Fee to file with the state
$45
According to sos.arkansas.gov, as of October 2026
LLC cost guide · Arkansas
Starting an LLC in Arkansas (2026): Official Costs and the 3 Best Services
Arkansas, 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199), Arkansas Registered Agent.co ($199) and AR Registered Agent.org ($199) come out on top for forming an LLC, in that sequence. To open an LLC in Arkansas you pay the state $45 and, every year, $150 for the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report, a total that ranks 38th of 50.
What Arkansas charges
38th
out of 50 states, measured over three years of state fees
First place is the smallest bill, sharing the place. Fifty states in one table
Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report
$150 / yr
The state sets the deadline as May 1. According to sos.arkansas.gov, as of October 2026
Late-report charge
$25
According to sos.arkansas.gov, as of October 2026
State charges, years one to three
$345
The fee to form, then two years of reports
Our Arkansas recommendations
The order follows five published criteria. They are set out on the methodology page.
1. Mainstay Filing: best for less paperwork each year
$199 yearly, plus the state fee ($244 charged at checkout)
First on the list is Mainstay Filing, since one yearly $199 pays for the formation, the registered agent and the franchise tax report, with renewal at $199.
Compared with Arkansas Registered Agent.co, the three-year service bill is $200 higher, and more of the required filings are handled.
Filing the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report is part of the service; the $150 state fee is added without a markup.
What the price buys
- Your formation is prepared and filed
- Registered agent duties covered all year
- Your franchise tax report is prepared and sent in
- Your EIN application goes in with the rest
- The state fee is passed along at cost
In its favor
- One flat price of $199 a year
- Renews at $199
- The EIN application is in the price
Against it
- Arkansas Registered Agent.co's renewal is $100 smaller
2. Arkansas Registered Agent.co: best for a thrifty start
$199 plus the state fee; the agent is $99 a year from year two
Arkansas Registered Agent.co comes next: formation at $199 over the state fee, then the agent at $99 from year two.
Plan to submit the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report on your own every year.
What the price buys
- The formation filing is prepared for you
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- $199 to form
- No separate agent bill during the first year
- The agent renews at $99
Against it
- Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report is left to the owner
- Help with the EIN costs $99
3. AR Registered Agent.org: best for forming near home
$199 plus the state fee; the agent is $99 a year from year two
AR Registered Agent.org comes after that: formation at $199 over the state fee, then the agent at $99 from year two.
Plan to submit the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report on your own every year.
On price it is level with Arkansas Registered Agent.co.
What the price buys
- The formation filing is prepared for you
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- $199 to form
- The agent renews at $99
- No separate agent bill during the first year
Against it
- Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report is left to the owner
- Help with the EIN costs $99
Prices side by side
| No. | Service | First-year fee | From year two | Service charges, three years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Arkansas Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Arkansas Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | AR Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit AR Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Prices come from each company's own pages and were copied on November 12, 2026. Add Arkansas's $45 filing fee to each row.
What an LLC costs in Arkansas over time
Pick a number of years and a service. The state portion follows the official schedule: $45 to form, then the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report from year two.
Arkansas next to the states ranked around it
| Place | State | Three-year state fees |
|---|---|---|
| 33rd | Texas | $300 |
| 37th | Washington | $340 |
| 38th | Arkansas | $345 |
| 38th | Maine | $345 |
| 40th | Alaska | $350 |
The complete ranking applies one method to all fifty states.
Arkansas articles: fee and form
The Certificate of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LL-01) costs $45 at the Arkansas Secretary of State, a fee set by Ark. Code Ann. § 4-38-201. The number is the same no matter which service files. Usual wait at the state: Most filings within two business days of receipt.
The report Arkansas wants after formation
Set aside $150 for the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report every year; it must arrive May 1. Missing the date adds $25.
Why Mainstay Filing is first
Mainstay Filing won by scoring higher on paperwork the price takes on, worth 26%, with Arkansas Registered Agent.co close behind.
Having the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report filed within the price mattered more than Arkansas Registered Agent.co's smaller three-year charge.
Questions and answers
How much does the state charge to start an LLC in Arkansas?
Official filing fee: $45. Hiring a service adds $199.
What fee goes with the Arkansas Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report?
$150 every year, filed May 1. A late filing adds $25.
Where does Arkansas stand on LLC fees?
Arkansas is 38th of 50 for three-year state fees, tied with other states, at $345; the smallest bill ranks first.
How long does the state take to approve a new LLC?
Official turnaround: Most filings within two business days of receipt. The state offers no paid expedite.
Does Arkansas require a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which service should file my LLC?
We would pick Mainstay Filing (the Arkansas formation, a registered agent and the franchise tax report are all inside a $199 yearly price), followed by Arkansas Registered Agent.co and AR Registered Agent.org.
Sources for this chapter
- sos.arkansas.gov supplies Arkansas yearly filing: Franchise tax report: what and, last opened October 2026
- sos.arkansas.gov supplies Arkansas yearly filing: Franchise tax: amount and filing, last opened October 2026
- sos.arkansas.gov supplies Arkansas report due date, last opened August 2026
- arkleg.state.ar.us supplies Ark, last opened August 2026
- sos.arkansas.gov supplies Arkansas formation fee: Filing fee, official source, last opened October 2026
- arkleg.state.ar.us supplies Arkansas registered agent statute, last opened October 2026
- sos.texas.gov supplies Tex, last opened August 2026
- sos.wa.gov supplies Washington formation fee: Filing fee, official source, last opened October 2026
- sos.wa.gov supplies Washington formation fee: Filing fee, official source, last opened October 2026
- ccfs.sos.wa.gov supplies Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, last opened August 2026
- sos.wa.gov supplies Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, last opened August 2026
- sos.wa.gov supplies Washington yearly filing: Annual report, official source, last opened October 2026
- legislature.maine.gov supplies 31 M.R.S. sec. 1531, last opened August 2026
- legislature.maine.gov supplies Maine formation fee: Filing fee, official source, last opened October 2026
- maine.gov supplies Maine Secretary of State, last opened August 2026
- maine.gov supplies Maine Secretary of State, last opened August 2026
- akleg.gov supplies Alaska Stat. §§ 10.50.070, 10.50.075, last opened August 2026
- commerce.alaska.gov supplies Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, last opened August 2026
- commerce.alaska.gov supplies Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, last opened August 2026
- sos.arkansas.gov supplies Processing, official source, last opened October 2026
- The Arkansas service page for Mainstay Filing, as published November 12, 2026
- The pricing page for Arkansas Registered Agent.co, as published November 12, 2026
- The pricing page for AR Registered Agent.org, as published November 12, 2026