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File California Articles of Organization — Step 3 of 8 | LLC School
California LLC · Step 3 of 8 · Filing and tax rules: check current instructions

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.

Ahmad AdilWritten by Ahmad Adil, LLC School · Filing and tax rules: check current instructions
CA CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
Quick Answer

File California Articles of Organization (LLC-1) with the Secretary of State for $70. Supply the current form’s name, addresses, agent and management information. Check current processing dates rather than relying on a fixed turnaround. Approval or an applicable effective date creates the LLC; payment alone is not acceptance.

Step 3 — Fast Facts
Form
LLC-1
Filing fee
$70
Base online filing
$70 LLC-1 fee
Members listed?
No
File via
bizfile online
Expedite
$350–$750
Next step
Step 4 →
Your California LLC — 8 Steps
0Overview1Name Search2Agent for Service3Articles of Organization4Operating Agreement5Statement of Info6EIN Number7Franchise Tax8LLC Taxes

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

  1. LLC name — exactly as you want it, including the LLC designator.
  2. Business purpose — California uses a standard statutory purpose statement that's pre-filled; you don't need to describe your business.
  3. Principal office address — the LLC's initial street address (and a mailing address if different).
  4. Agent for service of process — the name and California street address of your agent, or your registered 1505 agent.
  5. Management structure — one manager, more than one manager, or all LLC members.
  6. 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:

0%Ready
Filing-Readiness Checklist
8 things to have ready before you file LLC-1
Confirmed your LLC name is available & compliantChecked on the bizfile business search
Chosen your agent for service of processCA-resident individual or registered 1505 agent
Have a physical California street addressFor the principal office (no P.O. box for the agent)
Decided your management structureMember-managed or manager-managed
Identified your organizerThe person who signs and submits LLC-1
Ready to pay the $70 fee (+$5 online)Credit or debit card on bizfile
Created a bizfile online accountAt bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov
Budgeted for what's next$800 franchise tax + $20 Statement of Information
Check the boxes above as you prepare.
You're ready — File on bizfile

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 the $70 filing fee and any selected, applicable service charges shown for the filing; submit and confirm acceptance.
  • Save your stamped Articles — you'll need them for banking, your EIN, and the Statement of Information.
File Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) — $70Official California Secretary of State bizfile portal
File on bizfile

After formation, file the initial Statement of Information within 90 days ($20). The $800 annual LLC tax generally also applies, including the first year for post-2023 formations, subject to specific FTB exceptions. Calendar the applicable tax and filing deadlines.

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.

Planning note: Prepare the current LLC-1 fields, confirm acceptance and calendar the initial Statement of Information and applicable FTB deadlines. Choose expedited review only after checking the filing method, cutoff and additional charges.
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  • ✓Review address-use rules and privacy policies; a service does not remove all information from public filings.
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Filing Method and Optional Service Charges

The $15 special-handling charge applies to eligible Sacramento drop-off filing requests, not online or mailed requests or Statements of Information. Online and drop-off expedite options include 24-hour ($350) and same-day ($750) review. Four-hour ($500) service is drop-off only with approved preclearance; 24-hour preclearance costs $500 and is drop-off only. Check cutoffs, holidays and the current Secretary of State service options. These are review-response periods, not approval guarantees.

Frequently Asked Questions

California Articles of Organization — FAQ

How much does it cost to file California Articles of Organization?
The LLC-1 filing fee is $70. Do not add a separate $5 bizfile fee as a standard formation charge. Optional 24-hour expedite costs $350 and same-day service $750, online or Sacramento drop-off. Four-hour service is $500, Sacramento drop-off only, with approved preclearance. Other applicable handling or preclearance charges are separate.
How do I file Articles of Organization in California?
Use the California Secretary of State’s bizfile portal, complete the current LLC-1 fields and pay the displayed applicable charges. Save the accepted filing. Processing times vary; check the current processing-date page.
Are members' names listed on California Articles of Organization?
No. Form LLC-1 asks for your management structure (manager-managed or member-managed), not the names of the members. Member and manager details are disclosed later on the Statement of Information, not on the public Articles.
How long does it take to form a California LLC?
Check the Secretary of State’s current processing dates. Online or Sacramento drop-off offers 24-hour ($350) and same-day ($750) filing responses, subject to the published cutoff and holiday rules. Four-hour ($500) service requires Sacramento drop-off and approved preclearance. Expedited review can still result in rejection.
What's a "member-managed" vs "manager-managed" LLC?
In a member-managed LLC, the owners run the business day to day — common for small LLCs. In a manager-managed LLC, the owners appoint one or more managers to run it, which suits passive investors or larger teams. You indicate which on Form LLC-1.
What do I need to do after my LLC is approved?
Three things quickly: create your operating agreement, file your Statement of Information within 90 days ($20), and plan for the $800 franchise tax. You'll also want an EIN to open a business bank account.
Can I file Articles of Organization myself?
Absolutely. The form is short and the bizfile portal walks you through it — many founders complete it in under fifteen minutes. If you'd rather not deal with it, a formation service can prepare and file it for you and serve as your agent at the same time.
Ahmad Adil, founder of LLC School
About the Author
Ahmad Adil

Ahmad Adil is the founder of LLC School. Confirm filing fields, fees, current processing dates and service options with the California Secretary of State; confirm tax obligations and exceptions separately with FTB. This page is educational information.

About Ahmad Adil → California LLC Overview →
Up Next · Step 4 of 8
Create an Operating Agreement
Required in California — it sets ownership, management, and profit rules.
Step 4: Operating Agreement
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