAQs about California registered agents
Here are the frequently asked questions about registered agent services in California.
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Last updated: Sep 2023