California Corporation cost
Forming a corporation in California costs $125 in state fees in year one, then about $825 a year to stay in good standing.
Forming a California Corporation
You file Articles of Incorporation (stock corporation, Form ARTS-GS) with the California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division (Business Entities). The state fee is $100. See the official fee.
File it yourself with the state →
Every year after
- Statement of Information (stock corporation, Form SI-200 per fee schedule): $25, filed every year. Due: Every year by the end of the calendar month of original incorporation (filing window opens 6 months before).
- First one: Within 90 days of filing the Articles of Incorporation.
- If you're late: $250 penalty for failure to file, assessed by the Secretary of State and collected by the Franchise Tax Board after a delinquency notice and 60 days without filing; can lead to suspension.
- Official report page
State taxes that apply even to a small Corporation
- Corporation minimum franchise tax: $800 — Greater of net income times the tax rate or the $800 minimum. Newly incorporated or qualified corporations are not required to pay the minimum franchise tax in their first taxable year source
Worth knowing
- Formation costs $70 for an LLC, $100 for a stock corporation and $30 for a nonprofit, plus a $20-$25 Statement of Information due within 90 days.
- LLCs owe the $800 annual tax starting in their first year (due the 15th day of the 4th month after formation); new corporations are exempt from the $800 minimum in their first taxable year.
- Corporations file a Statement of Information every year; LLCs and nonprofits file every two years.
- DBAs (fictitious business names) are filed with the county, not the Secretary of State.
Registered agent
California requires a registered agent. Agent for service of process must be a California-resident individual or a registered corporate agent (Corporations Code section 1505 certificate on file); the entity cannot be its own agent. Name and street address are public. You can serve as your own agent if you have a qualifying address; paid services usually charge a yearly fee.
| Other filings | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $10 | 60 days |
| DBA / assumed name (county) | — | Fictitious business name statements are filed with the county where the principal place of business is located; fee varies by county and the statement must be published in a local newspaper |
| Expedited processing | $350 | 24-hour filing $350 (online or Sacramento drop-off); same-day $750 (online or drop-off); 4-hour $500 (drop-off, precleared documents only); 24-hour preclearance $500. $15 special handling fee applies to hand-delivered filings only |
| Foreign Corporation registration | $100 | Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation (stock) |
Fees last checked 2026-10-20 against California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division (Business Entities) and the state revenue department. States change fees — confirm on the linked page before you file.
Thinking about forming somewhere else?
If you operate in California, an out-of-state Corporation also has to register here as a foreign entity. See both costs side by side: