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Depending on the specifics of your business, you’ll be required to pay certain fees and fulfill various filing requirements.
Unsure how to start a corporation in California? Let Bizee take care of all the paperwork for you for free.
Filing Fees & Requirements
Legal business registration — and keeping your business in good standing — involves necessary expenses and investment. Some of these costs are payable to the Secretary of State, while others are due to additional state entities or the federal government. Here are some common requirements and fees.
Please note that fees for a permit or business license in California may be due when you first form your business, on an ongoing schedule or on an ad hoc basis. Find more details below.
When forming a corporation in California, you’ll need to file a form and pay a filing fee. Here are the current California incorporation fees and filing times:
State Fee
State Filling Time
Expedited Filing Time
6 Business Days
*includes a $5 certified copy fee
When you use Bizee to start a corporation in California, we charge you the state filing fee and forward it to the Secretary of State when we file your incorporation paperwork.
Bizee Can File Your Incorporation Paperwork for You for Free
Just pay the required California corporation filing fee.
California Allows You to Incorporate More Quickly by Paying a Rush Fee
Every corporation in the country should have a unique EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the Internal Revenue Service. You'll use it when you open a business bank account, file taxes and pay employees. You can get one directly from the IRS, or Bizee can get one for you.
If you want to do business in a state other than the one where your business is based, you must create a Foreign Corporation.
California Foreign Corporation Registration
Before you can bring an arm of your business from another state into California, you must request Foreign Qualification in California. This means the state gives you permission to conduct business there.To request registration of a California Foreign Corporation, you must file a Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation with the Secretary of State and pay a processing fee of $100.
The state may have additional registration requirements, so contact the Secretary of State directly for more information and to ensure you're in compliance with state law.
Foreign Qualification to Operate in Another State
If you plan to expand your California corporation into another state, you’ll first need Foreign Qualification or a Certificate of Authority from that state. This is necessary before you can create a physical presence, hire employees or bank in that state.
You'll likely have to complete at least one application and pay a filing fee, but each state has its own requirements. Before you start the process, compare state filing times and state filing fees so you can plan accordingly.
Above all, contact the state government entity that administers business (usually the Secretary of State) to confirm their requirements and for specific instructions.If you need assistance, Bizee provides a complete Foreign Qualification service for all states.
Most states require business entities to file an annual (or other periodic) report. California requires an annual Statement of Information to be filed with the Secretary of State initially within 90 days of incorporation and every year thereafter.
When your CA Statement of Information form is complete, you may file it online accompanied with a filing fee of $25.
Statement of Information
