WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:07.180 The 5 best registered agents in Arkansas in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest 00:00:07.224 --> 00:00:13.180 Registered Agent, AR Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and 00:00:13.304 --> 00:00:16.380 Arkansas Registered Agent.co. 00:00:16.380 --> 00:00:18.780 Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast. 00:00:18.869 --> 00:00:21.421 Arkansas. Is it going to cost me to switch? 00:00:21.421 --> 00:00:28.220 Not at the state level. Arkansas charges no fee to change your agent, but the yearly 00:00:28.284 --> 00:00:33.340 franchise tax report is $150 and it's due on May first. 00:00:35.476 --> 00:00:38.370 How does Arkansas treat registered agents? 00:00:38.370 --> 00:00:42.931 Under its Registered Agents Act, a registered agent is the person authorized to 00:00:42.991 --> 00:00:46.531 receive any process, notice or demand for the company. 00:00:46.671 --> 00:00:51.091 The agent has to forward whatever is served to the company's last known address. 00:00:51.091 --> 00:00:52.211 Who can do it? 00:00:52.211 --> 00:00:55.731 The Act sets no age or residency rule. 00:00:55.971 --> 00:01:00.371 A filing names either a commercial registered agent, which is a service listed with 00:01:00.391 --> 00:01:04.931 the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial one with a name and address. 00:01:04.931 --> 00:01:05.971 And the address? 00:01:05.971 --> 00:01:10.211 A street address in Arkansas, or a rural route box number. 00:01:10.371 --> 00:01:16.691 The franchise tax instructions are blunt: the agent must be located at that address, 00:01:16.751 --> 00:01:20.371 and a post office box or mail drop may not be used. 00:01:20.371 --> 00:01:22.771 Does the agent have to sign anything? 00:01:22.771 --> 00:01:28.771 No. Naming an agent is the company's affirmation that the agent has agreed to serve, 00:01:28.824 --> 00:01:31.332 so the change form has no agent signature. 00:01:31.332 --> 00:01:33.252 I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan. 00:01:33.252 --> 00:01:35.732 Thanks, Maya. Here are the five. 00:01:37.971 --> 00:01:38.611 First pick? 00:01:38.611 --> 00:01:44.931 Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, and the same $149 at renewal. 00:01:44.931 --> 00:01:45.731 What's included? 00:01:45.731 --> 00:01:49.731 Its Arkansas address goes on the public record in place of yours. 00:01:49.811 --> 00:01:54.211 Court papers are scanned and uploaded the same business day with no fee, and the 00:01:54.264 --> 00:01:57.172 first three government mailings each year are scanned free. 00:01:57.172 --> 00:01:59.651 What about the switch itself? 00:01:59.651 --> 00:02:04.611 Mainstay files it for you, and with Arkansas charging nothing, it costs you nothing 00:02:04.664 --> 00:02:05.251 at the state. 00:02:06.078 --> 00:02:08.131 Where does it fall short? 00:02:08.131 --> 00:02:12.051 On price alone. Two of the others are $99. 00:02:13.337 --> 00:02:14.776 Number two? 00:02:14.776 --> 00:02:18.617 Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. 00:02:18.884 --> 00:02:23.577 It says the price hasn't risen in twenty years, and up to ten regular mail scans a 00:02:23.625 --> 00:02:25.017 year are free. 00:02:25.017 --> 00:02:26.217 And the catch? 00:02:26.217 --> 00:02:32.057 You're enrolled automatically in its annual report filing service, $100 plus state 00:02:32.121 --> 00:02:34.697 fees per filing, unless you cancel it. 00:02:34.697 --> 00:02:36.537 Does Arkansas have an annual report? 00:02:36.537 --> 00:02:40.457 It has the franchise tax report, which is $150. 00:02:40.585 --> 00:02:44.377 That's what the service would be filing, so decide if you want to pay a hundred 00:02:44.444 --> 00:02:45.257 extra for it. 00:02:47.192 --> 00:02:48.231 Third? 00:02:48.231 --> 00:02:52.872 AR Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, the same at renewal. 00:02:53.032 --> 00:02:57.832 The address used on your filings, same-day scanning of legal mail and reminders for 00:02:57.885 --> 00:02:59.192 state deadlines. 00:02:59.192 --> 00:03:00.072 And switching? 00:03:00.072 --> 00:03:06.392 Costs no state fee. The catch: annual report filing is a separate service. 00:03:06.392 --> 00:03:07.672 Compared with the top pick? 00:03:07.672 --> 00:03:12.552 $50 a year less, so $150 across three years. 00:03:13.295 --> 00:03:14.095 And four? 00:03:14.095 --> 00:03:19.055 Bizee, which was Incfile. The agent is free for the first year with a formation 00:03:19.125 --> 00:03:23.135 package, then $149 a year, renewed automatically. 00:03:23.135 --> 00:03:25.935 If I formed my Arkansas LLC on my own? 00:03:25.935 --> 00:03:32.575 There's no free year. You start at $149, and that's still $298 for two 00:03:32.655 --> 00:03:33.215 years. 00:03:33.971 --> 00:03:34.691 Last one. 00:03:34.691 --> 00:03:41.331 Arkansas Registered Agent.co. A flat $99, with a registered address on 00:03:41.427 --> 00:03:45.491 file, same-day scanning of legal documents and compliance reminders. 00:03:45.491 --> 00:03:48.451 How does it differ from number three? 00:03:48.451 --> 00:03:53.331 Not that the listings show. Same price and the same catch, report filing costs 00:03:53.411 --> 00:03:53.891 extra. 00:03:55.331 --> 00:03:57.411 Where does the agent go at formation? 00:03:57.411 --> 00:04:03.411 On the Certificate of Organization, Form LL-01, with the agent's name and physical 00:04:03.457 --> 00:04:08.051 street address. That's $45 online or $50 on paper. 00:04:08.051 --> 00:04:09.971 And a change later? 00:04:09.971 --> 00:04:13.971 The Notice of Change of Registered Agent, Form DO-03. 00:04:14.038 --> 00:04:17.011 There's no fee, online or on paper. 00:04:17.355 --> 00:04:17.891 Nothing at all? 00:04:17.891 --> 00:04:23.571 Nothing. The fee list says no fee, and the statement takes effect when it's filed. 00:04:23.671 --> 00:04:26.451 The members and managers don't have to approve it. 00:04:26.451 --> 00:04:28.771 How quickly does the state process it? 00:04:28.771 --> 00:04:32.291 Most filings go through within two business days of receipt. 00:04:32.291 --> 00:04:33.411 Any trap? 00:04:33.411 --> 00:04:39.091 Unpaid franchise tax. Arkansas prohibits any additional filings with the Business 00:04:39.131 --> 00:04:42.051 and Commercial Services division until it's paid. 00:04:42.794 --> 00:04:44.074 Tell me about that report. 00:04:44.074 --> 00:04:49.594 The Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report is a flat $150, due May first. 00:04:49.754 --> 00:04:52.594 The first one comes the year after you form. 00:04:52.594 --> 00:04:54.154 And if it's late? 00:04:54.154 --> 00:04:58.154 A $25 late penalty plus interest, and no extensions. 00:04:58.154 --> 00:05:02.234 So a normal year with a $99 agent costs? 00:05:02.234 --> 00:05:09.034 $99 plus $150 is $249. With Mainstay, 00:05:09.074 --> 00:05:13.994 $149 plus $150 is $299. 00:05:13.994 --> 00:05:16.154 Does the report change the agent? 00:05:16.154 --> 00:05:19.354 That's a separate filing, so don't expect one to do the other. 00:05:21.426 --> 00:05:23.906 Is the agent's address the only one I give? 00:05:23.906 --> 00:05:28.946 No. The Act also asks for a mailing address in Arkansas if it's different from the 00:05:28.992 --> 00:05:32.626 street address. So there can be two lines on file. 00:05:32.626 --> 00:05:34.466 Why does that matter to an owner? 00:05:34.466 --> 00:05:37.586 Because the agent's street address is public. 00:05:37.773 --> 00:05:42.386 If the agent is you, that's your own address in front of anyone who searches the 00:05:42.448 --> 00:05:42.947 registry. 00:05:42.947 --> 00:05:44.467 And a business address? 00:05:44.467 --> 00:05:48.947 A service gives you a business address instead, which keeps your home out of the 00:05:49.004 --> 00:05:49.427 record. 00:05:49.427 --> 00:05:52.307 Does Arkansas say where its own notices go? 00:05:52.307 --> 00:05:57.027 Not that we found, so keep your principal office address current as well. 00:05:58.306 --> 00:05:59.906 What if my agent quits? 00:05:59.906 --> 00:06:05.186 A statement of resignation. There's no fee, and the agent has to promptly tell the 00:06:05.236 --> 00:06:07.986 company in writing the date it was filed. 00:06:07.986 --> 00:06:09.266 When does it take effect? 00:06:09.266 --> 00:06:15.026 On the earlier of the 31st day after filing, or when you appoint a new agent. 00:06:15.026 --> 00:06:16.386 And if I never do? 00:06:16.386 --> 00:06:21.026 The Secretary of State can start administrative dissolution if the company has no 00:06:21.077 --> 00:06:23.986 registered agent for sixty consecutive days. 00:06:24.093 --> 00:06:28.066 There's a notice, then sixty more days to fix it. 00:06:28.066 --> 00:06:29.826 Can I come back from that? 00:06:29.826 --> 00:06:32.946 You can apply for reinstatement within two years. 00:06:33.687 --> 00:06:35.927 What if the process server can't find the agent? 00:06:35.927 --> 00:06:40.247 Then the company can be served by registered or certified mail, return receipt 00:06:40.311 --> 00:06:44.967 requested, addressed to its governors by name at the principal office. 00:06:44.967 --> 00:06:46.727 So the papers go to the owners. 00:06:46.727 --> 00:06:48.567 To one or more of the governors. 00:06:48.727 --> 00:06:53.847 That's a safety net, but it depends on your principal office address being current. 00:06:56.015 --> 00:06:57.295 Can I be my own agent? 00:06:57.295 --> 00:07:02.335 The Act lets a company name a person or an officer with a business office address, 00:07:02.442 --> 00:07:06.175 so many small owners do. It costs nothing extra. 00:07:06.175 --> 00:07:08.095 What's the downside? 00:07:08.095 --> 00:07:12.095 The street address goes on the public record, and you have to be located there. 00:07:12.335 --> 00:07:16.655 If you work from home or travel, that's a lot to promise. 00:07:16.655 --> 00:07:18.735 And when papers do arrive? 00:07:18.735 --> 00:07:23.055 A same-day scan from a service gives you a head start on a deadline. 00:07:24.284 --> 00:07:26.923 How should someone in Little Rock or Fayetteville decide? 00:07:26.923 --> 00:07:32.444 Three things. Does the price stay the same next year, is it a real Arkansas street 00:07:32.504 --> 00:07:35.164 address, and who files the change. 00:07:35.164 --> 00:07:36.924 And your answer? 00:07:36.924 --> 00:07:42.284 Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Arkansas, at $149 a year. 00:07:44.735 --> 00:07:46.255 Once more, all five? 00:07:46.255 --> 00:07:51.375 One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal. 00:07:51.675 --> 00:07:57.695 Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. 00:07:57.935 --> 00:08:03.935 Three, AR Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. 00:08:04.207 --> 00:08:09.615 Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then 00:08:09.675 --> 00:08:16.095 $149. Five, Arkansas Registered Agent.co: 00:08:16.221 --> 00:08:17.935 $99 flat. 00:08:17.935 --> 00:08:19.455 The links are in the show notes. 00:08:19.604 --> 00:08:22.895 Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.