Form Your California LLC The Right Way.
CPA-led — not a $99 LegalZoom template
Most CA LLC formations are done wrong: missing BOI report, no operating agreement, never analyzed for S-Corp election. We do it right — and tell you if LLC is even the right choice.
What\'s Actually Included
A complete formation package — not just a filed Articles of Organization.
CA SOS Articles of Organization
Form LLC-1 filed with CA Secretary of State. Includes name reservation if needed, registered agent setup, management structure (member-managed vs manager-managed) — all designed correctly for your situation.
Federal EIN
Tax ID number from IRS, applied same day. Required for bank account, payroll, and 1099 issuance. We never let clients use SSN as business identifier.
Statement of Information (LLC-12)
Required within 90 days of formation, then every 2 years. We file it on time + remind you of the renewal. $20 fee.
Operating Agreement (Custom)
Not a template — a CPA-customized agreement that covers ownership %, distribution rules, voting, dissolution. Required by CA law; banks will demand to see it.
BOI Report (FinCEN)
Beneficial Ownership Information filed within 30 days of formation. Required by Corporate Transparency Act. Penalty for missing: $591/day. We file it automatically.
S-Corp Election Analysis
We run the math: at what SE income does S-Corp election save more than it costs? For your specific situation. If election makes sense, we file Form 2553 within the 75-day window.
Mistakes We See Constantly (From DIY Filings)
Real issues we\'ve had to fix after clients tried to form themselves.
Wrong Management Structure
Member-managed vs manager-managed has huge implications for outside investors and operations. Most DIY filings pick wrong because they don\'t know the difference.
Missing BOI Report
Most DIY filers don\'t know FinCEN BOI exists. The $591/day penalty for missing it can hit $200K within a year.
No Operating Agreement
CA legally requires one. Banks won\'t open business accounts without it. Cobbled-together internet templates fail to address ownership disputes.
Used Home Address as Registered Agent
Your home address becomes public record. Process servers can deliver lawsuits at your front door. Better: registered agent service ($150/yr).
Missed S-Corp Window
You have 75 days from formation to elect S-Corp for the current year. Miss it and you wait until next tax year — losing months of SE tax savings.
Wrong Entity Choice Entirely
Many "LLC needed" cases are better as sole prop (saves $800/yr franchise tax) or S-Corp (saves more on SE tax). LegalZoom can\'t tell you which is right.
CA LLC Formation — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does CA LLC formation actually cost?
When does the $800 franchise tax kick in?
Do I need a single-member LLC or multi-member?
What about the new BOI (Beneficial Ownership) report?
How long does formation take?
Form Your CA LLC With a CPA on Your Side
Free 30-min discovery call. Flat fee $750 + state fees. Done in 10 business days.