How to Form an LLC in Arizona

Step 1: Choose a Name That Meets Arizona's Rules

Your Arizona LLC name must contain "limited liability company," "limited company," or an abbreviation such as "LLC," "L.L.C.," "LC," or "L.C.," and cannot contain "association," "corporation," "incorporated," or an abbreviation of those words. A professional LLC instead uses "professional limited liability company" or "P.L.L.C." Search the name through eCorp, the Arizona Corporation Commission's online system, to confirm it's available before filing. If you're not ready to file yet, you can reserve an available name for $10 using the Application to Reserve LLC Name; the reservation lasts 120 days and cannot be renewed, though you can reserve the same name again once it expires.

Step 2: Name a Statutory Agent

Arizona calls its registered agent a statutory agent. It can be an individual Arizona resident at least 18 years old, a domestic corporation or LLC, or a foreign corporation or LLC authorized to transact business in Arizona, but the LLC being formed cannot serve as its own statutory agent. An individual statutory agent needs a permanent, full-time physical street address in Arizona (a P.O. box only works as a separate mailing address, not the required street address). A member or manager can serve as the statutory agent, but only in their individual capacity as an Arizona resident, not through the LLC itself.

Step 3: File Articles of Organization

File Form L010, Articles of Organization, with the Arizona Corporation Commission for a $50 fee. File online through eCorp for the fastest processing, or submit the paper form by mail. Standard processing times change week to week and are posted every Monday on the eCorp site, since filings are worked in the order received. If you need faster processing, Arizona offers several paid tiers: $35 extra for standard expedited examination, $100 extra for guaranteed Next Day service, $200 extra for Same Day service (received before 10am), or $400 extra for 2-Hour service (received 8am-3pm).

Step 4: Publish Notice of Your LLC's Formation

Within 60 days after the Arizona Corporation Commission files your Articles of Organization, Arizona law requires publishing notice of the filing for three consecutive issues in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of your statutory agent's street address. There's one major exception: if that county's population exceeds 800,000, currently only Maricopa and Pima counties, the Commission publishes the notice automatically on its own website at no charge, and you can skip newspaper publication entirely. Most Arizona LLCs, since Maricopa (Phoenix) and Pima (Tucson) are the state's most populous counties, qualify for this free, automatic alternative.

Step 5: Get an EIN From the IRS

Once the Corporation Commission approves your Articles of Organization, apply for a free EIN from the IRS, usually issued immediately through the online application. You'll need your approved Arizona filing information, including your LLC's exact legal name and formation date, to complete the EIN application.

Step 6: Put an Operating Agreement in Place

Arizona doesn't require an operating agreement by law, and the Corporation Commission will not accept one for filing even if you tried. It can be written, oral, or implied by how the members act, but a written agreement, kept with your own LLC records, documents ownership and management clearly for banks, co-members, and your own records.

Ongoing Arizona Requirements

Arizona LLCs never file an annual report; the Corporation Commission's own FAQ confirms that only corporations have that requirement. There's also no franchise or privilege tax on LLCs in Arizona. Your statutory agent appointment has no expiration date and continues until the agent resigns or is replaced, so there's no annual renewal to track for that either. For the full picture of Arizona's fees, taxes, and ongoing requirements, see our Arizona LLC guide.

Don't Skip Publication Assuming It Doesn't Apply to You

Many new Arizona LLC owners don't realize publication is required at all, since it happens after Commission approval rather than as part of the initial filing. Even though Maricopa and Pima county LLCs get free, automatic publication, confirm your statutory agent's county qualifies rather than assuming it does, since any other county requires you to arrange newspaper publication yourself within the 60-day window.

Check Whether You Need a Trade Name Separately

If you plan to operate under a name different from your LLC's legal name, Arizona requires registering a trade name with the Arizona Secretary of State, which is a separate agency from the Corporation Commission that handles LLC formation. Don't assume your Articles of Organization filing covers this.

Confirm Your Statutory Agent Qualifies Before Filing

A rejected or delayed filing often comes down to a statutory agent address that doesn't meet Arizona's requirements, such as a P.O. box listed as the street address. Confirm your agent's address is a genuine physical Arizona street address before submitting Form L010.

No Annual Report Doesn't Mean No Ongoing Obligations

While Arizona LLCs skip the annual report that most other states require, you still have federal tax filing obligations, and depending on your business activities, you may need a Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license from the Arizona Department of Revenue if you sell taxable goods or services.

This Isn't Legal or Tax Advice

Arizona's publication requirement, statutory agent rules, and professional LLC designations each have specific details that can affect your filing. Talk to a business attorney if your situation involves a licensed profession or an unusual ownership structure.