Filed with
Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division
Document
Certificate of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Arkansas LLC
Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division business filings →The name must contain "Limited Liability Company", "Limited Company", "L.L.C.", "L.C.", "LLC" or "LC" ("Limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "Company" may be abbreviated "Co."). It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Arkansas register.
Search the Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Arkansas LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Arkansas, 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 Certificate of Organization
Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division →The Certificate of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services 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
Write an operating agreement
Arkansas 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.
- 05
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.
- 06
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.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
Arkansas business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Arkansas 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 Arkansas sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Arkansas LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Arkansas LLCs file an Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report every year. It is due on or before May 1 each year.
The first one is due May 1 of the year after the LLC is formed.
Annual LLC franchise tax paid to the Arkansas Secretary of State with the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report, due on or before May 1. Penalty and interest apply after May 1.
Worth knowing in Arkansas
- The Certificate of Organization must list at least one member or manager for franchise tax purposes, and a franchise tax contact form is filed with it.
- The annual report and the franchise tax are a single filing with the Secretary of State, which can be done online.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Certificate of Organization with the Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division and pay the state fee, act as your Arkansas registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
Nearby states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Arkansas?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Arkansas, and file a Certificate of Organization with the Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas charges a filing fee for the Certificate 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 Arkansas LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Arkansas LLC have to file an annual report?
Arkansas LLCs file an Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report every year. It is due on or before May 1 each year. The first one is due May 1 of the year after the LLC is formed.
What is the Certificate of Organization?
The document filed with the Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Arkansas, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Arkansas?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Arkansas and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
