The short answer
The Secretary of State's published fee schedule lists $70 to file Articles of Organization and $20 for the Statement of Information. The Statement of Information is due within 90 days of registration and then every two years. The Franchise Tax Board charges an $800 annual LLC tax, and the first-year exemption that once waived it has expired. You pay all of these whether you file yourself or use a service. An EIN is free from the IRS in both cases.
What ZenBusiness charges comes on top of those amounts. Starter is $0 plus the state fee, Pro is $199 a year, and Premium is $299 a year. Registered agent service is a separate $199 a year on every tier, including Premium, discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with ZenBusiness. Compared with filing yourself, the cheapest way to use ZenBusiness is Starter with its registered agent service. That adds $99 in the first year and $199 a year after. Pro and Premium raise the first-year extra to $298 and $398, and both plan fees renew each year on top of the agent.
If you are willing to name yourself as the registered agent and to track your own deadlines, file yourself. If you would rather not be the agent or the one watching the calendar, ZenBusiness Starter with its agent service is the sensible middle ground. The paid tiers make sense only if you will use what they bundle.
California LLC fees, deadlines and requirements
| Item | Amount or rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization filing fee | $70.00 | California Secretary of State, LLC forms and fees |
| Statement of Information fee | $20.00 | California Secretary of State, LLC forms and fees |
| Statement of Information deadline | Within 90 days of registration, then every 2 years | California Secretary of State, LLC forms and fees |
| Missing the Statement of Information | Can cause suspension or forfeiture | California Secretary of State, status definitions |
| Annual LLC tax | $800 per year | Franchise Tax Board, Limited Liability Company |
| First-year $800 exemption | Expired. Applied only to tax years from 1/1/2021 to before 1/1/2024 | Franchise Tax Board, Limited Liability Company |
| First-year tax due date | 15th day of the 4th month after filing with the Secretary of State | Franchise Tax Board, Limited Liability Company |
| Operating agreement | Required, but not filed with the state | California Secretary of State, business entity types |
| Agent for service of process | The LLC cannot act as its own agent | California Secretary of State, business entity FAQs |
| EIN | $0 from the IRS, after state formation | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number |
| Federal BOI reporting | US-formed companies are exempt | FinCEN, Beneficial Ownership Information |
What you pay either way
The biggest number here is not a filing fee. The Franchise Tax Board's $800 annual tax dwarfs everything else, and no formation service changes it. The first payment is due by the 15th day of the 4th month after the Secretary of State files your LLC. Some older guides still describe a first-year waiver. The Franchise Tax Board says that exemption applied only to tax years from 2021 through 2023, so it does not help anyone forming in 2026.
There is one way to avoid the first-year $800. According to the Franchise Tax Board, filing a short form cancellation within one year avoids it. This matters if you are testing an idea and might wind down quickly.
The operating agreement is required, but the Secretary of State does not collect it. You write it, keep it, and follow it. The Secretary of State's FAQ also notes that an entity cannot be its own agent for service of process, so a person or a company must fill that role.
Where ZenBusiness costs more, and what it buys
The table below is listed alphabetically, not ranked. Every row also owes the $20 Statement of Information and the $800 annual tax on top of the amounts shown.
| Option | Plan price | Registered agent | Year-one formation cost (state fee + plan + agent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY on bizfileOnline | $0 | You, or an agent you choose | $70 if you serve as your own agent |
| ZenBusiness Premium | $299/yr | $199/yr, $99 first year | $468 |
| ZenBusiness Pro | $199/yr | $199/yr, $99 first year | $368 |
| ZenBusiness Starter | $0 plus state fee | $199/yr, $99 first year | $169 with ZenBusiness as agent |
From year two onward, the recurring gap widens. Starter with the agent service runs $199 a year, Pro with the agent runs $398, and Premium with the agent runs $498. DIY adds nothing beyond the state and Franchise Tax Board charges.
What you are buying is the paperwork being handled, not a better result. The Secretary of State processes a ZenBusiness filing the same way it processes yours. The specific extras in Pro and Premium are listed on ZenBusiness's own plan page. Compare them against what you would actually use before paying for a higher tier.
This site earns a commission on some links, including ZenBusiness. That does not change which option this page recommends.
When filing yourself is the better call
DIY fits if you are a single owner or a small group, you have a California address where you can reliably receive legal papers, and you are organized about dates. The online filing is one form and a $70 payment. The Statement of Information is another short filing and $20. Keeping a calendar reminder for the 90-day window, the two-year cycle, and the Franchise Tax Board due date covers most of what a service would track for you.
When ZenBusiness is worth it
ZenBusiness earns its fee for founders who do not want their own name and address listed as registered agent, who travel or work irregular hours, or who know they will lose track of a two-year deadline. Missing the Statement of Information can lead to suspension or forfeiture, so the risk of forgetting it is real. For that reader, Starter plus the $99 first-year agent service is the most efficient entry point, since it buys the part of the service that actually recurs. Pro and Premium are worth considering only if their bundled items replace something you would otherwise pay for or do yourself.
Charges you should not pay anyone for
The IRS says an EIN is free and warns against paying a third party for one. Apply directly with the IRS, and only after the state has formed your LLC. On beneficial ownership, FinCEN states that companies created in the United States are exempt from BOI reporting, so a California LLC has nothing to file there and no reason to pay for it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the California LLC filing fee on bizfileOnline?
The Secretary of State's fee schedule lists $70 for the Articles of Organization. The fee is the same whether you file yourself or a service files for you.
What are the official California fees for the Articles of Organization and the Statement of Information?
The Secretary of State lists $70 for the Articles of Organization and $20 for the Statement of Information. The Franchise Tax Board's $800 annual tax is separate from both.
Does a California LLC file a $20 Statement of Information every two years?
Yes. According to the Secretary of State, the $20 Statement of Information is due within 90 days of registration and then every two years. Failing to file it can cause suspension or forfeiture.
Do I still owe the $800 in my first year?
Yes. The Franchise Tax Board's first-year exemption applied only to tax years from 2021 through 2023. The one exception it describes is a short form cancellation filed within one year.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Service, “Get an employer identification number”
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, “Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”
- California Secretary of State, “Limited Liability Companies (LLC) - California”
- California Secretary of State, “Starting a Business – Entity Types”
- California Secretary of State, “Business Entities Frequently Asked Questions”
- California Secretary of State, “Field Status Definitions and Suspensions”
- California Franchise Tax Board, “Limited Liability Company”
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by state and change over time.