3 Best Registered Agents in California (2026), Plainly Answered
We'd pick Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), CA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and California Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year) in California for 2026, in that order. Prices start at $99 to $149 a year and total $297 to $447 over three years.
By the Plain Charter editorial team ·
Plainly put
Is it the law?
Must have one
Called
Agent for service of process
Yearly cost
$99 to $149 per year
Who we'd use
Mainstay Filing, CA Registered Agent.org then California Registered Agent.ai
The California picks
Ranked by how we choose: three-year cost first, then what the price covers.
1Best overall
1. Mainstay Filing: best for owners planning to grow
Costs $149 yearly; renewal $149
Mainstay Filing is the one we'd hire first in California, because its $149 yearly price does not change from state to state.
It costs $150 more than CA Registered Agent.org over three years; the difference buys one provider in every state.
The price covers
A street address in the state
Three government mailings a year scanned free
Covers LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits
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.
You can be your own agent if you qualify; the state charges nothing extra.
What will the agent cost me?
Our picks charge $99 to $149 a year; three years cost $297 to $447.
Your choice of agent leaves state fees unchanged.
What does the agent actually do?
It is where lawsuits and state letters for the LLC land, in California.
Mainly the Statement of Information, once every two years. Fee: $20. Deadline: last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially. Plus the yearly minimum tax.
We add the filing, two years of reports and any minimum tax for the three-year line. Publication and other variable costs are excluded.
FAQ
Do I have to pay someone?
Yes. Meet the who-qualifies and address rules on this page and you can do it yourself.
What kind of address is required?
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.
Three years in, what has each cost?
Mainstay Filing $447, CA Registered Agent.org $297 and California Registered Agent.ai $297
Where do these figures come from?
California's own publications for the state side, published company prices for the rest.
Do I have to use a service?
It is optional; the state charges the same either way.
Which one should I hire in California?
We rank Mainstay Filing first on what the price takes off your plate, with CA Registered Agent.org and California Registered Agent.ai behind it.
Cited sources
August 2026: California Secretary of State, sos.ca.gov