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<v Dan>To start an LLC in Arizona, you file Articles of Organization with the Arizona

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<v Dan>Corporation Commission, online through the Arizona Business Center, and pay the $50

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<v Dan>filing fee.

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<v Maya>Fifty dollars. Is there a catch?

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<v Dan>A small one. It's $52 if you pay by card.

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<v Dan>And depending on your county, there may be a newspaper notice.

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<v Maya>This is The Business Formation Podcast.

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<v Maya>Today, Arizona for 2026, in six steps, with what it all costs and the three best

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<v Maya>ways to have it filed for you.

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<v Maya>What's the first step?

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<v Dan>Arizona wants limited liability company, limited company, LLC, or L.C.

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<v Dan>in the name. It also has to be distinguishable on the Commission's records.

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<v Maya>What words are off limits?

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<v Dan>Corporation and association aren't allowed.

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<v Maya>How do I check a name?

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<v Dan>The Business Center has a free name availability tool.

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<v Dan>To hold a name, a reservation is $10 for 120 days.

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<v Maya>I keep hearing "statutory agent" in Arizona.

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<v Maya>Is that the registered agent?

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<v Dan>Yes, it's Arizona's term for the same job.

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<v Dan>The agent receives legal papers for your LLC.

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<v Maya>Who can do it?

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<v Dan>An Arizona resident who is at least 18, or a business authorized in Arizona.

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<v Dan>Either one needs an Arizona street address.

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<v Maya>Does the agent have to agree?

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<v Dan>Yes. They accept the appointment, online in the Business Center or on a paper form.

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<v Dan>The LLC can't be its own agent, and the address is public.

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<v Maya>So what do I actually submit?

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<v Dan>Form L010, with a member or manager structure attachment, through the Arizona

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<v Dan>Business Center. The fee is $50, or $52 by card.

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<v Maya>What goes in it?

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<v Dan>The name, a principal address, your statutory agent, and whether members or managers

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<v Dan>run the LLC. Their names and addresses are listed, and those are public.

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<v Maya>I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan.

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<v Dan>Nice to meet you, Maya. As of early October, the portal posted about 12 days for

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<v Dan>regular filings.

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<v Maya>And faster?

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<v Dan>Expedited was about 6 days, and costs $85 in all.

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<v Dan>That's $35 more than the regular fee.

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<v Maya>What's this newspaper notice?

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<v Dan>Arizona has a publication rule.

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<v Dan>It depends on the county of your statutory agent's street address.

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<v Maya>Which counties are exempt?

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<v Dan>Maricopa and Pima. There, the Commission posts the notice for you.

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<v Maya>And everywhere else?

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<v Dan>You publish a notice in a local newspaper three times within 60 days after the

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<v Dan>Commission files your Articles.

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<v Dan>Your approval letter tells you which applies.

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<v Maya>Does the Commission want my operating agreement?

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<v Dan>No. Keep it with your records.

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<v Dan>There's no state fee.

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<v Maya>And if I skip it?

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<v Dan>Without one, each member gets one vote no matter what they own.

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<v Dan>So write down who owns what, how profits are split, who decides, and what happens if

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<v Dan>a member leaves.

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<v Maya>Then the federal side.

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<v Dan>Apply for your EIN free with the IRS at IRS.gov, after the Commission files your

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<v Dan>Articles.

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<v Maya>How long does it take?

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<v Dan>If the online application is approved, the IRS issues the number right away.

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<v Dan>Have the Social Security number or ITIN of the person in charge ready.

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<v Maya>And the beneficial ownership report?

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<v Dan>Skip it. FinCEN no longer requires it from U.S.

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<v Dan>companies.

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<v Maya>What about an annual report?

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<v Dan>Arizona LLCs file none. The one thing to keep in place is your statutory agent.

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<v Maya>Give me the do-it-yourself total.

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<v Dan>$50 to form, or $52 by card. Add the newspaper notice if you're outside Maricopa and

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<v Dan>Pima.

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<v Maya>Anything recurring?

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<v Dan>No annual report fee. The EIN is free.

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<v Maya>And the extras?

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<v Dan>A name reservation is $10. Changing your statutory agent or principal address later

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<v Dan>is $5.

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<v Maya>So a clean first-year number is?

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<v Dan>$52 by card, or $62 with a reservation.

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<v Maya>Why is it $52 and not $50?

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<v Dan>The Commission adds a card processing fee.

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<v Dan>It's 2.2 percent, with a $2 minimum.

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<v Maya>So on a $50 filing, the minimum applies.

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<v Dan>Yes. 2.2 percent of $50 is about a dollar, so the $2 minimum kicks

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<v Dan>in. That's your $52.

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<v Maya>Is there a way around it?

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<v Dan>Not online with a card. It's simply part of the price of the Business Center.

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<v Maya>Could I be my own agent?

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<v Dan>If you're an Arizona resident, at least 18, with an Arizona street address, yes.

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<v Dan>The LLC itself can't be its agent, though.

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<v Maya>What if I travel?

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<v Dan>The agent still needs an Arizona street address, and that address is public.

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<v Dan>That's the case for a commercial agent.

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<v Maya>And if I switch later?

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<v Dan>A statement of change is $5. It's one of the cheapest fixes in the state.

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<v Maya>Is the agent's address public?

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<v Dan>Yes, so a home address ends up on the record.

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<v Dan>Many owners would rather use a business.

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<v Maya>Let me test the publication rule.

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<v Maya>Say my agent's street address is in Maricopa County.

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<v Dan>Then the Commission posts the notice for you.

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<v Dan>Nothing to do.

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<v Maya>And Pima County?

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<v Dan>Same thing.

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<v Maya>And any other county?

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<v Dan>Then you publish three times in a local newspaper within 60 days.

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<v Dan>The county that counts is where your agent's street address is, not where you live.

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<v Maya>Give me the order of operations.

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<v Dan>Check the name in the Business Center.

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<v Dan>Settle your statutory agent. File Form L010 for $50, or $52 by

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<v Dan>card. Publish a notice if your agent's county needs it.

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<v Dan>Then get your EIN, and write your operating agreement.

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<v Maya>And the calendar?

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<v Dan>The notice is the only dated item.

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<v Dan>Sixty days from the filing date.

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<v Dan>There's no annual report to remember.

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<v Maya>What if I want someone else to file it?

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<v Dan>Here are the three best ways to file in Arizona.

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<v Dan>Number one, our pick, is Mainstay Filing, $199 a year plus the state

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<v Dan>fee. Checkout comes to $286, with the $52 state fee and Arizona's

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<v Dan>$35 expedite.

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<v Maya>What does that cover?

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<v Dan>Your Articles filed, your EIN application, and your statutory agent every year.

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<v Dan>It renews at the same $199.

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<v Maya>Number two?

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<v Dan>AZ Registered Agent.org. It prepares and files your Articles for

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<v Dan>$199 plus the state fee, and the first year of agent service is free.

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<v Dan>After that, it's $99 a year.

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<v Maya>And number three?

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<v Dan>Arizona Registered Agent.co. Same offer.

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<v Dan>$199 plus the state fee, first year of agent service free, then $99 a

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<v Dan>year. Both of those also come to $286 at checkout.

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<v Maya>How should I pick?

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<v Dan>Arizona has no annual report, so there's nothing for a service to file after year

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<v Dan>one. From year two, numbers two and three cost less, at $99 a year for the agent

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<v Dan>alone. Mainstay is $199 a year, and you'd choose it to keep one steady price for

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<v Dan>everything.

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<v Maya>Three-year number?

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<v Dan>Mainstay is $199 a year, so $597.

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<v Dan>Number two or three is $199 in year one, then $99 in each of the next two

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<v Dan>years, for $397.

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<v Maya>That's $200 apart.

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<v Dan>Yes. In Arizona, with no annual report, the difference is mostly the agent price.

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<v Maya>One more time through it?

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<v Dan>Choose a name with LLC in it, appoint a statutory agent who accepts, file Articles

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<v Dan>for $50, publish a notice if your agent is outside Maricopa and Pima, write an

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<v Dan>operating agreement, and get your free EIN.

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<v Dan>There's no annual report.

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<v Maya>The links to all three services and every official source are in the show notes.

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<v Maya>Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast, and good luck with your new

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<v Maya>Arizona LLC.