ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
Compare the best California Registered Agent services below as reviewed by ZenBusiness.
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Last Updated: June 6, 2025
Searching for the best California registered agent service for your business? We’ve evaluated the top providers based on factors like pricing, features, customer support, and reliability to help you find the perfect match. Whether you’re looking for affordability, legal expertise, or personalized service, this guide presents the top choices available right now.
Founded in 2017, ZenBusiness has quickly become a top player in the business formation and compliance space. With over 800,000 businesses formed and a strong reputation, our registered agent service offers solid value and top-tier support in California.
✔ First year is 50% off at $99 plus state fees (renews at $119/year)✔ 60-day money-back guarantee✔ 22562+ reviews with a 4.8 average rating✔ Responsive, award-winning customer support via phone, email, and chat✔ Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
✘ Registered agent service is not included with formation packages✘ No multi-state discount for businesses operating in more than one state
Rocket Lawyer is a legal services platform that also offers registered agent services as part of its suite of tools. While not the cheapest option, it may appeal to users who want bundled legal help. If you find value in their legal services plan, Rocket Lawyer is an intriguing choice for registered agent services in California. If you don’t need its subscription service, you can probably find a more suitable alternative.
✔ Includes access to legal documents and attorney consultations✔ 30-day money-back guarantee✔ Discount of 50% with legal plan subscription
✘ Registered agent service is basic and lacks advanced features✘ Higher ongoing costs unless you’re on a subscription✘ Not a core focus of their platform — limited functionality compared to standalone services
Bizee, formerly known as Incfile, has been a popular choice for business formation and compliance services in California since 2004. With over 1 million businesses served, Bizee is best known for its basic LLC formation package (only pay California state fees), which includes one year of registered agent service.
✔ Free 1st year with LLC formation✔ $119/year after the first free year✔ Good value for basic compliance needs
✘ Registered agent service must be manually renewed✘ Customer support is slower and less detailed than top competitors✘ No refund policy on services once submitted
LegalZoom is a household name in online legal services, with over 3 million businesses served. Its registered agent service is backed by brand trust and comes with useful compliance tools. While its registered agent service comes at a higher price, the added perks and company reputation may justify the cost for some California business owners.
✔ Compliance calendar and deadline reminders included✔ 60-day money-back guarantee✔ Large support team with extended hours
✘ $249/year pricing is one of the highest on this list✘ No first-year discount or bundling options✘ Less value for cost compared to smaller, more focused competitors
Northwest Registered Agent has been offering registered agent services since 1998 and is known for being a solid choice in California. Northwest Registered Agent now has thousands of registered agent service subscribers across the country.
✔ $125/year pricing✔ Scans all mail, not just government documents
✘ Not the cheapest option for LLC formation✘ Limited refund policy✘ No online compliance dashboard or automation tools
If you want to receive personalized registered agent service at reasonable price points, Northwest Registered Agent might be worth a look. However, keep in mind that Northwest charges at least $39 to form an LLC, so there are many cheaper options for that service in California.
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Every business entity in the state of California is required to have a registered agent, also known in California as an agent for service of process. In fact, you won’t be allowed to finish the formation process for your company until you designate your registered agent.
The California Secretary of State notes that there are two types of registered agents in this state: individual and corporate registered agents. Individual registered agents are just what they sound like: a single person serving as a registered agent. Corporate registered agents, on the other hand, are business entities that conduct the service of a registered agent.
There are no registration requirements for individual agents, but a corporate registered agent must register prior to serving clients. There is a $30 registration fee.
Aside from the registration process, there is no appreciable difference between an individual registered agent and a corporate one. Both types function the same way.
The most important aspect of this role is receiving document deliveries from the state government and process servers, then alerting your business of the delivery before forwarding the documents to you. The role of the registered agent is so important because it establishes a point of contact for your business with the state and others so that they have a reliable place to get in touch with an official representative of your company at any time.
California used to offer a comprehensive list of every corporate registered agent in the state, but now things look a little different. You can use a business search to browse the state’s database of agents. Fair warning, though: even running a business search with “Agent” as the keyword gives you nearly 500 results, so this tool may not be all that helpful. It might be better to conduct your own independent research or use one of the services discussed above.
Each state has its own rules and regulations surrounding registered agents, which California refers to as “agents for service of process.” For the most part, these laws are fairly similar, but it’s always worth taking a look to see what California requires.
In California, we’ll need to take a look at the California Corporations Code, which says:
All of the companies we discussed above meet these regulations and are options for California registered agent service. When you’ve made your choice, you can indicate your registered agent’s name and address on your Articles of Organization.
As you’ve probably noticed, the registered agent services we’ve listed here serve businesses across the country. But if you Google “California Registered Agent,” you’ll probably see results for local services, too. These can be local entrepreneurs with a knack for clerical tasks, offices dedicated to serving businesses in their counties, or statewide companies.
On one hand, using a local service can have its advantages. Some will be cheaper than nationwide firms (but not always). And each state has its own nuances for business compliance requirements — California included. A registered agent service that services California alone may have detailed knowledge about those requirements. Granted, most national services do an excellent job of understanding local requirements. But they might not give you the same “homegrown California” feeling as a local agent service.
That said, national businesses like ZenBusiness give you streamlined solutions. Let’s say you’re using a local California-only registered agent service, but it’s time to add locations in Nevada. You could search for an additional agent that services Nevada businesses. But that’s going to require a lot of additional paperwork, including new receipts, new automatic payments, more emails… You get the idea. But if you’re using a national service, you can cut down the “new” paperwork and focus on what really matters: growing your business.
Ultimately, the choice is up to you, and there’s no “wrong” answer. The most important thing is that you appoint one so you can run a compliant California business.
The role of a California registered agent is critical to your company’s compliance and legal standing. This position requires dealing with seemingly simple tasks, yet if they’re handled incorrectly, they could cost you a considerable amount of money in fines and could even potentially see the state dissolve your business.
While you can always change your registered agent down the line, we think it’s essential to pick the right registered agent for your business starting at the formation phase. You should also keep an eye on your compliance standing to ensure nothing goes awry along the way.
With ZenBusiness, you can purchase reliable registered agent service at an affordable rate, leaving this role in the hands of experts while you focus on growing your business.
In California, there aren’t many complicated requirements for registered agent eligibility. Any individual or corporation with the authority to do business in the state can serve as your company’s registered agent. The requirements are that they have a permanent address in California and that your company itself can’t serve as its own registered agent (although you or one of your co-owners may assume this role individually).
Like most states, California doesn’t have an explicit age requirement (some states require the appointed agent to be at least 18 years of age). That said, we do recommend that you pick a responsible individual that you trust or one of the services listed above. If the registered agent doesn’t fulfill their duties completely and accurately, it can cause unnecessary hassle for a business. Most responsible adults can fill this role easily, but we do recommend careful consideration while you make this appointment.
Yes. If your registered agent is an individual, that person must live in California. If your agent is a business entity, that company must either be a domestic California corporation or one with the authority to conduct business in the state.
If your Statement of Information is coming due soon, you can simply make the change while filing it and kill two birds with one stone. Even if the Statement isn’t due anytime soon, you will still use the Statement of Information form to make this change. No matter when you file, you will need to pay the $20 filing fee for LLCs and $25 for corporations. For more information, see our California registered agent page.
If your registered agent chooses to resign and no longer serves as your agent, they will notify both you and the Secretary of State using the Resignation of Agent for Service of Process form. The form requests information such as the agent’s name and contact information along with information about the entity they’re resigning from serving. There is no base filing fee for this document, but there is a $15 surcharge if the agent files it in person.
Regardless of whether your agent resigns on their own or you choose to replace your existing agent, you’ll file the Statement of Information to appoint a new one. The filing fee for this is $20 for LLCs. However, if you file it on your regular biennial schedule, it won’t cost you anything extra. So, if you can, it may be helpful to wait to switch your registered agent until your Statement is coming due.
One common option is to serve as your company’s own registered agent or enlist the assistance of a trusted friend or family member. The other route is to hire an attorney or accountant to handle this role. Maybe you prefer the added professionalism these people can provide, maybe you have an existing relationship with an attorney or accountant you trust, etc.
The best place to learn more about forming a California LLC is our step-by-step guide. You might also be interested in checking out our list of the best California LLC formation services.
California Business Resources
Best Registered Agent Services Reviewed in All States
We break down the best registered agent services in every state. View all of our guides below.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 800,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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