The High-touch Legal Services® Blog…for Startups!

© 2009-2021 Dana H. Shultz

Forming a Corporation in California? Get Ready to Wait

California Secretary of State logo

July 2013 update: California Secretary of State Reduces Turnaround Times!

* * *

California’s budget crisis is affecting how quickly entrepreneurs can form their business entities: Standard turnaround time for hand-delivered Articles of Incorporation now is close to four weeks. (The situation for limited liability companies [LLCs] is better at two weeks, though still much longer than it was just half a year ago – see LLC Formation in Record Time.)

Update as of February 6, 2013: LLC filing time now is approximately six weeks, and corporation filing time is more than seven weeks!

According to the filing service that I use in Sacramento, this is the worst turnaround time they have ever experienced and is attributable to the Secretary of State not filling empty staff positions because of the State’s budget problems.

Fortunately, if quick turnaround is important, 24-hour expedited filing is available for an additional Secretary of State fee of $350.

This blog does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.