Incorporating in California is relatively easy.  This article will provide you with resources to help you understand how the incorporation process works in California as well as legal forms from the California Secretary of State that you will need to incorporate in California.

 

While it is not required, it is advisable to check the availability of a company name before filing any paperwork. A free preliminary check of name availability can be requested by mailing the Name Availability Inquiry Letter to:

Secretary of State

Name Availability Unit

1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814.

 

Once the name availability inquiry has been completed, a name can be reserved for a period of 60 days. A Name Reservation Request form can be completed and mailed to:

Name Availability Unit

1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

 

Attached to the form should be the $10.00 fee made payable to the Secretary of State.

 

Once the company name has been cleared, you can then file the Articles of Incorporation.  These forms can be filled out and mailed or dropped off in person to the Secretary of State. If mailing, you will need to attach your $100.00 filing fee and send it to:

Secretary of State

Document Filing Support Unit

P.O. Box 944260

Sacramento, CA 94244-2600.

 

Documents can also be dropped off in person with an additional payment of $15.00. These documents can be dropped off between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. There are two office locations:

1. Sacramento Office

1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor

Sacramento, CA

 

2. Los Angeles Regional Office

300 South Spring Street, Room 12513

Los Angeles, CA

California does not offer an online filing service. Therefore, your forms must be mailed or submitted in person. However, there are many companies that offer the service of filing these articles on your behalf, such as FileOnline or LegalZoom. 

 

Once you have filed your articles of incorporation with the California Secretary of State and paid the appropriate fee, you will receive approved articles of incorporation for your corporation. The next step is to create bylaws, which are the documents that govern how your California corporation will be regulated. As a helpful resource, we have created form bylaws for a California corporation.

 

Annual/Biennial statements must be filed continually. These statements can easily be filed online through the California Secretary of State website.