File California Articles of Organization — Step 3 of 8
This is the filing that officially creates your LLC. Form LLC-1 costs $70, goes to the Secretary of State through the bizfile portal, and the moment it's accepted, your California LLC legally exists. Here's exactly what the form asks for — and a readiness checklist so your filing clears on the first try.
To form your California LLC, file Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) online through the Secretary of State's bizfile portal for $70. The form asks for your LLC name, principal address, agent for service of process, and management structure — members' names are not listed. Standard processing takes a few business days; expedited options cost extra. Once accepted, your LLC exists.
- Form
- LLC-1
- Filing fee
- $70
- Online fee
- +$5
- Members listed?
- No
- File via
- bizfile online
- Expedite
- $350–$750
- Next step
- Step 4 →
What the Articles of Organization Do
The Articles of Organization — Form LLC-1 — is the single document that legally creates your California LLC. You file it with the Secretary of State through the bizfile online portal, pay the $70 fee, and once it's accepted, your LLC officially exists. Everything before this (naming, choosing an agent) is preparation; this is the moment it becomes real.
The form is short and asks only for the essentials. Notably, California does not require you to list the members' names on the public Articles — you indicate the management structure instead, which keeps owner names off the public filing.
What Form LLC-1 asks for
- LLC name — exactly as you want it, including the LLC designator.
- Business purpose — California uses a standard statutory purpose statement that's pre-filled; you don't need to describe your business.
- Principal office address — the LLC's initial street address (and a mailing address if different).
- Agent for service of process — the name and California street address of your agent, or your registered 1505 agent.
- Management structure — one manager, more than one manager, or all LLC members.
- Organizer signature — the person submitting the form signs; they don't have to be an owner.
Filing-Readiness Checklist
Check off each item as you go — the ring fills as you get closer to a clean, first-try filing:
How to File LLC-1
- Go to bizfile Online (bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov) and create a free account.
- Complete Form LLC-1 with your name, address, agent, and management structure.
- Pay $70 (plus the $5 online convenience fee) by card and submit.
- Save your stamped Articles — you'll need them for banking, your EIN, and the Statement of Information.
The clock starts the moment you're approvedFiling LLC-1 triggers two deadlines: your Statement of Information ($20) is due within 90 days, and your $800 franchise tax is due by the 15th day of the 4th month after formation. Don't file and forget — calendar both right away.
Want to avoid paying the $800 twice quickly?If you file late in the year, you can owe the $800 for the current tax year and again the following April — back to back. To avoid this, some founders use a future file date of January 1 so the LLC starts in the new year. It only works if you haven't formed yet, so plan timing before you file.
- ✓Prepares & files your Articles of Organization
- ✓Acts as your agent for service of process
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California Articles of Organization — FAQ
Ahmad Adil is the founder and CEO of LLC School. The filing details here — the $70 Form LLC-1 fee, online filing via bizfile, the fields the form requires, the fact that members aren't listed, and the post-formation 90-day Statement of Information and $800 franchise-tax deadlines — were verified against the California Secretary of State. LLC School updates its California guides as the rules change.
About Ahmad Adil → California LLC Overview →