California LLC Registration

LLC in California

How to form an LLC in California:

You form California LLCs by filing articles of organization with the CA SOS.

What is required to file California LLC Articles of Organization?

To form a California LLC, you file articles of organization. Your LLC articles can be basic or complicated. They cost $70, payable to the California Secretary of State. When you hire Northwest to do your California LLC registration, we custom draft your California LLC articles of organization.

If you'd like to save some money, you could just hire us as your California registered agent, and then we provide you with all the proper forms to file, along with filing instructions. It's all in your online account immediately.

The basic requirements are:

• The business name must have a limited liability company ending or variation of it.
• New California LLCs name must be different than already registered California companies.
• Duration of the California LLC.
• The purpose of the California limited liability company.
• The California registered agent and the physical address.
• If the limited liability company is to be managed by one or more managers or members.  The members or managers names are not required on the initial articles.
• The California organizer must sign.

California does not require original signatures on filings. The registered California LLC paperwork will be mailed to the person who made the filing. You must mail your order in duplicate if you expect to get anything back.

What's the actual process to start an California LLC?

1. California LLC registration is started when you file the articles of organization for an California LLC with the Secretary of State.
2. You’ll get an initial statement of information request back with your confirmation copy of your CA LLC.  You must send this in within 90 days or your new LLC will immediately get dissolved.
3. You obtain a federal tax ID number with the IRS after you have confirmation from California that the LLC is completely filed.
4. You should be able to open a LLC banking account with these two items.
5. Technically speaking, California wants you to pay the $800 franchise tax payment before you even start doing business… But it’s only a $25 late fee if you wait to do it till your tax preparer gets your regular tax return ready.
6. You register your California LLC with the department of revenue or labor if you're going to have employees or need to withhold sales tax. 
7. You obtain a trade license, if you actually need one. (Most businesses don't.)
8. You obtain a local city or county general license, if you need one.
9. You obtain a local trade license, if the city or county you're going to be working in requires it.
10. If you're going to have an office or shop, you might need an approval from the city zoning for your type of business in that location. 

Are you a do-it-yourselfer? You can save some money:

If you want to form a California LLC yourself, you can just hire us to be your California registered agent. You'll instantly have the California LLC forms to file and filing instructions for the quickest, cheapest, and most efficient way to file a California limited liability company. You'll get the ongoing support of a professional California LLC agent, compliance reminders and our online tools.

• California Registered Agent
• Change CA agent
• California Incorporation
• California LLC
• California Corporation
• California Foreign LLC
• California Foreign Corp

• Free LLC/CORP Forms
• Free LLC Operating Agreement
• Free Articles Of Incorporation

• California Statement of Information
• California Taxes
• Avoid CA Franchise Tax
• California Certificate of Status
• California Certified Copy
• California Apostille
• Revive CA Corp
• Revive CA LLC
• CA LLC Amendment
• CA Corp Amendment
• CA Agent Resignation
• Withdraw Foreign Entity
• Dissolve CA LLC
• Dissolve CA Corp

• Do It Yourself Information
• Form California LLC
• Starting a Business in California