LLC by State Guide › Compare › California vs Georgia
California vs Georgia LLC (2026)
California is cheaper to form, by $40. California is cheaper to keep, by $50 a year. Over five years California costs $240 less in state fees. Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, files in either state for $199 a year.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
Side by side
| Measure | California | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fee | $70 | $110 |
| Yearly report | Every 2 years, $20 | Yearly, $60 |
| Report cost per year | $10 | $60 |
| 5-year state cost | $110 | $350 |
| 10-year state cost | $170 | $650 |
| Registered agent | Required | Required |
| Change-agent fee | $0 | $30 |
| Extras | Extra state tax or fee | None listed |
Mainstay Filing
Our rating: 4.9 out of 5
$199 / year, same at renewal
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Questions
Is California or Georgia cheaper for an LLC?
California is cheaper to form, by $40. California is cheaper to keep, by $50 a year. Over five years California costs $240 less in state fees.
Which has the lower filing fee, California or Georgia?
California: $70. Georgia: $110.
Do I need a registered agent in California and Georgia?
California: required. Georgia: required.
Sources
- Cal. Corp. Code § 17702.01 (California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act) (multira state research spine): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CORP§ionNum=17702.01., checked August 12, 2026
- California Secretary of State (multira state research spine): www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/statements, checked August 12, 2026
- California Secretary of State (multira state research spine): bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov/llc/forms/llc-12-112021.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source read 2026-10-01: www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/forms/limited-liability-companies-statement-information, checked October 1, 2026
- California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and timing, official source read 2026-10-01: www.ftb.ca.gov/file/business/types/limited-liability-company/index.html, checked October 1, 2026
- California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and timing, official source read 2026-10-01: www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2026/2026-3522.pdf, checked October 1, 2026
- California registered agent statute (Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.13): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CORP§ionNum=17701.13., checked October 20, 2026
- Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division fee schedule Rev. 8/2025, effective September 6, 2025 (Articles of Organization $100 + $10 service charge, online and paper; georgia.gov still shows the older $100 online / $110 mail split, the newer SOS schedule is used): sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/Reference%20-%20Filing%20Fees_0.pdf, checked October 1, 2026
- Georgia Secretary of State fee schedule Rev. 8/2025 and annual registration guide (annual registration $50 + $10 service charge = $60, online and paper, effective September 6, 2025): sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-file-annual-registration, checked October 16, 2026
- Georgia report due date (multira state research spine, due dates verified 714/714): law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-14/chapter-11/article-11/section-14-11-1103/, checked August 12, 2026
- Georgia registered agent statute (O.C.G.A. § 14-11-209): sos.ga.gov/page/business-division-faq, checked October 20, 2026