Rank1
Best here
1. Mainstay Filing: best for all fifty states
$149 yearly, unchanged
Editor score9.5out of 10
Mainstay Filing takes the top spot because the price is $149 a year whether you stay in one state or add more, with three government letters a year scanned at no charge.
Starting from scratch? The formation package is $199 a year and adds the California filing and the Statement of Information.
Its three-year total is $150 above California Registered Agent.ai's, and what the price covers justifies that gap for us.
In the price
- An in-state street address on the public record
- Free scans of served papers on the same business day
- The first three letters from government offices each year, scanned at no charge
- Compliance reminders
Good
- Papers served on the company are scanned the same business day at no charge
- $149 a year, and it holds at renewal
- Takes LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits
- Free scans of three government letters each year
Watch for
- The agent alone is $50 a year more than California Registered Agent.ai
- Unless you buy the formation package, the annual report is yours to file
California Registered Agent.ai makes the list at number two because it is built for California companies, at $99 a year with an in-state street address as the registered office.
California Registered Agent.ai provides the state street address on the public record and sends you scans of any legal papers served there.
In the price
- The physical in-state address the state asks for
- Scans of legal papers served on the company, kept in your account
Good
- Yearly cost below Mainstay Filing
- Costs $99 a year, renewal included at the same price
- Also files LLC formations, agent year one included
Watch for
- You handle the Statement of Information yourself
- Made for California; another state needs a different agent
Rank3
California specialist
3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for California specialists
$99 yearly, unchanged
Editor score9.2out of 10
CA Registered Agent.org makes the list at number three because it is built for California companies, at $99 a year with an in-state street address as the registered office.
CA Registered Agent.org gives the company a street address in the state and scans whatever is served there into your account.
California Registered Agent.ai and CA Registered Agent.org list the same price and the same features, so either one is a reasonable choice.
In the price
- A street address in the state as the registered office
- You read served legal papers online as scans
Good
- Also files LLC formations, agent year one included
- $99 per year, flat across renewals
- A lower yearly price than Mainstay Filing
Watch for
- You handle the Statement of Information yourself
- Made for California; another state needs a different agent
The 3 picks side by side
Scores out of 10 are editorial marks from Filing Shortlist, based on the criteria on How we rank. Customers do not rate anything on this site.
California registered agent pricing in 2026: first year, renewals, three-year total
Every price comes from the company's own pages as of November 12, 2026. California's own fees stay the same whichever agent you pick.
How the order came together
Two criteria count most here, three-year price and what the price covers, at 28% each, while renewal terms, fit for the state and price clarity divide 44%. What tipped California was what the price covers.
Mainstay's plan covers a wider area: it scans papers served on the company the same business day at no charge, the price stays the same in all fifty states, and three government letters a year are scanned free. California Registered Agent.ai is cheaper, and the two end up close.
Every criterion and weight is set out on How we rank.
California agent for service of process rules from California Secretary of State
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. An individual agent's California street address goes on the public record. A registered corporate agent's address is already on file with the state and is not repeated in the company's filing. Statute: Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13.
The California Statement of Information: price and deadline
Every company formed here files the Statement of Information every two years. The state charges $20 and wants it last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Being late adds $250. The reminders about it go to your agent for service of process.
Common questions about California registered agents
Does the company need to name a agent for service of process in California?
It does. California wants each LLC to name a agent for service of process with a street address inside the state, and that name stays on the public record.
How much do agents in California charge per year?
Yearly prices span $99 to $149, and each company holds its price at renewal.
Can the owner be the agent for service of process?
Yes, if you meet the state's conditions. A California resident, or a corporation registered with the Secretary of State as a corporate agent under Corporations Code § 1505. A business cannot act as its own agent for service of process.
By what date is the California Statement of Information due?
The deadline is last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially, and the state charges $20. A late filing adds $250.
Which registered agents made this shortlist?
Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year) and CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), listed from the top pick down.
Which California registered agent makes the shortlist first?
Mainstay Filing, because one agent plan at $149 a year that keeps its price at renewal and scans papers served on the company the same business day for free.