California business formation toolbox.
Three free resources for founders weighing entity decisions — pick the structure, understand the annual cost of ownership, and follow an attorney's working formation checklist.
Step 1 · Pick the structure
Decide on the entity.
The most consequential decision in a formation happens before any forms are filed. LLC, S-corp, C-corp — each has tradeoffs that affect tax, liability, fundability, and exit.
Step 2 · Run the numbers
Understand the cost of ownership.
California LLCs aren't free to keep. The $800 minimum franchise tax applies regardless of revenue, and the graduated LLC fee scales with gross receipts.
Step 3 · File and follow the playbook
Get the working checklist.
An attorney's working checklist of the decisions and filings that drive every California LLC formation — name search, Articles of Organization, Statement of Information, Operating Agreement, EIN, franchise tax, and ongoing compliance.
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Open the toolboxFlat-fee California LLC formation by an attorney.
Articles, operating agreement, EIN, and S-corp election when appropriate. One price, no hourly creep.