REGISTERED AGENT

Registered Agent in California

Protect Your Privacy & Stay Compliant

Keep your personal address out of California public records and ensure you never miss a legal document. CrowSmart provides a reliable physical CA address, starting at $149/year.

Physical CA address provided
$149/year
Legal document forwarding
24/7 online dashboard
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UNDERSTANDING REGISTERED AGENTS

What California Businesses Need to Know

Legal Requirement
California law requires every LLC and corporation to maintain a registered agent with a physical California address. Failure to do so can result in loss of good standing or dissolution.
Privacy Protection
Using CrowSmart keeps your personal address out of California public records. All legal correspondence goes to our California address instead of your home.
Document Management
Your registered agent receives time-sensitive documents from the California Secretary of State and any court in California. Missing these can have serious legal and financial consequences.
Compliance Support
Stay on top of California compliance. Your annual report is due Anniversary of formation (biennial for LLCs) with a $20 (LLCs) fee. CrowSmart sends deadline reminders.
COMPARE OPTIONS

DIY vs. Professional Service

Why thousands of California businesses choose professional registered agent services

DIY Approach

Be your own CA registered agent

Free
Home address enters California public records
Must be available 9–5 weekdays in-state
Risk missing time-sensitive legal documents
Need separate address for each state
No document management system
Recommended

CrowSmart Service

Professional CA registered agent

$149/year
Private California business address
Always available during business hours
Instant email notifications
Coverage in all 50 states
24/7 dashboard access
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CA SNAPSHOT

Doing Business in California

California Secretary of State

State Income Tax

13.3% top rate

personal income tax rate

Report Frequency

Biennial

LLC filing requirement

Key Fact

$800 minimum franchise tax

about California

California imposes an $800 minimum annual franchise tax on nearly all LLCs and corporations, payable even if the business has no income. LLCs file biennial Statements of Information. California's high tax rates and compliance costs are offset by access to the world's fifth-largest economy.

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CA REQUIREMENTS

What California Requires

The California Secretary of State sets specific requirements for registered agents operating in California. Here's what your business must comply with.

50 States

We meet requirements in all of them

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Physical Address Requirement

No P.O. Boxes allowed

California requires your registered agent to have a physical street address (not a P.O. Box) within the state. This ensures that legal documents from the California Secretary of State and California courts can be physically delivered and received.

Business Hours Availability

9 AM - 5 PM, Mon-Fri

Your California registered agent must be available during normal business hours (9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday) to accept service of process and official correspondence from the California Secretary of State.

Ongoing Maintenance

Continuous requirement

California requires you to maintain a registered agent throughout your business's existence. If you change agents, you must file an update with the California Secretary of State (filing fee: $20) to stay in compliance.

Multi-State Considerations

One per state

If your California-based business operates in other states through foreign qualification, you'll need a registered agent in each state. CrowSmart provides registered agent services in all 50 states, simplifying multi-state compliance.

NATIONWIDE COVERAGE

Your Registered Agent in All 50 States

Select your state for specific requirements and pricing

ALAlabamaAKAlaskaAZArizonaARArkansasCACaliforniaCOColoradoCTConnecticutDEDelawareFLFloridaGAGeorgiaHIHawaiiIDIdahoILIllinoisINIndianaIAIowaKSKansasKYKentuckyLALouisianaMEMaineMDMarylandMAMassachusettsMIMichiganMNMinnesotaMSMississippiMOMissouriALAlabamaAKAlaskaAZArizonaARArkansasCACaliforniaCOColoradoCTConnecticutDEDelawareFLFloridaGAGeorgiaHIHawaiiIDIdahoILIllinoisINIndianaIAIowaKSKansasKYKentuckyLALouisianaMEMaineMDMarylandMAMassachusettsMIMichiganMNMinnesotaMSMississippiMOMissouri
MTMontanaNENebraskaNVNevadaNHNew HampshireNJNew JerseyNMNew MexicoNYNew YorkNCNorth CarolinaNDNorth DakotaOHOhioOKOklahomaOROregonPAPennsylvaniaRIRhode IslandSCSouth CarolinaSDSouth DakotaTNTennesseeTXTexasUTUtahVTVermontVAVirginiaWAWashingtonWVWest VirginiaWIWisconsinWYWyomingMTMontanaNENebraskaNVNevadaNHNew HampshireNJNew JerseyNMNew MexicoNYNew YorkNCNorth CarolinaNDNorth DakotaOHOhioOKOklahomaOROregonPAPennsylvaniaRIRhode IslandSCSouth CarolinaSDSouth DakotaTNTennesseeTXTexasUTUtahVTVermontVAVirginiaWAWashingtonWVWest VirginiaWIWisconsinWYWyoming
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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? We've got answers. Find everything you need to know about our Registered Agent service.

Yes. California law requires every LLC and corporation registered in the state to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in California. The registered agent must be available during regular business hours (9 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday) to receive legal documents and official correspondence on behalf of your business.

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Your California Business Deserves Protection

Don't risk your home address in California public records. Get a professional registered agent today.

Just $149/year. Less than $13/month

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