Filed with
Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Not required
- 01
Choose a name for your Arizona LLC
Arizona LLC name checker →The name must contain "limited liability company", "limited company", "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C." or "LC" (upper or lower case); may not contain "association", "corporation" or "incorporated". It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Arizona register.
Check it against Arizona's naming rules with our name checker before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Arizona LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Arizona, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Meet the publication requirement
Within 60 days after the Articles of Organization are filed, a notice must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of the statutory agent's street address for three consecutive publications. If that address is in a county with a population over 800,000 (Maricopa and Pima), the Commission posts the information in its database instead and no newspaper publication is required. The Commission's approval letter states whether publication is required.
- 05
Write an operating agreement
Arizona operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 06
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 07
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 08
Get the licenses your business needs
Arizona business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Arizona requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Arizona sales tax too.
- 09
Keep your Arizona LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Arizona does not require LLCs to file an annual report.
Worth knowing in Arizona
- Arizona LLCs file no annual report; only corporations do.
- Each January the Commission sends an electronic notice to LLCs that have filed nothing in two years, asking them to confirm they are still active.
- Do not publish until the Commission has approved the Articles of Organization.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division and pay the state fee, act as your Arizona registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
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Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Arizona?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Arizona, and file a Articles of Organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Arizona?
Arizona charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Arizona LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Arizona LLC have to file an annual report?
Arizona does not require LLCs to file an annual report.
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Arizona, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Arizona?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Arizona and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
Does Arizona require LLCs to publish a notice?
Within 60 days after the Articles of Organization are filed, a notice must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of the statutory agent's street address for three consecutive publications. If that address is in a county with a population over 800,000 (Maricopa and Pima), the Commission posts the information in its database instead and no newspaper publication is required. The Commission's approval letter states whether publication is required.
