I second that! Nolo has some wonderful resources available, both online and in print. If you wanna thumb through the book mentioned above there's usually a copy laying around your local Barnes and Nobles. I'd recommend reading it
even if you plan on using a service later on. It's great info to have, and a very accessible read.
Only sidenote, in California the Secretary of State's rules, timelines and fees change all the time. Always double check anything you read on the SOS website http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/be/