Start an LLC by State

Start an LLC by State › Arkansas

Starting an LLC in Arkansas: step by step (2026)

To start an LLC in Arkansas, file the Certificate of Organization for Limited Liability Company (LL-01) with the Arkansas Secretary of State and pay the $45 state fee. Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report, $150 flat, due May 1. Every Arkansas LLC must keep a registered agent with an Arkansas street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in Arkansas

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the Arkansas Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a registered agent: a commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual or a business entity serving as agent in Arkansas. The company can also name a position inside it, such as its manager, whose holder then receives papers.
  3. File the Certificate of Organization for Limited Liability Company (LL-01) with the Arkansas Secretary of State and pay $45.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report, $150 flat, due May 1.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application for $199 a year plus Arkansas’s fees.

Arkansas LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$45
Formation document
Certificate of Organization for Limited Liability Company (LL-01)
Yearly filing
Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report, $150 flat, due May 1.
Registered agent
Required. A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual or a business entity serving as agent in Arkansas. The company can also name a position inside it, such as its manager, whose holder then receives papers.
Agent address
The address has to be an actual street address or rural route box number in Arkansas, plus an Arkansas mailing address if it differs. A P.O. box on its own is not accepted.
Filing fee rank
3rd lowest of 50 (2 states charge less, 47 charge more)
Best overall for a Arkansas LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus Arkansas’s $45 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

Arkansas compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
Arkansas$45$150 tax report
Louisiana$125$35 / yr
Mississippi$50$0 / yr
Missouri$50None
Oklahoma$100$25 / yr
Tennessee$300$300 / yr
Texas$300$0 report

All 50 states

Arkansas LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Arkansas?

$45 to the state to file. Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report, $150 flat, due May 1. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent and EIN application are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does Arkansas require an annual report for LLCs?

Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report, $150 flat, due May 1.

Do I need a registered agent in Arkansas?

Yes. A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual or a business entity serving as agent in Arkansas. The company can also name a position inside it, such as its manager, whose holder then receives papers.

Can I form a Arkansas LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Certificate of Organization for Limited Liability Company (LL-01) directly with the Arkansas Secretary of State and pay the $45 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and compliance reminders for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources