Business Formation & Incorporation Services
LLC formation, S-corp elections, business license registration. We model the tax outcome before you file anything.
Choosing the Right Business Entity
Your entity determines how you are taxed, how your personal assets are protected, how easily the business can grow, take on partners, or sell. S-corporation, C-corporation, LLC, LLP, sole proprietorship: each differs on liability, running costs, taxation, dissolution.
“Don't step over the dollar to pick up the nickel.” On DIY online formation services
We advise founders across Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, Los Angeles, then handle the formation itself from state filings through city permits. Already operating? We restructure existing entities when the current setup no longer fits.
Our Business Formation Services Include:
- Analysis of business objectives, ownership, asset protection, investment structure, future goals, and exit strategy
- Consultation on the specific tax and non-tax implications of each entity option
- Tax liability planning and projections
- Business incorporation & LLC formation services
- LLC vs. S-corp analysis
- DBA registration
- State and local business filings
- City permits and business license filing services
California Filings After You Form
Forming the entity is the first filing, not the last. Three requirements follow a new Glendale LLC or corporation.
- The $800 annual tax. Every LLC organized in or doing business in California pays an $800 annual tax to the Franchise Tax Board, due by the 15th day of the fourth month of its tax year, whether or not it had income. A new LLC's first payment is due the 15th day of the fourth month after it registers with the Secretary of State. LLCs with more than $250,000 of California income also pay a fee, starting at $900, estimated and paid by the 15th day of the sixth month. Corporations pay an $800 minimum franchise tax, but a newly formed corporation is exempt for its first taxable year.
- The Statement of Information. Within 90 days of registering, the entity files a Statement of Information with the Secretary of State. Stock corporations refile every year, LLCs every two years, in the month the entity was registered, with an updated statement any time the information changes, including a new agent for service of process. The filing fee is $20 or $25. Miss it, then the FTB assesses a $250 penalty on the Secretary of State's behalf, with suspension possible after that.
- Glendale business registration. Every business located in Glendale must apply for a Business Registration Certificate from the City before opening, then renew it each year. The certificate has to be posted where it can be seen, and a new one is required if the business changes its name, ownership, address, square footage, or activities. Home-based businesses apply for a Home Occupation Permit instead. The initial fee is $363 and the annual renewal is $121.
We handle these filings as part of formation, then track the recurring dates with you.
Common Questions About Entity Choice & California Filings
Which business entity should I choose?
It depends on liability exposure, how you want profits taxed, the number of owners, your plans for growth or exit. S-corporations, C-corporations, LLCs, LLPs, sole proprietorships each carry different trade-offs. We model the tax outcome of each before you commit.
What is the difference between an LLC and an S-corp for taxes?
An LLC is a legal structure; S-corp is a tax election. Many California businesses operate as an LLC taxed as an S-corp to reduce self-employment tax once profits support a reasonable salary. The right answer depends on your numbers, so we run the analysis both ways.
Why not just form my company through an online service?
Online formation files paperwork. It does not advise you. The expensive mistakes sit in the decisions that paperwork encodes: entity type, tax elections, ownership structure. Restructuring later costs more than getting the consultation first.
How much is the California LLC annual tax?
$800 a year, paid to the Franchise Tax Board with voucher FTB 3522 by the 15th day of the fourth month of the LLC's tax year. It is owed even in a year with no activity, until the LLC is cancelled. LLCs whose California income passes $250,000 owe an additional fee on a sliding scale that starts at $900.
Does a new corporation pay the $800 minimum franchise tax in its first year?
No. A newly incorporated or newly qualified corporation is not required to pay the minimum franchise tax for its first taxable year, although it still pays tax on any net income it earns that year. From the second year on, the $800 minimum applies every year the corporation exists, regardless of profit.
What is a Statement of Information?
It is a filing with the California Secretary of State that keeps the state's record of your entity current. The first one is due within 90 days of registering, then every year for stock corporations or every two years for LLCs. The fee is $20 or $25, and skipping it brings a $250 penalty plus possible suspension.
Do I need a business license in Glendale?
Yes. Every business located in Glendale needs a Business Registration Certificate from the City before it opens, renewed annually. Businesses run from home apply for a Home Occupation Permit instead. The certificate is separate from your state filings and from any CDTFA seller's permit.