How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC in Arizona?

The cost to start an LLC (limited liability company) online in Arizona is $50. This fee is paid to the Arizona Corporation Commission when filing the LLC’s Articles of Organization.

Use our free Form an LLC in Arizona guide to do it yourself.

Or simply use a professional service:

four point six out of five Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

How Much Does an LLC Cost in Arizona?

Arizona LLC Online Filing Fee: $50

The main cost to start an LLC is the $50 fee to file your LLC's Articles of Organization online with the Arizona Corporation Commission.

For a look at LLC costs in every state, read our other Cost to Start an LLC and How to Form an LLC guides.

Publication Requirement: $30-$300

Arizona requires newly formed LLCs to publish a Notice of LLC Formation for three consecutive weeks in an approved newspaper in the county of the LLC’s principal office. This must be done within 60 days of formation.

The fee for this is between $30 and $300, depending on the county. Businesses whose principal address is in either Maricopa or Pima counties do not have to publish a Notice of LLC Formation.

Read our full guide for Arizona LLC publication requirements to learn more.

Registered Agent Fee

In Arizona you can be your own registered agent (known in Arizona as a statutory agent), but using a registered agent service helps keep your company in compliance and reminds you of important filing deadlines and avoid late fees.

OR:

Read our guide to learn more about Arizona Registered Agents. You can also read our full guide on the best registered agent services.

Cost to Form a Foreign LLC in Arizona

If you already have an LLC that is registered in another state and you’d like to expand your business into Arizona, you’ll need to register your LLC as a foreign LLC in Arizona.

The cost for registering an Arizona foreign LLC is $150. You can register a foreign LLC in Arizona by filing a Foreign Registration Statement (Form L025).

Business Permits and Licenses

Depending on your industry and geographical location, your business might need federal, state, and local permits/licenses to legally operate in Arizona. This is true whether your form an LLC or any other type of business structure.

Learn more about state and local licensing with our guide to getting an Arizona business license.

Other LLC Filing Costs

There are optional fees associated with LLC formation:

LLC Name Reservation:
Reserve your name for up to 120 days prior to LLC formation by filing an Application to Reserve Limited Liability Company Name (Form L001) and paying the filing fee. This fee is $45 for online filing and $10 for filing by mail.

Doing Business As (DBA) Name:
File a Trade Name Application and pay the $10 filing fee to create a name other than your legal LLC business name.

Document Copies:
Obtain document copies of your Arizona business documents by ordering through the Arizona Corporation Commission and paying $5 + $0.50 per page. You can also obtain certified copies for $15 + $0.50 per page.

Certificate of Status:
Also known as an Arizona certificate of good standing, you can obtain this document by ordering through the Secretary of State and paying the $10 fee. A certificate of status is often required by banks and lending institutions.

How to Register an Arizona LLC Yourself

Forming an LLC yourself is easy; just follow the five steps below.

Recommended: If you already have a business that is running as a sole proprietorship, visit our How to Change from a Sole Proprietorship to LLC page.

Five Basic Steps to Start an LLC in Arizona

Step 1: Name Your Arizona LLC
Step 2: Choose a Statutory Agent
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
Step 4: Complete Arizona LLC Publication Requirement
Step 5: Create an Operating Agreement
Step 6: Get an EIN

Step 1: Name Your Arizona LLC

When you name your Arizona LLC, you’ll need to choose a name that:

  1. Is available for use in the state of Arizona
  2. Meets Arizona naming requirements
  3. Is available as a web domain

Recommended: Visit our Start an LLC in Arizona guide for detailed naming rules and instructions for registering a business name in Arizona.

Not sure what to name your business? Check out our How to Name a Business guide and free LLC Name Generator.

We recommend that you check online to see if your business name is available as a web domain. Even if you don't plan to create a business website today, you may want to buy the URL in order to prevent others from acquiring it.

Find a Domain Now

Step 2: Choose a Statutory Agent

All LLCs in Arizona must appoint a statutory agent. A statutory agent primarily acts as your LLC’s main point of contact with the state. But most importantly, they are responsible for accepting service of process in the event your business is sued.

Your Arizona statutory agent must:

  • Be at least 18 years or older
  • Have a physical address in Arizona
  • Be available during normal business hours to accept service of process

In Arizona, your statutory agent must consent to appointment by filling out and submitting a statutory agent acceptance form.

Recommended: Get a free year of registered agent services when you hire Northwest Registered Agent to form your LLC. $29 (plus state fees).

Get Started

Step 3: File the Articles of Organization

The Arizona Form L010 - Articles of Organization is a document that is filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission to form an LLC. The fee for filing the Articles of Organization is $50 online, by mail, and in person.

For detailed instructions for completing the Articles of Organization, visit our How to File the Arizona Articles of Organization guide.

File the Arizona Articles of Organization

OPTION 1: File Online With Arizona eCorp

File Online

- OR -

OPTION 2: File Form L010 by Mail

Form L010


State Filing Cost: $50, payable to the Corporation Commission

Filing Address:
Arizona Corporation Commission
Corporate Filings Section
1300 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Step 4: Complete the Arizona LLC Publication Requirement

Arizona requires newly formed LLCs to publish a Notice of LLC Formation for three consecutive weeks in an approved newspaper in the county of the LLC’s principal office. This must be done within 60 days of formation.

The fee for this is between $30 and $300, depending on the county.

Exceptions: Businesses whose principal address is in either Maricopa or Pima counties do not have to publish a Notice of LLC Formation.

Read our full guide for Arizona LLC publication requirements to learn more.

Step 5: Create an Operating Agreement

An operating agreement isn't required for Arizona LLCs, but it's a good practice to have one.

What is an operating agreement? An operating agreement is a legal document outlining the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC.

Why are operating agreements important? A comprehensive operating agreement ensures that all business owners are on the same page and reduces the risk of future conflict.

For more information on operating agreements, read our Arizona LLC operating agreement guide.

Step 6: Get an EIN

What is an EIN? An EIN or Employer Identification Number is a nine-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue System (IRS) to identify a business for tax reporting purposes. An EIN is essentially a Social Security number (SSN) for your company.

Why do I need an EIN? An EIN number is required for the following:

Free EIN: You can get an EIN from the IRS website (free of charge) after forming your business.

Arizona LLC Cost FAQ

Do you have to pay for an Arizona LLC every year?

There are no general annual fees for Arizona LLCs. However, there may be license or permit fees depending on your business type.

Is an LLC really necessary?

An LLC provides limited liability protection. This means an LLC protects your personal assets in the event of a business loss, such as a lawsuit or unpaid debt.

We recommend any small business that carries even the smallest amount of risk or liability to form an LLC. Learn more in our Should I Start an LLC guide.

What is the cheapest way to get an LLC?

You can save money on getting an LLC by completing the formation process yourself, making your own operating agreement, being your own registered agent, and getting your own EIN.

Check out our How to Save Money Forming Your LLC guide to learn more.

Can I pay myself a salary from my LLC?

You can pay yourself a salary from your LLC, but it would be called a draw or distribution if your LLC is taxed in the default way by the IRS.

Visit our How to Pay Yourself from an LLC guide to learn more.

Is an S corp better than an LLC?

An S corporation (S corp) is an IRS tax status, not a type of business entity. An LLC can be taxed in the default way or as an S corp. For some businesses, being taxed as an S corp can make lots of sense.

Check out our LLC vs. S corp guide to find out if S corp status is right for your business.

What’s better: sole proprietorship or LLC?

A sole proprietorship is only good for businesses that carry very low risk of liability because sole proprietorships don’t offer any liability protection.

Learn more in our sole proprietorship vs. LLC guide.

Article Sources

Arizona Department of Revenue:
https://azdor.gov/

IRS - Employer ID Numbers:
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers

Arizona Corporation Commission:
https://www.azcc.gov/

SBA - Apply for Licenses and Permits:
https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/apply-licenses-permits

Chamber of Commerce - Arizona Chamber of Commerce List:
https://www.officialusa.com/stateguides/chambers/arizona.html