State hub · Arkansas
Arkansas LLC true cost (2026)
Arkansas state side: $45 formation filing, $150 for Annual Franchise Tax Report (LLC) in the 3-year model, ~$495 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #39 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
Arkansas state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is Arkansas Secretary of State – Business & Commercial Services. Filings go through www.sos.arkansas.gov.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $45 | Certificate of Organization (LL-01) $45 online / $50 paper (Arkansas SOS BCS). |
| Annual Franchise Tax Report (LLC) | $150 | Flat $150 for LLCs; serves as Arkansas annual compliance filing (no separate traditional annual report). Online franchise portal may add a small card processing fee. |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $495 | Formation $45 (online) + 3× franchise tax $150 = $495. Excludes optional processing fees and registered-agent costs. |
When Arkansas actually bills you
Arkansas's recurring filing is due Annually by May 1 — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What Arkansas charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $45 | $45 |
| Year 1 cycle | Annual Franchise Tax Report (LLC) | $150 | $195 |
| Year 2 cycle | Annual Franchise Tax Report (LLC) | $150 | $345 |
| Year 3 cycle | Annual Franchise Tax Report (LLC) | $150 | $495 |
Provider + Arkansas state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the Arkansas state subtotal of $495.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $784 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $992 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $793 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $1,242 |
Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices above are researched from public pages, not supplied by the provider. How this site makes money.
How Arkansas ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, Arkansas sits at #39 — the 39th cheapest three-year state charter — at $495 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $460 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $215 above the $280 median, and $2,015 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, Arkansas lands in the pricier half of the table.
Ranking caveat for Arkansas: Exact online card processing surcharge on franchise portal (often ~$5) not included in subtotal.
- Just cheaper: Maine ($430), Oregon ($400).
- Just pricier: Florida ($541.25), Alaska ($600).
- Full table: all 51 states ranked by 3-year state fees — including where the ranking flips once you add a professional registered agent.
Registered agent (Arkansas)
- Registered agent required; change filings listed as no fee on SOS LLC forms page.
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of Arkansas state fees is $495, while the cheapest provider path in our national 3-year comparison runs $289 (Formation $39 (RA Y1 included)) and the most expensive runs $747 (Basic $0 + RA $249/yr) — a $458 spread for the same statutory job. On the cheapest path the service, not Arkansas, is about 37% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- Franchise tax continues to accrue until dissolution/withdrawal; late payment can block other BCS filings and lead to revocation.
- Not a classic annual report — budget the $150 franchise tax as the recurring SOS obligation.
Who Arkansas is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- Arkansas-operating LLCs that prefer a flat franchise tax over capital-based corp rates.
Often a poor fit when…
- Holding companies seeking the lowest possible annual state entity tax (AR $150/yr is relatively high for small LLCs).
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about Arkansas LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Arkansas?
$45 to Arkansas Secretary of State – Business & Commercial Services for the formation filing. Certificate of Organization (LL-01) $45 online / $50 paper (Arkansas SOS BCS). That is the state charge only. A formation service is a separate bill on top: Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) works out to $39 in year one, versus $249 on the most expensive path we track.
What are the ongoing Arkansas LLC fees after year one?
$150 for the Annual Franchise Tax Report (LLC), due Annually by May 1. Flat $150 for LLCs; serves as Arkansas annual compliance filing (no separate traditional annual report). Online franchise portal may add a small card processing fee. Recurring state charges are what make a low formation fee misleading — they are the reason this site models three years instead of one.
What does a Arkansas LLC really cost over three years?
$495 in Arkansas state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $784 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $1,242 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with Arkansas.
Do I need a registered agent in Arkansas?
Yes. Registered agent required; change filings listed as no fee on SOS LLC forms page. Confirm Arkansas's DIY-versus-commercial agent rules with Arkansas Secretary of State – Business & Commercial Services before you file — a home address here becomes public record. On the money side, the four providers tracked here charge $0–$249 in year one for formation plus the agent, then $125–$249 a year in agent renewal after that — separate from every Arkansas figure above.
Is Arkansas a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, Arkansas ranks #39 of 51 at $495 over three years, against a $35 floor and a $2,510 ceiling. But cheapest charter is not the same as cheapest outcome: if you operate somewhere else you will likely foreign-qualify there and pay that state's fees and taxes too. See the full 3-year state fee ranking for the comparison.
How the Arkansas three-year number is built
Formation $45 (online) + 3× franchise tax $150 = $495. Excludes optional processing fees and registered-agent costs. Figures are re-derived from the cited Arkansas sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the Arkansas state subtotal:
- Professional registered agent fees (same shopping problem in every state)
- County newspaper publication (NY, AZ, and similar — variable)
- Card / portal convenience fees unless fixed on the SOS schedule
- Expedites, name reservations, certified copies, foreign qualification
- Income / sales / payroll taxes and variable gross-receipts tiers above a stated floor
Unverified / confirm before filing
- item: unverified — check source —
- Re-check live Arkansas Secretary of State – Business & Commercial Services fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where Arkansas's $495 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the Arkansas math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.