The short answer
A professional registered agent in California costs about $50 to $300 per year. Independent local agents sit at the low end, national brands at the high end, and the service being sold is nearly identical across the whole range. Corpgate, Inc. charges $79 year to year, or $49 per year when you prepay 3 years.
The typical price range
That $50 to $300 spread covers the same job everywhere: a California street address on file with the state, receipt of legal and state documents, and delivery of those documents to you.
| Option | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corpgate, Inc. | $49–$79/yr | $49/yr with a 3-year plan ($147 one payment) or $79 year to year, flat |
| Independent local agents | $50–$125/yr | Varies widely in service quality and longevity |
| National brands | $125–$300/yr | Same core service, bigger marketing budgets, frequent upsells |
| Formation-company bundles | "Free" first year | Renewal typically jumps to $119–$299/yr |
What you're actually paying for
At any price, the job is the same: be reliably present at a California street address, receive service of process and state notices, and get them to you quickly. Extras that inflate the price, like "compliance dashboards" and document storage portals, don't change the legal function. What matters is whether documents reach you promptly and whether the company will still exist at renewal time.
The pricing traps
- The free-first-year renewal jump. Formation companies bundle a free agent year, then renew at $119 to $299. Check the renewal rate before accepting any bundle.
- Per-document fees. Some services charge extra to forward or scan documents. Receiving and delivering documents is the entire job; it shouldn't cost extra.
- Quiet annual increases. A $99 sign-up rate that creeps up each year. Flat, published pricing avoids the drift.
Why Corpgate, Inc. can charge $49 a year on a 3-year plan
We do one thing: registered agent service for California businesses, owner-operated since 2008. No call center, no sales team, no add-ons to advertise. The price on our pricing page is the whole price: $49 per year when you prepay 3 years ($147 in one payment), or $79 year to year. Service of process and state documents are scanned and emailed to you promptly, with the hard copy forwarded.
Switching from a pricier agent is one online filing: here's exactly how.
Cost questions
Why do registered agent prices vary so much?
The service is nearly identical everywhere: maintain an address, receive documents, pass them along. Price differences mostly reflect marketing spend, upsells, and whether the agent is a national brand or a local operation. Higher price rarely means faster document delivery.
Do multi-year plans actually save money?
Usually, yes. Prepaying locks the rate and avoids renewal increases. Corpgate, Inc.'s 3-year plan works out to $49 per year (one $147 payment) versus $79 year to year.
How much is a registered agent for an LLC in California?
The same as for a corporation. California doesn't price the requirement differently by entity type, so an LLC pays the ordinary market rate of roughly $50 to $300 per year. With Corpgate, Inc. an LLC pays $79 year to year, or $49 per year when you prepay 3 years. Details on the California LLC page.
What are process agent fees?
"Process agent" is another name for the agent for service of process, which in California is the same role as the registered agent. The fees are the same annual registered agent fees, generally $50 to $300 per year. Be careful of services that charge a separate per-document fee on top; receiving and delivering documents is the entire job.
Is a registered agent fee tax deductible?
For most businesses it's an ordinary operating expense. Confirm how to treat it with your tax professional; we don't give tax advice.
Can the price change at renewal?
With many services, yes, and “free first year” offers from formation companies are the classic example: the renewal often lands at $119 to $299. Check the renewal rate before you sign up anywhere. Corpgate, Inc.'s prices are flat and published on our pricing page.
What should be included at any price?
A California street address on file with the state, prompt delivery of anything received, and no surcharges for individual documents. If a service charges extra to forward a document, that's a red flag.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.
More guides: What does an agent do? · What happens without one? · Statement of Information guide · Out-of-state companies in CA · The 1505 corporate agent · Other states' names for it
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