How to Apply for an LLC in California (for Free)
In this article, we'll show you step-by-step how to apply for an LLC in California by giving you links to all of the forms, with advice on how to save money by doing it yourself!
It's a lot easier to apply for an LLC in California than you might think, and if you have the time to spend learning how to do it, you can avoid using a third-party service.
By free, we mean filing the application forms yourself without an LLC formation company. State filing fees may still apply.
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How to Start an LLC in California
As the world is becoming more and more digital, the process of applying for an LLC in California is not as daunting as it once was.
That said, we are still talking about the U.S. government so there will be a fair amount of process and paperwork to complete.
Make you that you take the time to really read this article a couple of times to fully understand everything you need to do. Any mistakes can delay your application and your company will have to wait before you can start trading.
Do I Need to Apply for an LLC?
Applying for an LLC for your business is not a requirement, and you can start trading without one as a sole proprietor if you want to.
For most businesses, though, the Limited Liability Company (LLC) company entity provides a lot of benefits that will protect you.
The most obvious one is that you have liability protection (the clue is in the name Limited Liability) against business debts, lawsuits, or other unforeseen issues.
As an LLC, your personal assets would be protected against these events, where as a sole proprietor, you could potentially lose those assets in a lawsuit or as part of a debt repayment to creditors.
Another benefit down the road might be that you can purchase assets in the business, such as real estate, which keeps them separate from your personal assets. This allows you to reduce tax liability through investment.
The bottom line is that, while you don't need to form an LLC, it's very much advised for the protections and benefits it provides you.
Choosing your California LLC Name
The first step when applying for an LLC is actually having something to name your LLC. To do this, you'll need to perform something called a "business entity search".
What this means is that you need to check whether or not the name you want to use for your California LLC is available and not being used by another business.
California Business Entity Search
Your name must include the phrase “limited liability company,” or one of its abbreviations or words: “LLC, L.L.C., Limited, Ltd., Company or Co.”. Your name cannot include words that could confuse your LLC with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.). Restricted words (e.g. Bank, Attorney, University) may require additional paperwork and a licensed individual, such as a doctor or lawyer, to be part of your LLC.
Click the button below to check your LLC name with the California Secretary of State.
Check your LLC name
Naming rules
LLC Name Designator
Once you have an LLC name for your business that you're sure isn't being used by anybody else, you need to pick a designator to be added to the end of it.
The rules vary by state, so to make sure you're covered by California laws, the best option here is to pick something from the list below:
- Your Company LLC
- Your Company L.L.C.
- Your Company LC
- Your Company L.C.
- Your Company Limited Liability Company
To ensure you fully follow California state law, make sure the click the naming rules link above.
Make sure you do not use a designator that makes it look like your LLC is a different type of business entity. If you try to use designators like Inc, Incorporated, LP, LLP etc, your application will be rejected.
Choosing Your Registered Agent
When applying for an LLC in California, you will need to have a Registered Agent listed on your Certification of Formation.
A Registered Agent is a person or company that is legally responsible for receiving legal and tax documents on behalf of your business.
Our recommended LLC formation services, Incfile and ZenBusiness, will provide you with a Registered Agent for your LLC. In most cases, this is free for the first year of service.
California LLC Certificate of Formation
At this point, you're ready to actually file your Certificate of Formation form with the state of California and get your LLC officially formed.
Let's take a look at the mandatory filing fees for applying for an LLC in California, and the methods you can use to file your form.
California LLC Filing Fees
The fees you will pay when applying for an LLC in California are: Filing fee of $70, Statement of Information filing fee of $20 and Franchise Tax fee of $800.
The table below shows the primary state filing fees for applying for an LLC in California.
Filing fee |
Renewal fee |
Renewal period (years) |
$70 |
$20 |
2 |
You need to file a Statement of Information every 2 years and pay annual tax of $800.
Filing Methods for a California LLC
The easiest and most popular way to apply for an LLC in California is to file online.
When you file online in California, your application will usually be approved within hours.
You can file your LLC online with the California Secretary of State. This is a great way to speed up the process and avoid any long waiting times.
Alternatively, you can save hours of your time by using a formation service like ZenBusiness.
Use ZenBusiness
File online
Approval times for your LLC formation will vary depending on the state and the current workload of the Secretary of State. The above times are an estimate and are not guaranteed.
Creating your California LLC Operating Agreement
An Operating Agreement is a legal document that sets out the rules and regulations for a business, including who owns it, how much each member owns, how profits are split, and more.
When you apply for an LLC in California, an Operating Agreement is required as part of your application.
There are many free Operating Agreement templates you can use, and if you use an LLC formation service like Incfile or ZenBusiness, one will be provided for you.
Bottom line, you need an Operating Agreement to apply for an LLC in California. You can use a template, or have one provided by an LLC formation service.
Apply for an EIN
At this point, you should have your new LLC formed in the state of California. You can now apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your business.
This is sometimes known as a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), and it's what your business will use to file taxes with the IRS. You also need this EIN in order to open a bank account for your LLC.
To get your EIN in California, you will need to complete an application with the state. This can be done either online, or by mailing in form SS-4 to the IRS.
California EIN Application
You can apply for your EIN online with the IRS. This is a great way to speed up the process and avoid any long waiting times.
File EIN online
You can also apply for your EIN by mail with the IRS. This is the traditional way to apply for an EIN in California.
File EIN by mail
Filing Your Annual Report in California
Your LLC is required to file an annual report in California every 2 years.
The deadline for your annual report in California is:
The anniversary of the formation of the LLC
How to Contact California State Agencies
If you need to get in touch with any California state agencies, for help with applying for your LLC, you can use the details below:
California Department of Revenue
Address: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration P.O. Box 942879 Sacramento, CA 94279
Phone: (800) 400-7115
Hours: Monday through Friday (except state holidays) 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific time)
Website: https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/
California Secretary of State
Address: California Secretary of State [Include division or program name] 1500 11th Street Sacramento, CA 95814
Physical Address: California Secretary of State 1500 11th Street Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 653-6814
Website: https://www.sos.ca.gov/
You Successfully Applied for an LLC in California
If you made it this far down the tutorial and followed all of the previous steps...
Congratulations! You successfully applied for your LLC in California.
At this point, you are now completely ready to start trading through your shiny new company.
Hopefully this article has been able to help you make the application process as smooth and painless as possible.
If you need more help with your LLC (like choosing a Registered Agent), don't forget to check out ZenBusiness or Incfile.
These are the companies we recommend to our clients who need high-quality, easy-to-use business services from a reputable business with a solid track record.
Recommended Formation Service
Save hours of your valuable time by using a formation service to form your company.
It's hard to pick just one service that will be suitable for every business formation need.
However, in our experience, ZenBusiness offer the best and most reliable service for the majority of LLC and company formations.
ZenBusiness has a fantastic track record, and offers 100% error free LLC formation.
Try ZenBusiness Now →
Compare California LLC Formation to Other States
If you are trying to decide between two states for your company formation, we have prepared side-by-side comparisons of each state to help you see, at a glance, which one might be best for your needs.