Step 1: Choose a name Arizona will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company”, “L.L.C.” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Arizona Corporation Commission's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Arizona against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $10, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Arizona who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Arizona companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Arizona Corporation Commission. The fee is $50. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. 12 days for a new LLC filing; 6 days expedited, 1 day for same/next-day service. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Publish a notice of the LLC
Within 60 days after the Commission files the Articles of Organization, a notice of the filing must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of the statutory agent's street address for three consecutive publications (an affidavit of publication may be filed). Exception: if the statutory agent's street address is in a county with population over 800,000 (Maricopa or Pima), the Commission publishes the notice on its own website/database instead. Do not publish until the Commission approves the Articles.
Step 5: Write an operating agreement
Arizona doesn't require one (A.R.S. § 29-3105(A)-(B)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Arizona LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 6: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Arizona has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 7: Keep the LLC in good standing
No annual report: Arizona LLCs do not file annual reports with the Commission (no annual report appears in the LLC fee schedule; corporations file annual reports).
| After formation | Arizona |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | None |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $10 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Arizona certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Arizona
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $50 |
| First year, state fees | $50 |
| Each year after | $0 |
Over five years, Arizona's state fees come to $50. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Instructions for Articles of Organization (L010i) (PDF), azcc.gov, checked 2026-10-07
LLC fee schedule (PDF), azcc.gov, checked 2026-10-07
A.R.S. § 29-3112, azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-07
A.R.S. § 29-3201, azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-07
A.R.S. § 10-401, azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-07
A.R.S. § 44-1460, azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-07
A.R.S. § 41-126, azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Tntm, azsos.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Business search, arizonabusinesscenter.azcc.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Processing times, arizonabusinesscenter.azcc.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Arizona
- Choose a name Arizona will accept and check it against the Arizona Corporation Commission's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Arizona.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission ($50).
- Publish the notice Arizona requires and file the proof.
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Arizona?
$50 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $50 in the first year and nothing in later years; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Arizona?
The Arizona Corporation Commission gives 12 days for a new LLC filing; 6 days expedited, 1 day for same/next-day service.
Do I need an operating agreement in Arizona?
Arizona doesn't require one (A.R.S. § 29-3105(A)-(B)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Arizona online?
Yes. The Arizona Corporation Commission takes the Articles of Organization online, for $50.
Does Arizona require an annual report for LLCs?
No. Arizona has no recurring report for LLCs.