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California Registered Agent Services

A critical task of any prospective business owner in California is to designate a registered agent who can receive all legal notices or documents from the State of California on their behalf. Your registered agent may be an individual or a company, so long as the agent maintains a physical address within the state of California where any such "service of process" for your business can be delivered. Registered agents in California are responsible for forwarding those documents to the companies they represent, including in some cases, notices that your company has become the subject of a lawsuit.

While business owners are permitted to act as their own Registered Agent, the benefits of having an experienced professional dedicated to monitoring your company's state regulatory compliance cannot be over emphasized. National Registered Agents, Inc. (NRAI) has a proven track record of excellence in representing companies of all sizes across the nation. We have trained and qualified Registered Agents in all 50 U.S. states, including California, who know the commercial regulations of their state and can provide specialized service. Whether you're looking to start a new business in California or you want to expand your business to the State of California, NRAI can connect you with.

In addition to providing Registered Agent functions, NRAI offers a variety of professional services that can help your company stay on top of all California state commercial regulations and maintain good legal standing. These services include Company Guard®, a web portal that offers compliance services to businesses. NRAI also provides a comprehensive library of official forms and documents from all 50 states.

If you are looking for a trusted California registered agent, let NRAI be your business solution.

Starting a Business in the State of California

Starting a business in California is fairly simple. Below are the key steps for two kinds of businesses – limited liability companies (LLC) and corporations. An LLC is a business entity that limits the personal liability of its members. A corporation is a business entity that limits the liability of its owners to the investments made into the corporation. Once you have formed your business, it will act as a "domestic" company in California, which means its Articles of Organization or Incorporation are filed with the state.

Starting a California LLC

Forming an LLC in California starts with choosing a name that ends in the words "limited liability company," "limited company," or an abbreviation of those phrases. Your LLC can be set up to operate indefinitely and can engage in any industry except for banking, insurance policies and trust companies. California state law also requires that you maintain an office, other than that of your registered agent, in California where company records will be kept. Send the Secretary of State a copy of your Articles of Organization ($70 fee) and within 90 days of that date, file a "Statement of Information" ($20 fee), listing the addresses for your company, its members and managers, and the designated Registered Agent. The California Franchise Tax Board also charges an $800 annual minimum tax for all LLCs.

Starting a California Corporation

The only restriction imposed on corporation names is that it cannot be the name of an individual, unless the name has a corporate ending, indicating it does not refer to an individual. The statement of purpose for your corporation must include the following: "The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of California other than the banking business, the trust company business or the practice of a profession permitted to be incorporated by the California Corporations Code." The Articles of Incorporation should not make any further statement about the purpose or powers of the corporation. File the Articles ($100 fee) with the California Secretary of State, and within 90 days of incorporation, submit a "Statement of Domestic Corporation" ($25 fee), providing the names and addresses of your corporation, Registered Agent and chief executive officer.

Registering an Out-of-State Company to do Business in California

If you have an out-of-state company that would like to do business in California, you must apply for registration. Below are the required steps for properly registering your company, whether it is an LLC or corporation. Once you have completed the application, your business will act as a "foreign" company in California, which means its Articles of Organization or Incorporation are filed in a state other than California.

Registering a Foreign LLC

Name restrictions for foreign LLCs are the same as those imposed on domestic LLCs (see above). Provide the California Secretary of State with a certificate verifying that your LLC is in good standing with the state in which it is organized. Submit your LLC Application for Registration ($70 fee), and within 90 days of registration, send in your "Statement by Foreign LLC" ($20 fee) to the Secretary, listing the names and addresses for your company, its members and managers, and your California registered agent. Like domestic LLCs, foreign LLCs are subject to the same $800 annual tax, payable to the California Franchise Tax Board.

Registering a Foreign Corporation

Similar to domestic corporations, there is no statutory requirement for having a corporate ending on your name, unless the name is misleading or is the same as an individual's name. Provide the California Secretary of State with an official certificate verifying that your company is in good standing in the state in which it is incorporated. Also send a copy of your company's "Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation," ($100 fee) which provides the names and address for the corporation, CEO and designated CA registered agent.