How to Start an LLC in Arkansas (2026): 7 Steps and the 3 Best LLC Services
Here is the 2026 answer for starting an LLC in Arkansas: AR Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and Arkansas Registered Agent.co ($199), ranked in that order. Below the picks you will find 7 steps in order, starting with the name and ending with the yearly upkeep (filing fee $45).
Published prices, read November 12, 2026. Every row excludes the $45 state fee.
Forming the LLC, in order
Step1
Step 1: Name the company
Pick a name, then check it against the records at the Arkansas Secretary of State so no other company already holds it.
TipHave a second choice ready.
Step2
Step 2: Choose who will be the registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. 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.
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.
TipAny of the services in our picks fills this role.
The state fee ($45) is the same either way; a service adds $199. See the picks.
Step4
Step 4: Send in the Certificate of Organization for Limited Liability Company
Complete the Certificate of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LL-01), pay $45 and file it with the Arkansas Secretary of State. Processing usually takes Most filings within two business days of receipt.
Official source: Source: sos.arkansas.gov, confirmed October 2026
Step5
Step 5: Request an EIN
When the approval arrives, apply to the IRS for the EIN. Your bank will want it for the business account. If you use Mainstay Filing, the EIN application is included.
Step6
Step 6: Draft the operating agreement
Write down who owns the Arkansas LLC and how decisions are made. This operating agreement stays with your records, not with the state.
Step7
Step 7: Keep up with Arkansas's yearly filing
After year one the main job is the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report ($150, every year, by May 1). The penalty for filing late is $25.
Official source: Source: sos.arkansas.gov, confirmed October 2026
What you will pay
Cost item
Who you pay
Amount
Filing fee
State office
$45
Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report
State office
$150 every year
Late report
State office
$25
Service fees (optional)
The service
$199 in year one
Three-year state total
State office
$345
State amounts come from Arkansas's official schedules (see References). The three-year state line adds the filing, the reports due in years two and three and any yearly minimum tax.
How the grade worked out
The grade turned on three-year cost (30%), where AR Registered Agent.org came out ahead of Mainstay Filing.
Add up years one to three and AR Registered Agent.org comes to $397; Mainstay Filing is $200 more.
Check your understanding
What does it cost to form an LLC in Arkansas?
The state's fee is $45. Service fees among our picks: $199.
Which form creates the LLC?
The Arkansas Secretary of State takes the Certificate of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LL-01); that filing creates the LLC.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
How long does Arkansas take to process the filing?
Processing time: Most filings within two business days of receipt. No paid expedite is offered.
What does Arkansas require each year?
The Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report: $150, every year, due May 1.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Yes. The state accepts filings from owners directly; budget $45 plus a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
We'd go with AR Registered Agent.org, because $199 up front with a free first agent year, $99 yearly from year two. Then Mainstay Filing and Arkansas Registered Agent.co.