How to Start an LLC in Arizona (2026)
Last updated: July 21, 2026
Quick note: we're operators, not attorneys or accountants. This is general educational info, not legal or tax advice. Confirm current Arizona requirements with the state and a licensed pro before filing.
Arizona is cheap to form in and cheap to keep, with one extra step (a newspaper notice) that most people in the two biggest counties get to skip. Here's the whole process in plain English, written for people starting something real like a courier route.
How to start an Arizona LLC in 6 steps
Name it, name a statutory agent, file the Articles ($50), handle the publication step, write an operating agreement, then get a free EIN.
Name your Arizona LLC
Your name must be distinguishable from other Arizona businesses and include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company." Search it on the Corporation Commission's site first so your filing isn't rejected, and grab the matching domain.
Name a statutory agent
Arizona calls the registered agent a "statutory agent": the person or service, with a physical Arizona address, that accepts legal mail for your LLC. You can be your own agent, or use a service to keep your home address off the public record. Northwest includes statutory-agent service free the first year with their $39 filing.
File the Articles of Organization
This is the document that creates your LLC. File it with the Arizona Corporation Commission and pay the $50 filing fee ($85 for expedited). Filing online through the ACC's eCorp system is fastest.
Meet the publication requirement
Within 60 days of approval, publish a Notice of Publication in an approved newspaper in your county for three consecutive publications. Big exception: if your LLC's address is in Maricopa or Pima County (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Tucson), the Commission posts the notice for you and you skip the newspaper step and its cost.
Write an operating agreement
Arizona doesn't require one, but create it anyway. It sets out ownership and management, backs up your liability protection, and banks usually want to see it. A filled-in template covers most single-owner courier businesses.
Get a free EIN (and that's it)
Get your EIN free at irs.gov for banking and taxes. After that you're done: Arizona has no annual report, so just keep your statutory agent current and handle any local licenses.
Arizona LLC cost breakdown
$50 to form, plus a one-time publication cost outside the big two counties, then essentially nothing to the state.
| Item | Cost | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $50 ($85 expedited) | Yes |
| Newspaper publication | ~$30 to $300 (skipped in Maricopa/Pima) | Sometimes |
| EIN | Free from the IRS | Yes (free) |
| Statutory agent service | $0 (yourself) to $300/yr | No |
| Annual report | None. Arizona has no annual report | N/A |
Arizona figures as of 2026. Verify current amounts at azcc.gov before filing.
Setting up to run courier routes in Arizona?
The LLC is step one. Our course covers the rest: insurance and certifications, the business bank account, and how to find routes and win contracts with Arizona clinics, labs, and hospitals.
Start Your 7-Day Free TrialArizona LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Arizona?
A one-time $50 filing fee ($85 expedited). Your EIN is free and Arizona has no annual report, so ongoing state cost is basically zero. You may have a one-time newspaper publication cost outside Maricopa and Pima counties.
Does Arizona have an annual report for LLCs?
No. Arizona requires no annual report and no annual fee for LLCs, and has no franchise tax on them. It's one of the cheapest states to maintain.
What is the Arizona publication requirement?
After forming, you publish a Notice of Publication in a county newspaper for three consecutive publications within 60 days. If your address is in Maricopa or Pima County, the state handles it and you skip the step.
What is a statutory agent in Arizona?
It's Arizona's term for a registered agent: the person or service, with an Arizona address, that accepts legal documents for your LLC. You can be your own, or use a commercial service.
← Back to How to Start an LLC (main guide)