California LLC Filing:
Choose a Business Name
When selecting a name, please include the corporate indicator(LLC, L.L.C., Limited Liabiliy Company, etc). Keep in mind that certain words may require further review for approval from the state(ex: bank, insurance, financial institution,etc)
To begin, you’ll submit 3 business name options in order of preference. Our team will conduct a name availability and trademark search for each. Once we receive the results, we’ll let you know which names are available.
Once you confirm your final choice, we’ll start the filing process
Choose a Registered Agent
When forming a business in California, you are required to designate a registered agent. This individual or company is responsible for receiving official correspondence on your behalf, including documents from state and federal agencies like the IRS or the court system.
California allows you to serve as your own registered agent if you reside in the state. If you’re not a California resident, you’ll need to appoint a third-party agent, which may involve a registered agent service fee.
*No PO Box Allowed*
*While NGBS is not currently a registered agent in California, we’re happy to provide trusted third-party recommendations upon request.*
Statement of Information
Within 90 days of filing your California LLC you are required to file an Initial Statement of Information. This is a separate filing that must be submitted in order to maintain compliance with the state. After the initial filing, this statement must be filed every 2 years. California has a state filing fee of $20 for the initial statement. Failure to file the statement before the deadline will result in penalty fees.
Operating Agreement
After registering your California entity, the state requires for your business to have an operating agreement in place. While the agreement is not required to be filed, it is required to be maintained in company records. An operating agreement dictates the structure of ownership, rights of members, profit distribution, etc.
*An operating agreement can be drafted upon request via NGBS in partnership with Third -Party attorney service providers*
California Annual Franchise Tax
After your first year in business, you will be required to pay the annual Califorinia Franchise tax of $800. This annual tax is mandatory regardless if your business made a profit for the year
Business Registration
Once you have read and understand the process and requirements for choosing your business name, deciding upon a registered agent, and understanding that your business requires routine filling maintenance; you are now ready to form your business.
Below is the link to the formation order form. Once this form is completed, we will prep the documents and submit them to the Secretary of State for processing. California has a state filing fee of $70. The processing time varies based on current volume and when the documents are filed.