What it means · California
3 Best Foreign Registration Services in California (2026), Explained
The gist
- Fee to register
- $70
- Do you attach a home-state certificate?
- Yes, attach one (180 days maximum)
- Follow-up
- $20, Statement of Information, Form LLC-12
- Who we recommend
- Mainstay Filing, California Registered Agent.ai then CA Registered Agent.org
Services we would pick in California
Order and weights are explained on how we pick.1. Mainstay Filing: best for a second, third or fourth state
Service fee $199 and $70 to the state; agent renewal $149
Why Mainstay Filing? It charges $199 plus the state fee and includes the agent for service of process for the first year, then $149 a year.
California Registered Agent.ai would save $100 over three years but covers California only.
The agent for service of process costs $149 annually from year two onward, in every state.
Includes
- Application prepared and filed
- One price across the country
Points in its favor
- Identical fee in every state
- Service fee of $199
Where it falls short
- A higher agent renewal of $149
2. California Registered Agent.ai: best for registering in this state only
Service fee $199 and $70 to the state; agent renewal $99
Our second recommendation, California Registered Agent.ai, earns it since the filing is $199, and the agent renews each year at $99.
Includes
- Application prepared and submitted
- Agent service during year one
Points in its favor
- $99 a year for the agent afterward
- $199 plus the state fee
- Includes a first year of agent service
Where it falls short
- Your home state requires a second provider
3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for a second local choice
Service fee $199 and $70 to the state; agent renewal $99
Our third recommendation, CA Registered Agent.org, earns it since the filing is $199, and the agent renews each year at $99.
The prices match California Registered Agent.ai, so pick the one you prefer.
Includes
- Application prepared and submitted
- Agent service during year one
Points in its favor
- Includes a first year of agent service
- $99 a year for the agent afterward
- $199 plus the state fee
Where it falls short
- Your home state requires a second provider
Numbers side by side
| # | Company | First-year price | Year two on | Over three years | Covers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | application prepared and filed; one price across the country | Check Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | California Registered Agent.ai | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | application prepared and submitted; agent service during year one | Check California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | CA Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | application prepared and submitted; agent service during year one | Check CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
What owners want to know
Do I need to register my out-of-state LLC?
Registration comes first: an LLC from another state signs up before transacting business in California.
Doing business without registering risks it cannot sue as a plaintiff (Corp. Code 17708.07(a)).
as of October 2026: ftb.ca.gov
What are the fees to register?
Filing on your own costs $70; with a service, add $199.
By the end of year three the state has collected $2,490. as of October 2026: bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov
What do I file, and where does it go?
The California Secretary of State, Business Entities takes the Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) (Form LLC-5) from LLCs formed in other states.
Send certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state not older than 180 days.
What do I owe after registering?
A recurring Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 ($20).
Filings come due Within 90 days of registering, then every 2 years.
How did you order the services?
It is how much work the price handles, weighted at 28%, that puts Mainstay Filing first.
Most of the score, 62%, comes from what three years cost and how much work the price handles.
The home state needs an agent as well, and one account for both is simpler.
California requirements checklist
| What it covers | Fee or rule | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Registration charge | $70 | as of October 2026: bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov |
| Home-state certificate | Yes, attach one, 180 days | as of October 2026: ftb.ca.gov |
| Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 | $20 | as of October 2026: ftb.ca.gov |
| Yearly minimum tax | $800 a year | as of October 2026: ftb.ca.gov |
| Paid to the state in three years | $2,490 | The rows above, added |
Further questions
Does the home state need its own agent?
Yes, each state has its own requirement. A one-state service covers only the state it is in.
What is the three-year price of each?
Over three years: Mainstay Filing ($497), California Registered Agent.ai ($397), CA Registered Agent.org ($397), with state fees on top.
What are your sources?
State fees come from California's official sources, cited by each figure. Service prices come from each company's own pricing page.
Is hiring anyone mandatory?
No, you may file on your own if you meet the rules on this page.
Can someone else submit the registration?
The picks on this page all file it; state fees are identical.
Which one should I choose in California?
Mainstay Filing, because its $199 fee is the same in every state, and the first year of agent for service of process service is included. Then California Registered Agent.ai and CA Registered Agent.org.
Where the facts come from
- sos.ca.gov: California Secretary of State (confirmed August 2026)
- bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov: California Secretary of State (confirmed August 2026)
- sos.ca.gov: California yearly filing: Statement of (confirmed October 2026)
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov: Cal (confirmed August 2026)
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov: California registered agent statute (confirmed October 2026)
- sos.ca.gov: California Secretary of State, foreign (confirmed October 2026)
- bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov: Form LLC-5 (confirmed October 2026)
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov: Corporations Code section 17708.03 (confirmed October 2026)
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov: Revenue and Taxation Code section (confirmed October 2026)
- ftb.ca.gov: Franchise Tax Board, LLC filing (confirmed October 2026)
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov: California Corporations Code 17708.07 (confirmed November 2026)
- ftb.ca.gov: California other cost: Annual LLC (confirmed October 2026)
- California service page from Mainstay Filing, prices as of November 13, 2026
- pricing page from California Registered Agent.ai, prices as of November 13, 2026
- pricing page from CA Registered Agent.org, prices as of November 13, 2026