California Filing Fees: RIA, IAR, Broker-Dealer & Form D (2026)
What it actually costs to register and renew in California. Fees are paid to the CA Dept. of Financial Protection & Innovation.
RIA firm registration
$125
$75 below the national median
Per IAR
$25
$35 below the national median
Broker-dealer firm
$125
$125 below the national median
Per BD agent
$25
$25 below the national median
Form D / Blue Sky notice
$300
$50 above the national median
Renewal
$125
Same as initial registration
Year-one cost scenarios in California
Solo state-registered RIA (1 IAR) in California
$125 firm + $25 IAR + $150 IARD system + $45 IAR system
$345
RIA with 3 investment adviser representatives
$125 firm + 3 × $25 IAR + IARD system fees
$485
Broker-dealer with 5 registered agents
$125 firm + 5 × $25 agent (excludes FINRA/CRD fees)
$250
Private fund Form D notice filing (California investors)
State Blue Sky notice fee, due within 15 days of first sale
$300
Filing fees only. Excludes compliance-manual drafting, Form ADV preparation, consulting, legal, E&O, and FINRA membership costs. Verify amounts with the CA Dept. of Financial Protection & Innovation before filing.
Want the all-in California number?
Our registration calculator adds filing fees, Form ADV drafting, policies and procedures, and ongoing consulting into one budget for California and any other jurisdictions you need.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register as an investment adviser in California?
California charges $125 for investment adviser firm registration and $25 per investment adviser representative. Adding FINRA IARD system fees ($150 firm, $45 per IAR), a solo RIA should budget roughly $345 in year-one filing fees, excluding legal, consulting, and compliance-manual costs.
What is the California IAR registration fee?
$25 per investment adviser representative, paid through IARD to the CA Dept. of Financial Protection & Innovation. That is $35 below the national median. Note: +$25 fingerprint fee per IAR
What does a broker-dealer pay to register in California?
$125 for the broker-dealer firm and $25 per registered agent, paid through CRD to the CA Dept. of Financial Protection & Innovation. FINRA membership and CRD fees are separate.
What is the California Form D / Blue Sky notice filing fee?
$300 per offering for a Regulation D 506(b) or 506(c) notice filing when California residents invest. The notice is generally due within 15 days of the first sale in the state.
Does California charge the same fee to renew?
Yes — California charges the same amounts at annual renewal, so a solo RIA should plan on roughly $345 per year in recurring state and IARD fees.