LLC Formation Cost Calculator
Arizona LLC 2026

$50 to form your Arizona LLC

$50 state filing fee . 5-year cost of ownership: $50.

By Aissam Baidi · Reviewed against azcc.gov · Verified 2026-05-28

How much does a Arizona LLC cost in 2026? A Arizona LLC costs $50 in year one ($50 filing fee for the Articles of Organization plus ~$80 publication). Ongoing cost is $0/year (no annual report). Five-year total: $50. Standard processing takes about 14 business days; expedite for $35 extra. At $50, Arizona runs $105 below the US median of $155 for year-one LLC costs, making it one of the cheaper states to form in. This makes Arizona attractive for solo founders, e-commerce sellers, and home-based businesses on a tight startup budget. Sourced from azcc.gov, verified 2026-05-28.

Filing fee $50 Articles of Organization
Annual / recurring $0 no report
Processing 14 days expedite +$35
5-year total $50
2025 business formations 139,752 total entity filings, all types
Current processing window 13-15 business days standard; 3-5 days expedited verified 2026-05-28 from azcc.gov
Top sectors for new Arizona businesses
  1. #1Construction
  2. #2Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
  3. #3Real Estate
SBA Office of Advocacy 2024-2025 State Profile

Customize your Arizona LLC cost

Add a registered agent, expedite, or operating agreement, see your exact total.

LLC Cost Calculator

Pick your state, choose any add-ons, and see the year-one + 5-year math. Every figure cites the state's Secretary of State or the IRS.

The U.S. state where you'll file LLC paperwork. Foreign qualification fees apply if you operate elsewhere.

State filing fee is the same for any member count; member count drives IRS tax classification (single-member = disregarded; multi-member = partnership).

Operating agreement

Not legal advice. Estimates based on publicly available data from each state's Secretary of State office. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

Arizona vs the rest of the US

Year-1 LLC cost in Arizona is $50. That's $15 more than the cheapest state (Montana). Form there if you can register your business out-of-state.

Arizona You are here Your state
$50
New Mexico Peer state
$50
California Peer state
$890
Colorado Peer state
$75
Wyoming Peer state
$160
Montana Cheapest in US
$35
Massachusetts Most expensive
$1,000

All figures are year-1 LLC formation cost (state filing fee + first-year report fee + first-year franchise tax). Sourced quarterly from each state's Secretary of State office.

5-year cumulative cost projection

How Arizona's LLC cost compares against the popular "shop another state" alternatives over 5 years of ownership. Steeper line = higher recurring cost.

$0 $500 $1,000 $1,500 $2,000 Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5 Arizona Delaware Wyoming New Mexico
After 5 years of ownership, Arizona totals $50. Delaware: $1,590 (+$1,540). Wyoming: $400 (+$350). New Mexico: $50 (+$0).

All 50 states + DC, by 5-year LLC cost

Heat-map of 5-year ownership cost across the US. Click any state to see its full breakdown. Cheapest in green, most expensive in dark red.

  • Cheapest 20%
  • Below average
  • Average
  • Above average
  • Most expensive 20%
Alaska: $450 over 5 years Alabama: $700 over 5 years Arkansas: $1,245 over 5 years Arizona: $50 over 5 years California: $4,130 over 5 years Colorado: $175 over 5 years Connecticut: $1,770 over 5 years District of Columbia: $999 over 5 years Delaware: $1,590 over 5 years Florida: $818.75 over 5 years Georgia: $350 over 5 years Hawaii: $118.5 over 5 years Iowa: $110 over 5 years Idaho: $100 over 5 years Illinois: $525 over 5 years Indiana: $159 over 5 years Kansas: $185 over 5 years Kentucky: $990 over 5 years Louisiana: $250 over 5 years Massachusetts: $3,000 over 5 years Maryland: $1,600 over 5 years Maine: $515 over 5 years Michigan: $150 over 5 years Minnesota: $155 over 5 years Missouri: $50 over 5 years Mississippi: $50 over 5 years Montana: $35 over 5 years North Carolina: $1,135 over 5 years North Dakota: $385 over 5 years Nebraska: $156 over 5 years New Hampshire: $510 over 5 years New Jersey: $1,250 over 5 years New Mexico: $50 over 5 years Nevada: $1,825 over 5 years New York: $218 over 5 years Ohio: $99 over 5 years Oklahoma: $229 over 5 years Oregon: $600 over 5 years Pennsylvania: $153 over 5 years Rhode Island: $2,406 over 5 years South Carolina: $110 over 5 years South Dakota: $425 over 5 years Tennessee: $2,300 over 5 years Texas: $300 over 5 years Utah: $149 over 5 years Virginia: $350 over 5 years Vermont: $1,630 over 5 years Washington: $480 over 5 years Wisconsin: $255 over 5 years West Virginia: $200 over 5 years Wyoming: $400 over 5 years

5-year cost = year-1 (state filing + first-year report + first-year franchise tax) + 4 years of ongoing (annual/biennial report + franchise tax). Sourced quarterly from each Secretary of State.

Where would you save the most?

Filing in Montana instead of Arizona could save you about $15 over 5 years (30% lower total).

Cross-state filing requires foreign qualification in the state you actually operate from, which adds $50-$300/year in fees plus a registered agent in each jurisdiction. Run the math before deciding.

Cheapest 5-year LLC states

  1. #1 Montana $35
  2. #2 Mississippi $50
  3. #3 Missouri $50

Most expensive 5-year LLC states

  1. #1 California $4,130
  2. #2 Massachusetts $3,000
  3. #3 Rhode Island $2,406
AI Insights

Arizona LLC formation, decoded

Cost dynamics

Arizona requires no annual report fee, one of only a handful of states with this advantage. Five-year ownership cost stays close to your initial filing fee plus EIN/RA service costs.

Insights compiled from primary government sources (Secretary of State, IRS, Census BFS) and verified by Gemini 2.5 with Google Search grounding. Last refreshed 2026-06-01.
Full Arizona LLC cost guide

Arizona LLC Cost: $50 Filing + No Annual Report (2026)

Forming an LLC in Arizona costs $50 standard or $85 expedited to file Articles of Organization. No annual report. No franchise tax. The only catch: a publication requirement ($30-$300, county-dependent), automatically handled by the AZCC for Maricopa County (Phoenix) and Pima County (Tucson) filers. Five-year cost: $50-$350 depending on county. Arizona’s flat $50 ($85 expedited) is among the lowest filing fees in the country.

Reviewed by LLC Formation Cost Editorial Team, fact-checked against primary government sources • Last updated 2026-05-28 • 4 primary government sources cited

TL;DR

Arizona LLCs file Articles of Organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission for $50 standard or $85 expedited. There is no annual report and no franchise tax. The publication requirement, 3 weeks in 1 newspaper of general circulation in the formation county, applies only to LLCs formed outside Maricopa and Pima counties. For Phoenix and Tucson founders, the AZCC handles publication automatically with no additional cost. For other counties, publication runs $30-$300. Personal income tax is 2.5% flat (2026, the lowest flat rate in the US).

Arizona LLC cost breakdown (2026)

Line itemCostSource
Articles of Organization (standard)$50azcc.gov
Articles of Organization (expedited)$85azcc.gov
Publication (Maricopa, Pima counties)$0 (handled by AZCC)azcc.gov
Publication (other counties)$30-$300azcc.gov publication FAQ
Annual Report$0 (not required)azcc.gov
Franchise Tax$0n/a
Statutory agent change$5azcc.gov
Certified copy$15azcc.gov
Year 1 total (Maricopa/Pima)$50
Year 1 total (other counties)$80-$350
Year 2+ ongoing$0
5-year total (Maricopa)$50

All figures verified 2026-05-28 from primary Arizona state sources.

Why Arizona is one of the cheapest western states

Arizona ranks in the bottom 5 nationally for total LLC ownership cost. The combination is hard to find:

  • $50 filing fee (or $85 expedited)
  • $0 annual report, Arizona is one of only 7 zero-fee states.
  • $0 franchise tax, no state-level entity tax.
  • 2.5% flat personal income tax, the lowest flat rate in the country (2026).
  • No publication cost in Maricopa/Pima, covering ~75% of Arizona’s population.

Compared to neighboring states: Nevada ($425 + $350/yr), California ($70 + $800/yr), New Mexico ($50 + $0), Utah ($54 + $18/yr). Arizona is competitive with New Mexico for absolute cheapest 5-year cost (both $50 in the cheapest case).

The pitch loses some shine outside Phoenix and Tucson. A founder in Flagstaff (Coconino County) pays the $50 filing + ~$200 publication. Still cheaper than most states, but not the rock-bottom $50 of Phoenix.

Filing steps (DIY, no service)

  1. Pick a name, search availability via the AZCC eCorp portal. Names must include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.”
  2. Designate a statutory agent (Arizona’s term for registered agent), must have an Arizona street address.
  3. File Articles of Organization, $50 standard or $85 expedited. File online via eCorp portal.
  4. Get a federal EIN, free at irs.gov.
  5. Publish notice (only outside Maricopa/Pima), within 60 days of formation, publish in a newspaper of general circulation for 3 consecutive weeks. Get publisher’s affidavit.
  6. Draft an operating agreement, not required by Arizona law but recommended.
  7. Register with Arizona Department of Revenue, Transaction Privilege Tax (Arizona’s name for sales tax) if selling tangible goods. Free.
  8. Open a business bank account, Arizona-located banks (BMO, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo) accept AZ LLC documents.
  9. File FinCEN BOI report, within 30 days of formation. Free at fincen.gov/boi.
  10. Calendar nothing for AZCC, no annual report required.

Standard online filings via eCorp are processed within 14-16 business days. Expedited filings ($85 fee) are processed within 4-6 business days.

Page-unique facts

  • Arizona uses “Corporation Commission” not “Secretary of State” for entity filings. AZCC is one of three state-level commissions in the US handling LLC filings (Hawaii and New Mexico use traditional SOS).
  • Arizona has the lowest flat personal income tax rate in the country. 2.5% flat, effective 2023 (HB 2293).
  • Maricopa and Pima counties auto-handle publication. No additional cost or filing required for the ~75% of Arizona’s population in these counties.
  • Arizona is one of 11 states allowing Series LLCs, A.R.S. § 29-3401 et seq. Each series within a master LLC has separate liability shielding.
  • Statutory agent service market is competitive in Arizona. Local Phoenix-area RA services start at $39/yr, undercutting national services like Northwest ($125/yr).

FAQ

Does Arizona require LLC publication?

Yes, except in Maricopa and Pima counties. In Maricopa (Phoenix metro) and Pima (Tucson) counties, the AZCC handles publication automatically with no additional cost or filing. In other counties, you must publish notice of formation in a newspaper of general circulation for 3 consecutive weeks within 60 days of formation. Cost: $30-$300 depending on the county and newspaper. Source: azcc.gov publication FAQ, verified 2026-05-28.

Why is Arizona’s filing fee so low?

Arizona’s $50 fee (or $85 expedited) is among the lowest nationally. The Arizona Corporation Commission keeps fees low to encourage business formation, a deliberate state policy that has held since the LLC statute was modernized in 2018. Combined with no annual report and no franchise tax, AZ is in the cheapest tier for ongoing LLC ownership. Source: azcc.gov.

Can I avoid Arizona’s publication requirement?

If you form in Maricopa or Pima County (Phoenix or Tucson), the AZCC handles publication automatically, no separate cost or filing. In other counties, publication is required. Strategic founders in northern Arizona sometimes use a Phoenix-based statutory agent address to qualify for Maricopa auto-publication. Verify with an Arizona business attorney before structuring the address this way. Source: azcc.gov publication FAQ.

Does Arizona allow Series LLCs?

Yes, A.R.S. § 29-3401 et seq. Each series within a master Series LLC has separate liability shielding. Filing fee for a Series LLC is the standard $50 (no premium for the series structure). Common pattern for Phoenix and Scottsdale real estate investors holding multiple properties. Source: Arizona Revised Statutes Title 29.

Why is Arizona’s Corporation Commission different from a Secretary of State?

Arizona is one of three US states (along with New Mexico and Hawaii) that uses a Corporation Commission rather than a Secretary of State for business entity filings. The Arizona Corporation Commission (AZCC) was established by Article XV of the Arizona Constitution at statehood (1912) and is the only constitutional regulatory body in Arizona, its three commissioners are popularly elected and have rate-setting authority over public utilities in addition to corporate filings. For LLC founders, the practical difference is the URL (azcc.gov instead of sos.az.gov) and the fact that AZCC operates under separate constitutional rules from the executive branch. Filing forms, fees, and process are otherwise comparable to traditional SOS states. The American Bar Association Section of Business Law maintains comparison tables for non-SOS filing jurisdictions.

What changed about Arizona’s publication requirement in recent years?

Arizona’s publication requirement still exists in A.R.S. § 29-3201, but the Maricopa and Pima County exemption has been the key practical change since 2020. AZCC now handles publication automatically for filings designating registered agents in Maricopa County (Phoenix metro, ~62% of Arizona’s population) and Pima County (Tucson, ~13% of population), meaning roughly 75% of Arizona LLC formations have zero publication cost. For other counties (Coconino/Flagstaff, Yavapai/Prescott, Mohave/Lake Havasu), publication is still required at $30-$300 in a newspaper of general circulation for three consecutive weeks within 60 days of formation. The IRS treats AZ LLCs identically to any other state for federal classification, see IRS Arizona Small Business Resources.

State quirk: the Maricopa/Pima publication exemption

Arizona’s publication requirement is unique in that the AZCC handles it automatically and for free for the ~75% of LLCs designating registered agents in Maricopa County (Phoenix) or Pima County (Tucson). For these two counties, publication is a paperwork formality the AZCC publishes via its own designated newspaper, with no separate cost or filing. For all other counties, publication is still required ($30-$300, county-dependent) within 60 days of formation. Arizona is also one of only two US states (with Mississippi) that has a constitutional Corporation Commission rather than a Secretary of State for entity filings, a structure dating to Arizona statehood in 1912, and has the lowest flat personal income tax rate in the country at 2.5% (effective 2023, HB 2293, replacing the previous graduated system).

Common mistake in Arizona

The most common Arizona LLC mistake is filing with a registered agent address in Coconino, Yavapai, or Mohave county and missing the publication requirement that Maricopa/Pima filers don’t have. Publication is due within 60 days of formation in non-exempt counties; missing it is a compliance defect that can be raised in court if the LLC ever needs to enforce a contract. The fix is straightforward (pay $30-$300 for back-publication) but founders often discover the gap years later when reviewing entity status during a sale or refinance.

Sources

  1. Arizona Corporation Commission Corporations, last verified 2026-05-28
  2. Arizona Corporation Commission eCorp Portal, last verified 2026-05-28
  3. Arizona Department of Revenue, last verified 2026-05-28
  4. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 29 (LLC Act), last verified 2026-05-28
  5. IRS Arizona Small Business and Self-Employed Resources, last verified 2026-05-28
  6. American Bar Association Section of Business Law, last verified 2026-05-28

About the author

Aissam Baidi is the founder and researcher behind llcformationcost.com. He verifies Arizona LLC fees directly from azcc.gov on a quarterly cycle. Connect on LinkedIn.

Not legal advice. Estimates based on publicly available data from each state’s Secretary of State office. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

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AI Q&A

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Pre-answered for the questions founders ask first. Tap one to read the full answer, or write your own.

What's the actual filing fee in Arizona?

Arizona charges $50 to file the Articles of Organization with azcc.gov. Expedited service is available for an additional $35, reducing turnaround to about 5 business days vs. the standard ~14.

Does Arizona have a franchise tax?

No. Arizona does not impose a flat franchise tax on LLCs. Some pass-through entity income may still be taxed at the member level under state income tax rules.

What's the annual report situation in Arizona?

Arizona does not require a recurring annual report. This is a meaningful long-term advantage; many states charge $50-$500/year just for the report.

Do I need a registered agent in Arizona?

Yes. Every Arizona LLC must designate a registered agent with a physical Arizona street address (no P.O. boxes), available during business hours to accept legal mail. You can serve as your own agent for free if you live in Arizona, but most founders use a commercial service ($100-150/year) to keep their home address off the public record.

Should I form my LLC in Arizona?

Form in Arizona if you operate primarily in Arizona. Out-of-state formation (Delaware, Wyoming, etc.) requires foreign-LLC qualification in your home state, doubling fees. The exception is highly venture-funded startups raising priced rounds, where Delaware is investor-expected.

Live answers grounded in primary state SOS sources. No account needed; we don't save your question.

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Arizona-specific Operating Agreement preview

Five substantive sections with Arizona-specific clauses (filing form, franchise tax, publication requirements, governing law). Use as a starting point with your attorney, or upgrade for the full 12-section document.

OPERATING AGREEMENT OF [COMPANY NAME], LLC

A Arizona Limited Liability Company
Generated 2026-06-01 • State-specific template

Article I. Formation

This Operating Agreement is entered into as of [date], by and among the undersigned members of [Company Name], a Limited Liability Company organized under the Arizona Limited Liability Company Act. The Company was formed by filing the Articles of Organization with the Arizona Secretary of State on [filing date]. The Company's principal office is located at [address], Arizona.

Article II. Members & Membership Interests

The members of the Company are listed on Exhibit A. Each member's capital contribution and percentage interest are set forth therein. Members may be admitted only by [unanimous / majority] consent of existing members. Arizona law does not mandate a written operating agreement, but the parties agree that this writing governs.

Article III. Management

The Company shall be [member-managed / manager-managed]. Arizona default rules apply to any matter not addressed here.

Article IV. Distributions & Allocations

Profits, losses, and distributions shall be allocated among members in proportion to their percentage interests, except as otherwise agreed in writing. Distributions shall be made [quarterly / annually / at the discretion of the [members / managers]]. The Company shall maintain capital accounts in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b).

Article V. Dissolution & Arizona-Specific Provisions

The Company shall dissolve upon [vote of majority members / occurrence of specific events]. Upon dissolution, the Company shall wind up its affairs and distribute remaining assets in accordance with Arizona law. Members acknowledge Arizona's LLC publication requirement and have arranged for compliance. This agreement is governed by Arizona law and any disputes shall be resolved in [forum].

7 more sections in the full document

Tax matters, indemnification, transfer restrictions, dissolution mechanics, signature pages, exhibits A & B (member roster + capital contributions), and amendment procedures. Plus state-specific signature-line text per $Arizona convention.

Get the open dataset (free, CC BY 4.0)

Not legal advice. This template is a starting point for discussion with a licensed Arizona attorney. Operating Agreements should be reviewed by counsel for your specific situation.

Arizona LLC cost vs popular alternatives

A common decision is whether to form in your home state or an out-of-state filing state (Delaware, Wyoming, New Mexico). Out-of-state formation usually requires foreign-LLC registration in your home state too, adding both filing costs.

State First-year cost Annual renewal Franchise tax Processing days Publication required
Arizona $50 $0 - 14 days Yes ($80)
New Mexico $50 $0 - 14 days -
California $890 $810 $800/yr 21 days -
Colorado $75 $25 - 1 days -
Wyoming $160 $60 - 14 days -

Fees verified 2026-05-28 from each state's Secretary of State.

Frequently asked questions about Arizona LLCs

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Arizona in 2026?

Arizona charges $50 to file the Articles of Organization. Arizona has no annual report fee. Verified 2026-05-28 from azcc.gov.

Does Arizona require an annual report?

Arizona does not require an annual report or charges no fee for it.

What is the processing time in Arizona?

Standard processing in Arizona takes about 14 business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional $35, reducing turnaround to about 5 business days.

Does Arizona have a publication requirement?

Yes. Arizona requires public notice of LLC formation, with estimated cost around $80. This is in addition to the state filing fee.

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Best State Recommender 5-question decision tree: form in Arizona or somewhere else? Honest, non-affiliate. Foreign LLC Cost Calculator Form in one state, operate in Arizona? See the actual cost, both states' fees combined. Registered Agent Cost Comparator Sortable table of all major RA services + the $0 "act as your own agent" path. S-Corp Savings Calculator Income-threshold math: at what profit does S-corp election save you money? Compare LLC Services Pick any LLC formation service, see real cost vs filing direct with Arizona's SOS.

Not legal advice. Estimates based on publicly available data from each state's Secretary of State office. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.