How to Form an LLC in Arkansas
We form your Arkansas LLC for $199 plus the $45 state fee, then keep it compliant year-round as your registered agent for $99/year — billed separately, never bundled into the formation price.
Forming an Arkansas LLC comes down to one state filing, an agent on record, and a short list of yearly upkeep. The official Arkansas filing fee is $45 online or $50 on paper, and everything files through the Secretary of State. This page covers the fee, the form, the steps, and the part we take off your plate.
Open Your Arkansas LLC — $199
Pay $199 once and we handle everything: prep, review, and submission to the Arkansas Secretary of State, tracked until the state approves it.
The Arkansas LLC, Briefly Explained
A limited liability company draws a legal line between the business and its owner, and that line is what shields personal assets. Around Arkansas, contractors, landlords, online sellers, and freelancers keep picking the LLC because setup is simple and the ongoing rules stay manageable.
Arkansas LLC Filing Fee: $45 Online, $50 by Mail
The official Arkansas filing fee is $45 when you file through the Secretary of State's online system and $50 when you mail the paper form. The same split appears on the state's LLC fee schedule, so filing online is both the quicker and the slightly cheaper route.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (Arkansas Secretary of State) | $45 online, $50 by mail, one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Arkansas LLC) | $99/year |
| Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report (state) | $150/year, due May 1 |
$199 is the filing service. State fees go to the Arkansas Secretary of State. The registered agent runs $99/year on its own billing.
One Arkansas-specific note up front: every LLC owes the flat $150 Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report by May 1 each year, with a $25 penalty plus interest waiting if it files late.
The Certificate of Organization (Form LL-01)
Arkansas does not use "Articles of Organization." The formation document is the Certificate of Organization for Limited Liability Company, Form LL-01, filed under Ark. Code Ann. § 4-38-201, the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act that Act 1041 of 2021 put in place. The statute reads: "One or more persons may act as organizers to form a limited liability company by delivering to the Secretary of State for filing a certificate of organization."
You can download Form LL-01 directly, or start from the Secretary of State's LLC forms and fees page, which lists the official form name and number alongside both fees.
Step-by-Step: Forming Your Arkansas LLC
- Pick your name. Include an LLC indicator (LLC, L.L.C., or Limited Liability Company) and make sure the name is distinguishable from every entity already on record; the Secretary of State's entity search settles that question. Words like "bank," "insurance," and "trust" are restricted without separate authorization.
- Appoint a registered agent. Arkansas requires one at a street address in the state, available during business hours, and the agent's details go on the public record. We fill this role for $99/year, which keeps your own address out of the entity database.
- File the Certificate of Organization. Submit Form LL-01 to the Arkansas Secretary of State with $45 online or $50 by mail. It covers the LLC name, principal address, the agent's name and address, the management structure, and the organizers. Online submissions generally process faster than mailed paper.
- Adopt an operating agreement. Arkansas does not ask for one at filing, but banks, courts, and co-owners all will. It sets ownership shares, profit splits, decision rights, and exit procedures; without one, the default rules of the state LLC statute decide for you.
- Get your EIN. The IRS issues Employer Identification Numbers free at IRS.gov in about ten minutes, and you need one for banking, payroll, and federal taxes. Paid EIN services add nothing.
- Keep the LLC compliant. Maintain a registered agent continuously, file the $150 franchise tax report by each May 1, keep business and personal finances cleanly separated, and stay current on federal and state taxes. Neglect invites revocation by the Secretary of State, and reinstatement takes time and money.
We'll handle the formation for $199, start to finish.
The Arkansas Registered Agent Rule
No Arkansas LLC exists without an agent on file. The agent must:
- Keep a verifiable street address in Arkansas (a PO box alone fails)
- Be reachable at that address through the business day for legal mail
- Pass along state correspondence and service of process promptly, same day whenever possible
List yourself and your address joins the searchable public record immediately. List us at $99/year and ours goes there instead.
Arkansas LLC FAQ
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Arkansas?
The official Arkansas filing fee is $45 online or $50 by mail, well under the national average. Budget for the $150 Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report every year after that.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Arkansas?
Timing varies with the state's filing volume. Online submissions through the Secretary of State generally process sooner than mailed paper forms.
Does Arkansas require an annual report?
Yes, in the form of the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report: a flat $150, due May 1 each year.
Do I need a registered agent for my Arkansas LLC?
Yes. Every Arkansas LLC must keep a registered agent at an in-state street address for as long as it exists. It's continuous, not one-time.
Can I form an LLC in Arkansas if I live in another state?
Yes. There's no residency requirement for owners. The one in-state piece is the registered agent, and we cover that for $99/year.
File Your Arkansas LLC Today
You can file Form LL-01 yourself through the official state portal or on paper, paying the state $45 or $50 respectively, with a registered agent named on the filing either way. Or hand us the whole thing.
Sign up for the agent service and list us on your certificate: $99 a year buys the Arkansas address, same-day scanning of service of process, and deadline reminders ahead of May 1.
Want the agent service without the formation? The agent-only plan is $99/year on its own.
More questions about Arkansas LLC formation or the agent role? See our FAQ or contact us during the workday.
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