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Short reply · California

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in California (2026): The Quick Answer

In California for 2026, rank foreign registration services California Registered Agent.ai ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and CA Registered Agent.org ($199). State fee: $70. Services over three years: $397 to $497.

LLC Q and A editorial team ·

Quick answers

State registration fee
$70
Home-state certificate?
Required (180 days max age)
Following
$20, Statement of Information, Form LLC-12
Pick
California Registered Agent.ai, Mainstay Filing then CA Registered Agent.org

California: ranked picks

Prices come from each company's own page. See the method.
1#1 pick

1. California Registered Agent.ai: best for one extra state

$199 plus state fee, then $99/yr

California Registered Agent.ai ranks first since registration is $199 over the state fee, agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

Three years cost less here than at Mainstay Filing; cost carries the most weight.

Price covers

  • Foreign filing handled
  • First-year agent included

For

  • No agent charge in year one
  • Agent renews at $99
  • $199 plus state fee

Against

  • California only; home state needs another agent
Go to California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Nationwide

2. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in several states

$199 plus state fee, then $149/yr

Second: Mainstay Filing, because $199 in every state, with the first agent for service of process year included.

Ranked lower because three years cost $100 more than California Registered Agent.ai, and cost has the biggest weight.

Agent for service of process: free in year one, $149 a year after, in any state.

Price covers

  • Out-of-state registration filed
  • Same price in any state

For

  • Same fee in every state
  • Service fee $199

Against

  • Agent renews at $149, $50 above California Registered Agent.ai
Go to Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3California only

3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for one more state only

$199 plus state fee, then $99/yr

CA Registered Agent.org ranks third since registration is $199 over the state fee, agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

Same published prices as California Registered Agent.ai, so the order between them is close.

Price covers

  • Foreign filing handled
  • First-year agent included

For

  • Agent renews at $99
  • No agent charge in year one
  • $199 plus state fee

Against

  • California only; home state needs another agent
Go to CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Comparison

#CompanyFirst yearPer year afterTotal, 3 yearsCovers
1California Registered Agent.ai$199$99/yr$397foreign filing handled; First-year agent includedGo to California Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Out-of-state registration filed; same price in any stateGo to Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3CA Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397foreign filing handled; First-year agent includedGo to CA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Service fees only, from company price pages read November 13, 2026. State fees are identical for every pick.

Questions and replies

Must my LLC register here?

Register with the California Secretary of State, Business Entities first; do business in California second.

Unregistered, an LLC may face it cannot sue in California courts until registered (Corp. Code 17708.07(a)).

ftb.ca.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

Cost to register?

$70 to the state, plus $199 for a service.

State fees through year three: $2,490. bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

What registers the LLC?

Once the California Secretary of State, Business Entities accepts the Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) (Form LLC-5), the LLC is registered.

Attach certificate of good standing (existence or status) from the home state issued in the last 180 days.

Any recurring filing?

A recurring Statement of Information, Form LLC-12, at $20.

Due: Within 90 days of registering, then every 2 years.

Why this order?

Three-year price (36%) goes to California Registered Agent.ai.

Five criteria: three-year price (36%), chores removed from your list (26%), price shown up front (15%), year-two bill (12%) and states served (11%).

California Registered Agent.ai: $397 for three years, $100 below Mainstay Filing.

Method

What California requires of a foreign LLC

ItemDetailSource
Registration fee$70bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Home-state certificateRequired, 180 daysftb.ca.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Statement of Information, Form LLC-12$20ftb.ca.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Minimum tax$800 a yearftb.ca.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
State fees, 3 years$2,490Sum of the rows above
Three-year total = filing + report in year 2 + report in year 3 + minimum tax (if any). Fees without a fixed amount, like newspaper notices, are not summed.

Also asked

Does the home state still need an agent?

Yes, in most cases. A company active in every state, such as Mainstay Filing, can cover home and this state together.

What do the picks cost over three years?

Totals over three years: California Registered Agent.ai at $397, Mainstay Filing at $497, CA Registered Agent.org at $397, before state fees.

Where do the numbers come from?

State fees come from California's official documents. Service prices come from each company's price page. Both are dated here.

Do I have to hire one?

No. Owners can file directly. A service saves time and can act as agent.

Can someone register the LLC for me?

Yes. Filing is part of each company's service on this page.

Best foreign registration service in California?

Rank California Registered Agent.ai ahead of Mainstay Filing and CA Registered Agent.org.

Source list

  1. Reference line for California Secretary of State, drawn from sos.ca.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  2. Reference line for California Secretary of State, drawn from bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  3. Reference line for California yearly filing: Statement of, drawn from sos.ca.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  4. Reference line for Cal, drawn from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  5. Reference line for California registered agent statute, drawn from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  6. Reference line for California Secretary of State, foreign, drawn from sos.ca.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  7. Reference line for Form LLC-5, drawn from bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  8. Reference line for Corporations Code section 17708.03, drawn from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  9. Reference line for Revenue and Taxation Code section, drawn from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  10. Reference line for Franchise Tax Board, LLC filing, drawn from ftb.ca.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  11. Reference line for California Corporations Code 17708.07, drawn from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and confirmed November 2026, as noted by our editors
  12. Reference line for California other cost: Annual LLC, drawn from ftb.ca.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  13. Price page: California Registered Agent.ai pricing page, accessed November 13, 2026
  14. Price page: Mainstay Filing California service page, accessed November 13, 2026
  15. Price page: CA Registered Agent.org pricing page, accessed November 13, 2026