Form an LLC in Arizona.
Filing an LLC in Arizona costs $50 for the Articles of Organization. With a registered agent service ($99/yr) and the Year-1 annual obligations, a typical first-year cost lands near $209. Ongoing cost runs about $99/year.
Run the numbers for Arizona.
Estimates only. Verify with the Arizona Secretary of State before paying. Not legal advice.
Arizona LLC fees, line by line
| Component | Cost / Rule | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization filing fee | $50 | One-time charge to register the LLC with the state. |
| Annual report | None | This state does not require an LLC annual report. |
| Franchise / business tax | $0 | This state has no minimum franchise tax for LLCs. |
| Publication requirement | $60 | Required by NY, AZ, NE. New LLCs must publish a formation notice in local newspapers; cost varies by county. |
| Registered agent | Required | Every state requires a registered agent. You can be your own RA in your home state at no cost; commercial services run $35–$300/yr. |
| Expedited filing | Available | Typical add-on $50–$100 for 1–3 day turnaround. |
The Arizona publication requirement
Arizona requires LLCs formed outside Maricopa and Pima counties to publish their Articles of Organization in an approved newspaper for three consecutive weeks. Typical cost: $60. Maricopa and Pima are exempt — the Corporation Commission posts notices on its own website for those.
No annual report, no franchise tax
Arizona is one of a small group of states that doesn't require an LLC annual report and doesn't impose a minimum franchise tax. Your only recurring cost is the registered agent — which can be $0 if you serve as your own. This makes Arizona one of the cheapest states for a long-lived LLC, particularly for dormant holding entities.
Should you form in this state if you don't live here?
For most operators, the answer is no. An LLC pays state income tax wherever it operates, not where it's formed. Forming in Arizona while doing business in another state means paying both states' fees plus a foreign-qualification fee in your operating state. Real reasons to form in a non-home state: pure IP holdcos, real estate holdcos in the property state, asset-protection structures, or non-US residents with no US nexus. Full breakdown of when forming out-of-state pays off →
Sources & verification
Compare Arizona with other states
See the full ranking — best states to form an LLC → Compare formation services →