Cost to Incorporate in Arizona: Everything You Need to Know

The cost to incorporate in Arizona depends on what type of company you hope to register with the state and the process you use.3 min read

The cost to incorporate in Arizona depends on what type of company you hope to register with the state and the process you use. Whether forming an LLC (limited liability company), corporation, non-profit, or otherwise, you'll need to be sure that you follow the requirements laid out by the state through their Secretary of State (SOS) office.

What Is an LLC?

Limited liability companies provide liability protection for their owners, which are called members. LLCs are one of the most popular business entity types because they are fairly easy to form and they avoid the double taxation issue that corporations are known for. Knowing the specific entity type that is right for your business comes down to understand the differences and benefits of each.

All LLCs wishing to do business in the state of Arizona, whether as a domestic or foreign LLC, must register with the state through their Arizona Corporations Commission (ACC) by fulfilling the requirements and pay the necessary fees.

Naming an LLC

One of the first steps in forming a business in Arizona is choosing a name. All LLCs in the state must have unique names so as not to confuse clients and customers or the state. An LLC cannot have the exact name as another business, but it also cannot have a name that is too similar to another.

In order to make sure that your desired name is available for use, you can perform an LLC name search on the ACC website. If you find that your name is available, you may reserve it by paying a $45 fee online or a $10 via mail.

Articles of Incorporation

The articles of incorporation are the main documents that you'll need to file with the state in order to register your business, whether an LLC or corporation. You'll need to include the following information in the articles:

  • Business name.
  • Business address.
  • Name and address of the registered agent.
  • Date of dissolution (if the business is not meant to continue perpetually.
  • Statement regarding the management style of the business.
  • Managers or managing-members' names and addresses.

Once your business's articles of incorporation are filed with the state, they'll also need to be published in the county where the company's address is located. You may also need to file for various licensure depending on the type of business you are starting. The ACC website can tell you which business types require which permits and licenses.

Incorporation Costs

Registering a domestic LLC in the state of Arizona costs $50 with an $85 fee for the expedited process. Foreign LLCs must pay a $150 fee or $185 for expedited. If an owner is attempting to reinstate their LLC after it was dissolved by the state, they'll need to pay a $100 fee or $135 for expedited.

If members need to add any amendments to the articles of organization for their business, they'll need to pay a $25 fee to file the changes or $60 for expedited. LLCs that want to merge with other business entities must pay a $50 fee when they file their articles of merger, or $85 for expedited.