
In California, you submit your application via regular mail, online, or in person. If the articles are approved, the LLC becomes a legal business entity.

Once you file your Articles, the secretary of state will review the filing. The person forming the LLC is required to sign the Articles.Management structure: Will its members or managers manage the LLC?.The name and address of your registered agent.To prepare your articles, you'll usually need the following information: Though it sounds like a big job, that simply means filling out a relatively simple online form and submitting it. Prepare Articles of Organization and file them with the California Secretary of State to properly register your California LLC. In California, Articles of Organization can be filed with Form LLC-1. The Articles of Organization is a document that officially establishes your LLC by laying out basic information about it. Prepare and file articles of organization The agent must be on-site and available to accept documents during regular business hours.ģ.The agent must have an address in California.Entities (or companies) must provide registered agent services.This is the person or entity who will receive legal documents, government correspondence, tax forms, as well as notice of lawsuits on the LLC's behalf.Ī registered agent can be a person ( including yourself or an employee of your LLC) or an entity that offers a registered agent service. In California, names may be reserved for up to 60 days by paying the fee and submitting the proper form to the state authority.Ĭalifornia requires you to appoint a registered agent for your LLC.Ī registered agent is a person or entity authorized to receive service of process and other official legal documents and notices on behalf of your LLC.

Reserve your name. If you aren't ready to register your LLC but are concerned your name might be taken by someone else, you can reserve it for a small fee.Before finalizing your LLC name, it's a good idea to check if the URL is available. At the very least, you should reserve the option of having one in the future by buying your domain name now. URL availability. Even if you don't think you'll need a webpage, you probably will.Certain restricted words (bank, lawyer, attorney, credit union, etc.) may require additional documentation and licensure paperwork.The business name cannot contain words used to name a government agency (i.e., State Department, CIA, FBI, Treasury, etc.).You can conduct a search on the Secretary of State's website to determine if a particular business name is in use. Your name must be different from an existing business in the state.

