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California LLC or Corporation formation + Statement of Information: San Francisco restaurant guide

California Secretary of State

What it is

Creates the legal entity that signs the lease, holds the health permit and the ABC liquor license, and keeps your personal assets separate from the restaurant's debts.

When a restaurant needs it

Before signing a lease or applying for any permit in the business's name.

How to apply

File Articles of Organization (form LLC-1) or Articles of Incorporation in bizfile Online, then file the initial Statement of Information within 90 days.

Documents you’ll need

Entity name (checked for availability)
Registered agent name and California street address
Business and mailing addresses
Manager/member or officer/director names

Fee

LLC Articles of Organization (LLC-1) $70.00 per the SOS form; Statement of Information and corporation fees per the SOS 'Forms, Samples & Fees' page

Processing time

Online filings get priority processing; see SOS 'Current Processing Dates'

Renewal

Statement of Information every two years for LLCs (annually for corporations), in the six-month window ending in your formation month; most entities also owe the $800 minimum California franchise tax each year

Who files

Any organizer or authorized agent (attorney, registered-agent service) can file.

Good to know

Missing a Statement of Information leads to Franchise Tax Board penalties and eventual suspension — a suspended entity cannot hold an ABC license. Keep your registered-agent address current.

Official source

CA SOS — forms, samples and fees · Form LLC-1 (Articles of Organization) — $70 fee

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Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.