In California, a registered agent is officially called an agent for service of process. Every California LLC and corporation must name one: either an individual California resident or a corporation that holds a current registered corporate agent certificate under Corporations Code Section 1505. You change the agent by filing an updated Statement of Information, and the California Secretary of State charges no fee for an update filed between your required filings, as of October 2026.
Mainstay Filing is our recommended agent for most California companies at $149 a year. Below you will find the exact rules, the costs that do apply (the $20 Statement of Information and the $800 annual LLC tax), and a step-by-step guide to switching.
Updated October 2026.
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Best Registered Agents in California (2026)
Comparing services for registered agent service in California? Start with this ranked shortlist; details for each pick follow the table.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Registered agent service with a flat renewal price | $149/year (renews at $149) | Registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost) |
| 2 | CA Registered Agent.org | California registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | California Registered Agent.ai | California registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in California. It costs $149/year (renews at $149) and covers registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost). The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. CA Registered Agent.org
CA Registered Agent.org is a California registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. California Registered Agent.ai
California Registered Agent.ai is a California registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
California agent for service of process: key facts
| Item | California rule (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Official name | Agent for service of process |
| Who can serve | An individual California resident, or a California registered corporate agent (Section 1505), not both; an LLC cannot serve and the company cannot be its own agent |
| Address | Physical California street address; no P.O. box or “in care of” address |
| How to change the agent | File an updated Statement of Information in bizfile Online |
| Fee to change the agent | No fee for an updated statement (LLC-12 instructions) |
| Statement of Information | $20 within 90 days of formation, then every two years |
| Articles of Organization (LLC-1) | $70 (SOS LLC forms) |
| LLC annual tax | $800 to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) |
| Name reservation | Holds a name for 60 days |
What does an agent for service of process do?
California entities are required by statute to designate an agent for service of process. That agent receives lawsuits, subpoenas and other legal notices on the company’s behalf and is responsible for getting them to the people running the business.
The agent’s name and address are visible to anyone through the Secretary of State’s business search in bizfile Online. Plaintiffs and their attorneys use that record to decide where to serve papers, which is why an accurate, staffed address matters. If no agent can be found, California law allows other forms of service, including substituted service through the Secretary of State for a statutory $50 fee, according to the SOS service of process page.
Who can be your agent for service of process in California?
The rule comes from Corporations Code § 17701.13, which requires every LLC to designate and continuously maintain an agent for service of process in California. California offers two types of agent, and the Statement of Information instructions say you list one or the other, not both. Two things are ruled out: a business entity cannot act as its own agent, and an LLC cannot serve as anyone’s agent, since only individuals and 1505 corporations qualify.
1. An individual
Any individual who is a California resident, including a member, manager or officer of the company, can serve. You list the person’s full name and the physical street address in California where they can be served. A P.O. box or an “in care of” address is not allowed.
2. A California registered corporate agent
A corporation can act as agent only if it has filed a current agent registration certificate with the Secretary of State under Corporations Code Section 1505. These certificates list the corporate agent’s California addresses and the employees authorized to accept service. When you name a registered corporate agent, you enter only its exact registered name; its addresses are already on file.
Most commercial registered agent companies operate in California as 1505 registered corporate agents, so you will typically see the company name alone on your record, without a street address.
How much does it cost to change your agent in California?
Nothing, in most cases. The Statement of Information (LLC-12) instructions list no fee for a statement submitted after the initial or required filings have been met “to update information including changes to the agent for service of process.” Corporations follow the same model with their own Statement of Information.
| Statement of Information type | When | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Initial | Within 90 days of registering with the Secretary of State | $20 |
| Periodic | Every two years, in a 6-month window ending in your registration month | $20 |
| Updated (e.g. new agent) | Any time between required filings | No fee |
If your change happens to fall inside your periodic filing window, simply list the new agent on the $20 periodic statement. Paper submissions dropped off in person carry a $15 handling fee for most document types, but Statements of Information are excluded, according to the form.
Step-by-step: changing your California agent for service of process
- Choose your new agent. For a commercial service, get the exact name it is registered under as a 1505 corporate agent.
- Log in to bizfile Online. From August 1, 2026, the Secretary of State requires a web User Access account to file Statements of Information online.
- File a Statement of Information for your LLC or corporation, updating the agent section. For an individual agent, enter the name and California street address; for a corporate agent, enter only its registered name.
- Review the rest of the statement. It also lists addresses and managers or officers, so correct anything outdated at the same time.
- Submit. An update between required filings has no fee. Save the filed copy for your records.
- Tell your old agent and cancel its service so you are not billed for another year.
Being your own agent in California: worth it?
California lets an owner, manager or officer serve as the company’s agent. It is common among small LLCs, but there are clear trade-offs.
- Cost: no service fee, though a commercial agent at roughly $100 to $150 a year is small next to the $800 annual LLC tax.
- Privacy: an individual agent’s street address is published; a 1505 corporate agent shows only its name.
- Availability: you need to be reachable at that address to accept papers. Missing service can lead to a default judgment.
- Paperwork: every move means another Statement of Information, while a commercial agent’s address stays put.
If you work from a stable office in California and do not mind the publicity, serving yourself is reasonable. Remote owners, home-based businesses and anyone outside California will be better served by a professional agent.
California costs to plan for beyond the agent
Every LLC doing business or organized in California pays an $800 annual tax to the Franchise Tax Board, due by the 15th day of the 4th month of its tax year, according to the FTB. The first-year exemption only applied to tax years beginning in 2021 through 2023, so LLCs formed in 2026 owe it for their first year.
The Secretary of State warns that failing to file Statements of Information may result in FTB penalties and suspension or forfeiture of the company. For the full formation process, read our guide to starting an LLC in California, check name availability with the California business name search guide, or compare structures in how to start a business in California.
FAQs
What is a registered agent called in California?
California calls it an agent for service of process. The role is the same as a registered agent elsewhere: accepting lawsuits, subpoenas and legal notices for the company. The agent can be an individual California resident or a corporation registered as a corporate agent under Corporations Code Section 1505.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in California?
Usually nothing. The California Secretary of State lists no fee for an updated Statement of Information filed between required filings to change the agent for service of process. If the change happens during your periodic filing window, it goes on the regular $20 Statement of Information instead.
Can I be my own registered agent in California?
Yes, if you are a California resident. A member, manager, officer or other individual resident can serve as the agent at a physical California street address where they can be served. A P.O. box is not allowed. Your name and address will appear in the Secretary of State’s public records.
What is a 1505 registered corporate agent?
It is a corporation that has filed a certificate with the California Secretary of State under Corporations Code Section 1505, listing its California addresses and the people authorized to accept service. Only a corporation with a current 1505 certificate can be named as a corporate agent for service of process.
How do I change my agent for service of process in California?
File a Statement of Information through bizfile Online with the new agent’s details. From August 1, 2026, online Statement of Information filings require a web User Access account. An update filed between required filings has no fee; otherwise list the new agent on your $20 periodic statement.
Do California LLCs still get a first-year exemption from the $800 tax?
No. According to the Franchise Tax Board, the first-year exemption applied only to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021 and before January 1, 2024. LLCs formed in 2026 owe the $800 annual tax for their first year, due by the 15th day of the 4th month.
What is the best registered agent in California?
Our recommendation is Mainstay Filing at $149 a year, with renewal at the same price and agent switching included. CA Registered Agent.org is an alternative at a flat $99 per year that provides an in-state street address and online access to scanned legal documents.
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