How to Start an LLC in Arizona
Forming a limited liability company in Arizona is straightforward once you know what the Arizona Corporation Commission actually requires. The state filing fee is $50, standard processing runs 5-10 business days, and Arizona is one of the lowest LLC filing fees in the country with no recurring state fee for the LLC itself. This page walks through every step, the real costs involved, and where we fit in.
What an Arizona LLC Is (and Why People Form One)
An LLC — limited liability company — is a business entity registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission that separates your personal assets from your business liabilities. If the business gets sued or runs into debt, your personal bank account, home, and other assets are generally protected, as long as you've kept the LLC and your personal finances properly separated.
In Arizona, LLCs are the most common entity type for small businesses, freelancers, real estate investors, and side-hustle operators. They give you liability protection without the paperwork and governance overhead of a corporation. Taxes pass through to the owners' personal returns by default, which keeps things simple.
The Cost to Form an Arizona LLC
Here's the straight money breakdown:
- State filing fee: $50 (paid to the Arizona Corporation Commission when you file the Articles of Organization)
- Annual report fee: None — no recurring annual report required
- Statutory Agent service: Required. Included in your first year with our formation package.
- Expedited processing (optional): $200
Important Arizona-specific notes: No annual report or franchise tax required. $35 for expedited (non-same-day) processing. Filed with Arizona Corporation Commission, not Secretary of State.
Once you've formed your Arizona LLC, there's no annual state report to file. Arizona doesn't require a recurring filing from standard LLCs — you just keep your agent on file and handle federal and state tax obligations separately.
Step-by-Step: Forming Your Arizona LLC
1. Pick a Name That Meets Arizona Rules
Your LLC name needs to include "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." somewhere in it. It also has to be distinguishable from every other business name already on file with the Arizona Corporation Commission. Before you get attached to a name, search the state's business entity database to make sure it's available.
Avoid anything that suggests your LLC is a bank, insurance company, or government agency unless you actually are one — Arizona (and every other state) takes that seriously.
2. Appoint a Statutory Agent
Arizona requires every LLC to have a statutory agent with a physical street address in the state. This person or company accepts legal documents, tax notices, and official correspondence on behalf of your LLC. You'll list the statutory agent name and address on your Articles of Organization, and that address goes on the public record.
Arizona does not let you serve as your own statutory agent in the traditional sense — the state sets specific rules about who can act in that role. A professional statutory agent satisfies those requirements while also keeping your address off public records.
3. File Articles of Organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission
This is the actual formation step. You file Articles of Organization — sometimes called a Certificate of Formation — with the Arizona Corporation Commission and pay the $50 filing fee. The document includes your LLC name, principal address, statutory agent name and address, management structure (member-managed or manager-managed), and the names of organizers.
Most states now offer online filing through the Arizona Corporation Commission website (https://azcc.gov/corporations). Online filing is faster and usually a few dollars cheaper than mailing paper.
Standard processing in Arizona takes approximately 5-10 business days. Need it faster? Expedited processing costs $200 and typically drops the turnaround to Same day.
4. Create an Operating Agreement
Arizona does not require you to file an operating agreement with the state, but you should absolutely have one. It's the internal rulebook for your LLC: who owns what percentage, how profits are split, how decisions get made, what happens if a member wants out. Banks will often ask for it when you open a business account. Courts look at it if there's ever a dispute. And if you don't have one, Arizona's default rules apply — which may or may not match what you actually want.
5. Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is the federal tax ID for your LLC. You need one to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. It's free to get — apply directly at IRS.gov and you'll typically receive your EIN immediately.
Never pay a third-party service to get you an EIN. The IRS application takes about ten minutes.
6. Stay Compliant After Formation
Forming the LLC is just the start. To keep it in good standing with the Arizona Corporation Commission, you need to:
- Maintain a statutory agent with an Arizona address at all times
- Handle federal and state tax filings (no state annual report required)
- Keep business finances separated from personal finances (separate bank account, separate records)
- Handle federal and state tax obligations
Miss the statutory agent requirement or fail to handle required state tax filings, and the Arizona Corporation Commission can administratively dissolve the LLC. You lose the liability protection until you bring things current.
Start Your Arizona LLC the Right Way
You can form your Arizona LLC yourself by filing directly with the Arizona Corporation Commission. The forms are available at https://azcc.gov/corporations, and the state fee is $50. Or let us handle the filing for $199 — that includes the state fee, statutory agent service for the first year, an operating agreement template, and EIN assistance.