Do you want to start a small business in California? You may now incorporate or form an LLC for California business entities without worrying about paying a filing fee. Read on to learn which filing fees are currently free, which types of businesses you can form for as little as $0, and the deadline for this waiver.
Free California Business Entity Filing Fees
According to the California Secretary of State, the following filings do not have a filing fee:
Articles of Incorporation
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Corporation — Benefit
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Corporation — Close
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Corporation — General Stock
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Corporation — Insurer
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Corporation — Professional
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Corporation — Social Purpose
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Nonprofit Corporation — Mutual Benefit
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Nonprofit Corporation — Mutual Benefit — Common Interest Development
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Nonprofit Corporation — Mutual Benefit — Credit Union
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Nonprofit Corporation — Public Benefit
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Nonprofit Corporation — Public Benefit — Common Interest Development
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Nonprofit Corporation — Religious
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Corporation — Agricultural Cooperative Association
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Corporation — Cannabis Cooperative Association
- Articles of Incorporation — CA Corporation — General Cooperative
Articles of Organization
Articles of Organization — CA LLC
Registration
- Registration — Out-of-State LLC
- Registration — Out-of-State Corporation — Accountancy or Law (Professional)
- Registration — Out-of-State Corporation — Insurer
- Registration — Out-of-State Corporation — Stock
- Registration — Out-of-State Corporation — Nonprofit
- Registration — Out-of-State LP
Limited Partnership
Certificate of Limited Partnership — CA LP
Why Is It Free to File?
This is a temporary fee suspension from the California Secretary of State. It is the result of a recent enactment of California’s 2022-2023 Budget Bill.
Please note that not all formation documents are free to file in California. Read and review the list carefully. Some formation documents, including Application to Register a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) and a Statement of Partnership Authority (general partnership), require paying filing fees.
A fee is also still necessary to pay while filing a Statement of Information. This is known as an annual report or biennial report.
How Long Does the Waiver Last?
The waiver on free business filings will last until June 30, 2023.
Which Businesses Can I Incorporate as For Less?
You may form an LLC, form a corporation, or form a limited partnership and start your new California business for much less since many California formation documents now cost $0.
I’m Ready to Incorporate!
We are ready to assist you in starting a California business for much less! Let the team of professionals at MyCorporation guide you step by step through the incorporation process. Reach out to us at mycorporation.com to start incorporating your business today.
Deborah Sweeney Deborah Sweeney is an advocate for protecting personal and business assets for business owners and entrepreneurs. With extensive experience in the field of corporate and intellectual property law, Deborah provides insightful commentary on the benefits of incorporation and trademark registration.
Education: Deborah received her Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Pepperdine University, and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of West Los Angeles and San Fernando School of Law in corporate and intellectual property law.
Experience: After becoming a partner at LA-based law firm, Michel & Robinson, she became an in-house attorney for MyCorporation, formerly a division in Intuit. She took the company private in 2009 and after 10 years of entrepreneurship sold the company to Deluxe Corporation. Deborah is also well-recognized for her written work online as a contributing writer with some of the top business and entrepreneurial blogging sites including Forbes, Business Insider, SCORE, and Fox Business, among others.
Fun facts/Other pursuits: Originally from Southern California, Deborah enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, Benjamin and Christopher, and practicing Pilates. Deborah believes in the importance of family and credits the entrepreneurial business model for giving her the flexibility to enjoy both a career and motherhood. Deborah, and MyCorporation, have previously been honored by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s List of the Valley’s Largest Women-Owned Businesses in 2012. MyCorporation received the Stevie Award for Best Women-Owned Business in 2011.