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Start a Free LLC in Arizona

Swyft Filings is here to make forming your Arizona LLC easier. With years of experience helping business owners form LLCs, we can handle the filing process on your behalf. If you want to keep the service fee at $0, choose our Basic Arizona LLC service package, which includes only the mandatory $50 state filing fee for your Articles of Organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). Prefer a more hands-off experience? Upgrade to our premium Arizona LLC formation packages.

Arizona LLC Formation Packages

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How to Form an LLC in Arizona in 6 Steps

To form an LLC in Arizona involves choosing a compliant business name, appointing a statutory agent, filing the Articles of Organization with the ACC, creating an Operating Agreement, obtaining an EIN from the IRS if required, and taking care of any applicable business licenses and permits. Let’s discuss each step to start an LLC in Arizona in-depth:

Step 1: Choose and Reserve Your Arizona LLC Name

The first step in Arizona LLC formation is choosing a business name that meets the state's naming requirements. Your name must be distinguishable from the names of other registered entities on file with the ACC. Remember, simply changing punctuation or a legal designator doesn't make a name unique.

Your Arizona LLC name must satisfy the requirements of A.R.S. § 29-3112:

A designator such as "Limited Liability Company," "L.L.C.," or "LLC." "Limited" may be abbreviated as "Ltd.," and "Company" as "Co."
No restricted words like "Bank,” “Credit Union,” or “Trust, "unless your LLC holds the appropriate license and approval.
Do not contain the words and abbreviations of "corporation", "corp.", "incorporated", "Inc.", "professional corporation", "P.C.", "PC", "professional association", "P.A.", "PA".
No wording that could confuse your LLC with a government agency (e.g., "FBI," "Treasury," "State Department").

You can check if an LLC name is available in Arizona by going to the Arizona Corporation Commission Name Availability Search and typing your desired name in the search box. Make sure to leave off the designator discussed above. If no exact or very similar name appears as active in the search results, your name is likely available to use.

If your preferred Arizona LLC name isn’t available, use Swyft Filings' free business name generator to find alternative names. Once you find one, consider reserving it as a backup.

To reserve an LLC name in Arizona, you can follow two filing methods:

1) Online: Log in to the Arizona Business Center to file immediately. The online fee to file an Application to Reserve LLC Name with the ACC is $10. If you need faster processing, you can pay an additional expedited service fee:

Expedited processing: Add $35
Next-Day Service: Add $100
Same-Day Service: Add $200
Two-Hour Service: Add $400

2) By Mail/In Person: Download, print, and fill out the Application to Reserve LLC Name PDF form. Mail or submit it to the address mentioned below with a check for the $10 filing fee. If submitting in person, payment by credit card is acceptable. ACC accepts only Visa or MasterCard.

Arizona Corporation Commission Corporations Division - Examination Section, 1300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona 85007

NOTE: A name reservation is effective for a period of 120 days. Once the 120 days expire, the name reservation ends and cannot be renewed by the same applicant. You can read this ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION guide for all the general information about name reservation.

Yes, you can register a trade name application, officially known as a Trade Name or DBA (Doing Business As), for your Arizona LLC with the Arizona Secretary of State for a $10 fee. This is a separate filing from your Arizona LLC formation, and from the date of receipt, trade names last for 5 years. You can even use Swyft Filings' professional help for trademark registration.

Step 2: Appoint an Arizona Statutory Agent

Under A.R.S. § 29-3115 with a physical Arizona address. Your statutory agent receives legal documents, service of process, and official state correspondence on behalf of your LLC in Arizona.

*Here's what's required of an Arizona statutory agent:*

Individual agents must be Arizona residents at least 18 years old.
Entity agents must be a domestic or foreign business entity authorized to transact business in Arizona.
The agent must have a physical Arizona street address (a P.O. Box alone isn't sufficient for the agent's own address).

If you are wondering “What happens if I don't have a registered agent for my Arizona LLC?” The short answer is you can fall out of compliance with state requirements and may have difficulty receiving important legal documents.

*NOTE: The appointment of the Arizona statutory agent is not active until the agent signs a record of acceptance and delivers it to the Arizona Corporation Commission.*

No, not just anyone can be a statutory agent in Arizona. Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 29-3115, an eligible statutory agent must be an individual who resides in Arizona or an eligible domestic or foreign business entity authorized to conduct business in the state. The agent must have a physical business or residential address in Arizona.

Your name and registered office address may appear in public business records, and you must be available at that address during normal business hours to receive official documents. In short, being your own registered agent for your Arizona LLC isn’t necessarily difficult, but it requires consistency.

You need to remain available during required business hours, accept service of process and other official notices, and promptly forward those documents to your LLC. If you travel frequently, work away from your registered office, or simply don’t want to handle legal paperwork yourself, using a Swyft Filings professional statutory/registered agent service can be a more convenient choice.

Yes, you can change a statutory agent in Arizona either online or by mail or fax.

For mail, submit the LLC Statement of Change of Principal Address or Statutory Agent (Form L020), with the “Statutory Agent Acceptance Form” (Form M002) from your new statutory agent to Arizona Corporation Commission Corporations Division – Corporate Filings Section, 1300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2929. If you want to fax in your statutory agent in Arizona forms, then use the details below:

Fax (for Regular or Expedite Service ONLY): 602-542-4100
Fax (for Same Day/Next Day Service ONLY): 602-542-0900

For online access, sign in to your Arizona Corporation Commission account or create one if you don’t have one. Select “Online Services” and choose “Change Addresses or Statutory Agent.”

You’ll need to provide your new statutory agent’s email address. The Arizona Corporation Commission will email the agent to confirm their acceptance of the appointment. The filing fee is $5 for standard processing or $40 with expedited processing. If you don't want to handle this yourself, Swyft Filings' change registered agent service can manage the change for you.

Step 3: File Your Arizona Articles of Organization

To officially form your LLC in Arizona, submit your Articles of Organization (Form L010) to the Arizona Corporation Commission, either online through the ACC's Arizona Business Center portal or by mail.

Here are the quick steps to file your Arizona Articles of Organization for a $50 state filing fee:

Complete the Form L010: Include your LLC name, statutory agent name and Arizona address, principal address, and management structure (member-managed or manager-managed).
Pay the fee: The standard filing fee to file Arizona Articles of Organization is $50. Add $35 for expedited processing, or pay more for Same Day ($200) or Two-Hour ($400) service.
Submit: File online through the Arizona Business Center, or mail your completed form and payment to Arizona Corporation Commission – Examination Section, 1300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007.

*What to include in your Arizona Articles of Organization?*

LLC name, matching your reserved name if applicable
Statutory agent name and Arizona street address
Principal business address
Management structure
Organizer's signature

Unlike some states, Arizona does not require a NAICS code on the Articles of Organization, and Arizona has no annual report requirement for LLCs.

An LLC formed in another state doesn't file Articles of Organization here; it files a Foreign Registration Statement (Form L025) with the ACC instead, along with a $150 filing fee ($185 with expedited processing, which costs around $35). Foreign LLCs must also appoint an Arizona statutory agent and complete the publication requirement, just like domestic LLCs.

Step 4: Complete Arizona's Publication Requirement

This is one of the most distinctive parts of forming an LLC in Arizona. Under A.R.S. § 29-3201(G), most newly formed LLCs must publish a Notice of LLC Formation in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where your statutory agent’s street address is located.

Deadline: Within 60 days from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) approval date.
Frequency: Three consecutive publications in an approved newspaper in the county of the LLC's statutory agent.
If your statutory agent’s street address is in a county with a population of more than 800,000, the ACC will publish the formation information in its database instead.

Not necessarily. If your statutory agent's address is in Maricopa County (Phoenix metro) or Pima County (Tucson metro), you are exempt. The ACC automatically posts the notice to its online public notice database at no charge, thereby satisfying the requirement. This exemption alone covers a large share of Arizona LLCs, since it's based on statutory agent address, not necessarily where you live or do business.

If you are outside those two counties, you will need to:

Choose a newspaper of general circulation approved by the ACC in your statutory agent's county.
Publish the notice for three consecutive runs (typically over 1–2 weeks).
Keep the newspaper's Affidavit of Publication with your business records. It does not need to be filed with the ACC.

Publication costs vary by newspaper, typically ranging from $60 to $300 for the full three-run notice. Failing to publish within 60 days can result in the ACC administratively dissolving your LLC, so it's worth handling promptly.

Step 5: Getting an EIN From the IRS

Once your Arizona LLC is formed, you can apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number). An EIN is a federal tax ID used to hire employees, open a business bank account, and handle federal tax obligations. The IRS issues EINs free of charge. If your principal place of business is in the U.S., you can apply for an EIN and receive your EIN immediately upon approval.

If your Arizona LLC’s principal place of business is outside the U.S., you cannot apply for an EIN online through the IRS. Instead, you can apply by phone at 267-941-1099, Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, or complete Form SS-4 and submit it by fax or mail.

Step 6: Create an Arizona LLC Operating Agreement

An Operating Agreement is an internal document that sets out how your Arizona LLC will be owned, managed, and operated. Arizona law doesn't require you to file this with the ACC; you simply keep it with your internal business records.

*Your Arizona Operating Agreement can outline:*

Ownership: Members and their ownership percentages.
Management: Whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed.
Member responsibilities: Roles, duties, and decision-making authority.
Profit and loss distribution: How profits, losses, and distributions are allocated.
Voting rights: How members vote on major decisions.
Adding or removing members: The process for admitting or removing members.
Dissolution: What happens if the LLC closes.

If you are wondering, “Do I need an operating agreement for my LLC in AZ?” The answer is no! Arizona law does not require an LLC to file or maintain an operating agreement to form the business. However, having one is still a good idea because it can define how your LLC will be managed, clarify members’ rights and responsibilities, and help prevent future disputes.

If you'd rather not draft one yourself, Swyft Filings can help set up a custom LLC Operating Agreement through a simple questionnaire.

What Are the Post-Formation Requirements for an LLC in Arizona

Now that you know how to form an LLC in Arizona, the next step is to stay on top of your post-formation compliance requirements and keep your LLC in good standing.

Understanding Arizona's Tax and Licensing Position

Arizona does not issue or require a general state business license. Instead, if your LLC sells goods or provides services subject to the state's Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT), Arizona's version of a sales tax, you'll need to register for a TPT license through the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) via AZTaxes.gov.

Many cities and towns also require their own local business license or TPT registration, so check with the city where you will operate. Arizona LLCs are pass-through entities by default, so profits generally aren't taxed again at the entity level, though Arizona does have a state individual income tax that applies to LLC members' share of profits.

Need help finding the business licenses and permits your business may need? Swyft Filings’ Business License Research service identifies applicable licenses and permits and provides a customized report with application links and renewal requirements for your business.

No Franchise Tax, No Annual Report

Arizona is unusually light on recurring state paperwork for LLCs. There's no franchise tax at the entity level, and unlike most states and unlike Arizona corporations, which file annually, LLCs owe no annual report to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). Once formation, publication (if applicable), and any required tax licensing are handled, there's no recurring state filing sitting on the calendar.

Opening a Business Bank Account

Opening a business bank account is not an Arizona state filing requirement, but it is an important step for maintaining a clear separation between your business and personal finances. Banks generally request your Articles of Organization, EIN confirmation, signed Operating Agreement, bank resolution naming authorized signers, government-issued identification, and beneficial ownership information. Open the account early and use LLC funds for business expenses and deposits to help keep your finances properly separated from day one. Read our guide “How to Open a Business Bank Account in 2026” to know everything in detail.

How Much Does an LLC Cost in Arizona?

Filing	Cost
Name Reservation (optional, 120 days)	$10, with additional fees for expedited processing.
Articles of Organization	$50
Expedited Articles of Organization	+$35
Statement of Change (statutory agent)	$5
Foreign LLC Registration Statement	$150
Publication (if not in Maricopa/Pima County)	$60–$300
TPT License (if applicable)	Varies
Annual Report	None required

DIY vs. Swyft Filings: Arizona LLC Formation Differences

Starting an LLC in Arizona yourself is possible, but it takes time, research, and follow-up. Here's how doing it yourself compares to forming your Arizona LLC with Swyft Filings.

Item	DIY	Swyft Filings
Arizona LLC Operating Agreement	You draft your own from scratch or use a free operating agreement template	A custom LLC operating agreement is included
Arizona Statutory Agent	You handle it on your own	Professional RA service is available
Attorney access	You'd need to hire one separately	Personalized guidance from a business attorney is available
Domain Name + Website	You build and host it yourself	Done-for-you website + domain included, through partner UENI
Arizona Business License Research	You do yourself	Available as an add-on
Arizona DBA filing	You handle yourself	Available as an add-on
Document Vault	Not available. You manage your own files	Secure online portal, 24/7 document access
Arizona Compliance management	You track deadlines yourself	Compliance support is available through ComplianceGuard
Tax consultation	Not included. You'd book this separately	Free 30-minute tax consultation included, through partner 1-800Accountant
Support	None	Lifetime customer support

Ready to Register Your Arizona LLC?

Start your Arizona LLC with Swyft Filings for $0 + state fees with our Basic package. Get help preparing and reviewing your formation documents, or choose a premium Arizona LLC formation package for more comprehensive services, including an EIN, an operating agreement, and more.

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*Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about forming an LLC in Arizona and is not a substitute for legal, tax, or financial advice.*

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How to Form Arizona LLC

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FAQ's

Starting a business can feel complex. We're here to provide clear answers to some of the most common questions entrepreneurs ask.

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No. Arizona LLCs are not required to file an annual report with the Arizona Corporation Commission. The annual report requirement applies to corporations, not LLCs. However, Arizona LLCs must still keep their state records current, including maintaining a valid statutory agent and updating information when required.

The time it takes to get an Arizona LLC approved depends on the processing option you choose. Standard processing takes about 14 to 16 business days with no additional processing fee. If you need faster approval, expedited service takes 3 to 5 business days for an additional $35, while next-day service costs $100, same-day service costs $200, and 2-hour service costs $400.

Create a written Arizona LLC operating agreement outlining ownership, management, voting rights, member responsibilities, profit and loss distribution, and procedures for adding or removing members. Although Arizona doesn’t require you to file an operating agreement with the state, keeping a signed copy with your LLC’s records helps establish clear rules for your business.

Choose a simple, professional domain that closely matches your LLC name, preferably with a .com extension, and avoid unnecessary numbers, hyphens, or unusual spellings. You should also check whether the name is available on the social media platforms you plan to use. To secure your domain, search for your preferred name through a domain registrar, such as GoDaddy or Namecheap. If it’s available, register it promptly to secure the web address for your Arizona LLC.

If an Arizona LLC needs to be dissolved, it can file Articles of Termination (Form L031) with the Arizona Corporation Commission. The LLC must have applied and distributed all of its known property and assets before filing. Swyft Filings Dissolution service can manage the process on your behalf, including preparing and filing the required documents.