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Biz Formation Report

Rankings of registered agents, LLC formation and foreign registration services in all 50 states.

Registered agents report · California

3 Best Registered Agents in California (2026)

By the Biz Formation Report editorial team

Biz Formation Report ranks registered agents in California for 2026 as Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year) and CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), in that order. Mainstay Filing earns the top grade: $149 a year, flat at renewal, with papers served on the company scanned the same business day at no charge.

No.1

Number one here

1. Mainstay Filing: best for all fifty states

Score9.1out of 10
$149 a year, unchanged at renewal

Top grade, Mainstay Filing: a $149 yearly plan that works in every state, renewing at $149.

A company still to be formed can use Mainstay's $199-a-year package, which files the California paperwork and the Statement of Information.

Over three years Mainstay costs $150 more than California Registered Agent.ai; our grading treats the broader coverage as worth that.

What you get

  • A registered office address in any state you need
  • Free scan-and-upload of served papers within the same business day
  • The first three government mailings of the year scanned at no charge
  • Compliance reminders

Good

  • Three government mailings a year scanned at no cost
  • $149 a year, no renewal increase
  • Open to LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits
  • Served papers scanned within the same business day, free

Weak spots

  • The agent alone costs $50 a year more than California Registered Agent.ai
  • Annual report filing requires the formation package
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Mainstay Filing review
No.2

Best value here

2. California Registered Agent.ai: best for the lowest annual price on this list

Score8.9out of 10
$99 a year, unchanged at renewal

Second grade, California Registered Agent.ai: $99 a year with no renewal increase, the lowest yearly price on this list.

With California Registered Agent.ai, the registered office has a street address in the state, and served papers reach you as online scans.

What you get

  • The state street address required for the registered office
  • Served legal documents are scanned and made available online

Good

  • Also forms LLCs and includes the first agent year
  • A flat $99 per year
  • Costs less per year than Mainstay Filing

Weak spots

  • The Statement of Information filing is left to you
  • Serves California only; other states need a separate agent
Visit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the California Registered Agent.ai review
No.3

California specialist

3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for companies based in California

Score8.7out of 10
$99 a year, unchanged at renewal

Third grade, CA Registered Agent.org: $99 a year with no renewal increase, the lowest yearly price on this list.

Served legal papers go to the in-state address CA Registered Agent.org provides, and you receive scans of them online.

California Registered Agent.ai and CA Registered Agent.org publish the same prices and plan features, so the grades are close and either is a sound pick.

What you get

  • An in-state street address as the registered office
  • Online scans of legal papers served on the company

Good

  • $99 per year, same when it renews
  • A lower yearly price than Mainstay Filing
  • Also forms LLCs and includes the first agent year

Weak spots

  • The Statement of Information filing is left to you
  • Serves California only; other states need a separate agent
Visit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the CA Registered Agent.org review

Summary of the 3 grades

RankProviderGradePrice per yearRenewal priceBest fitSite
1Mainstay Filing9.1$149$149/yrOne agent across fifty statesVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2California Registered Agent.ai8.9$99$99/yrThe lowest yearly price we rank hereVisit California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3CA Registered Agent.org8.7$99$99/yrThe lowest yearly price we rank hereVisit CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Grades out of 10 are Biz Formation Report's own editorial judgment, based on the criteria explained on How we rank. They are not customer ratings.

California registered agent prices, 2026: year one, renewal and three-year outlay

ProviderYear 1Year 2Year 3Three-year outlayRenewal at the same price
Mainstay Filing$149$149$149$447Yes
California Registered Agent.ai$99$99$99$297Yes
CA Registered Agent.org$99$99$99$297Yes

All prices were taken from the companies' own websites on November 12, 2026. California's own fees are the same whichever agent is named.

The basis for the order

The grading method assigns 32% to three-year bill and 32% to what the money buys, with renewal handling, local rules match and pricing openness taking 36%. For California, what the money buys decided it.

Mainstay's agent plan grades higher on coverage: served papers are scanned the same business day at no fee, the price is identical in all fifty states and three government mailings a year are scanned free. California Registered Agent.ai wins on cost, and the margin is thin.

Every criterion and weight is listed on How we rank.

California agent for service of process rules according to California Secretary of State (official)

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. An individual agent's California street address goes on the public record. A registered corporate agent's address is already on file with the state and is not repeated in the company's filing. Authority: Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13.

California's Statement of Information: cost, deadline and your agent

The Statement of Information is due from every California LLC every two years, by last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. The state charges $20. A late filing adds $250. Related notices are mailed to your agent for service of process.

California registered agent: common questions

Does a California LLC have to maintain a agent for service of process?

Yes. The state expects every LLC to keep a agent for service of process on record, and California requires that agent to have a street address inside its borders.

How much do California registered agents charge per year?

Annual charges run from $99 to $149, and prices are unchanged at renewal.

Can the owner be the company's own agent for service of process?

Yes, provided you meet the state's requirements. A California resident, or a corporation registered with the Secretary of State as a corporate agent under Corporations Code § 1505. A business cannot act as its own agent for service of process.

What is the filing deadline for the California Statement of Information?

The deadline: last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. The state charges $20. Miss it and $250 is added.

Which registered agents does this report rank?

Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year) and CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), in descending order of grade.

What is the best-value registered agent in California?

Mainstay Filing: $149 per year for an agent that goes wherever the company goes, plus free scans of the first three government mailings each year.

More from us

Source notes

  1. California Secretary of State (verified August 2026)
  2. California Secretary of State (verified August 2026)
  3. California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source (verified October 2026)
  4. Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01 (verified August 2026)
  5. California registered agent statute (verified October 2026)
  6. Pulled November 12, 2026: Mainstay Filing, California service page
  7. Pulled November 12, 2026: California Registered Agent.ai, pricing and service pages
  8. Pulled November 12, 2026: CA Registered Agent.org, pricing and service pages