Arkansas LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | Arkansas amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $45 online, $50 on paper |
| Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report | $150 flat franchise tax |
| When it is due | On or before 1 May every year |
| State tax on the LLC | $150 flat franchise tax every year |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $45 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $150 |
| Registered agent | Required. Free if you act as your own; commercial services charge a yearly fee |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 |
Fees verified October 2026 against the Arkansas Secretary of State and other official Arkansas sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Secretary of State charges $45 to file a Certificate of Organization online and $50 on paper. Only Montana and Kentucky charge less to form an LLC.
The LLC registers for franchise tax at the same time, at no extra cost. Arkansas has no paid expedite service; the Secretary of State completes most filings within two business days.
Our walkthrough on how to file articles of organization in Arkansas covers the form field by field.
How much does an Arkansas LLC cost every year?
Every Arkansas LLC pays a flat $150 franchise tax each year by filing the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report by 1 May. The report is the annual report: one filing, one payment, made to the Secretary of State rather than the Department of Finance and Administration.
Arkansas grants no extensions. Paying online by card adds a $5 processing fee. The first report is due on 1 May of the year after formation.
What does an Arkansas LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees an Arkansas LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts Arkansas charges. The second column adds the BusinessAnywhere registered agent service, which is free for the first year and $147 a year after that.
| Year | State fees only | With a registered agent service |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $45 | $45 |
| Year 2 | $150 | $297 |
| Year 3 | $150 | $297 |
| Three-year total | $345 | $639 |
Does Arkansas charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
Arkansas charges a flat $150 franchise tax on every LLC, whatever its revenue or profit. Foreign LLCs registered in Arkansas pay the same $150.
Income tax is separate. An LLC taxed as a partnership passes profit through to the members, who pay Arkansas individual income tax on Arkansas-source income. An LLC that closes files a final $150 franchise tax report with its dissolution.
How much does a registered agent cost in Arkansas?
Every Arkansas LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in Arkansas. Acting as your own agent costs nothing, but your address goes on the public record and you must be available at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services charge a yearly fee for the same role.
The BusinessAnywhere registered agent service is free for the first year and $147 a year after that, with every document scanned to your online dashboard the day it arrives.
Our Arkansas registered agent guide explains the state rules in full.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does an Arkansas LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. An Arkansas LLC needs one to hire employees, to open a business bank account and whenever it has more than one member. US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply through the IRS online EIN application and receive the number at the end of the session.
Founders outside the United States cannot use the online tool. They apply by phone, fax or post with IRS Form SS-4, and do not need an SSN to do it. The BusinessAnywhere EIN application service handles that process for $97. Our guide on how to obtain an EIN for your LLC covers both routes.
What other Arkansas LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the Arkansas state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $22.50 online, $25 paper | Form RN-06 |
| Certificate of good standing | $25 ($28 online) | A Certificate of Existence is a separate $15 certificate |
| Certified copy | $0.50 per page plus $5 | |
| Amending the articles | $22.50 online, $25 paper | Certificate of Amendment (LL-02) |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | $22.50 online, $25 paper | Application for Fictitious Name, Domestic LLC (DN-18), filed with SOS |
| Changing registered agent | No fee | Notice of Change of Registered Agent (DO-03) |
| Foreign LLC registration | $270 online, $300 paper | Application for Certificate of Registration (FL-01); foreign LLCs also pay the $150 annual franchise tax |
An operating agreement carries no state fee in Arkansas, and Arkansas does not collect it, but every LLC should have one to set out ownership and decision rights. BusinessAnywhere sells an operating agreement template for $97.
What happens if you miss an Arkansas LLC deadline?
A late franchise tax report carries a $25 penalty plus interest on the tax and penalty at 0.0274% a day.
An LLC that keeps failing to pay loses its authority to do business, and the tax keeps accruing until the LLC is formally dissolved, withdrawn or merged. An Arkansas LLC with unpaid franchise tax cannot file other documents with the Secretary of State until it pays.
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in Arkansas sets out the steps.
How does Arkansas compare with other states?
Arkansas is cheap to form and expensive to keep. Its $45 online fee is less than half the $100 national median, but the $150 franchise tax is higher than the yearly cost in most of its neighbours.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $45 | $150 | $45 online to form, $150 annual franchise tax |
| Missouri LLC cost | $50 | $0 | $50 online to form, no annual report |
| Oklahoma LLC cost | $100 | $25 | $100 to form, $25 Annual Certificate |
| Tennessee LLC cost | $300 | $400 | $300 minimum to form and report, $100 minimum franchise tax |
| Louisiana LLC cost | $125 | $35 | $125 to form, $35 annual report |
| Mississippi LLC cost | $50 | $0 | $50 to form, free annual report |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form an Arkansas LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your Arkansas LLC for $0 plus the $45 state fee. The filing comes with a free first year of registered agent service, so your first-year cost is the state fee and nothing else.
- Formation: $0 service fee plus the Arkansas filing fee.
- Registered agent: free for the first year, then $147 a year.
- EIN application: $97, with no SSN required for non-US founders.
- Compliance reminders: every Arkansas deadline on this page tracked in your dashboard.
- Virtual mailbox: a US street address with mail scanning, from $20 a month.
Start with our LLC formation service, or read the full guide on how to start an LLC in Arkansas first.
Arkansas LLC cost FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in Arkansas?
An Arkansas LLC costs $45 to form online or $50 on paper. After that it pays a flat $150 franchise tax every year.
Is the Arkansas franchise tax report the same as the annual report?
Yes. The Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report is the annual report. It costs $150 and is filed with the Arkansas Secretary of State.
When is the Arkansas LLC franchise tax due?
On or before 1 May each year, starting the year after formation. Arkansas grants no extensions.
What is the penalty for a late Arkansas franchise tax report?
$25 plus interest at 0.0274% a day on the tax and penalty. Continued nonpayment costs the LLC its authority to do business.
Does a closed Arkansas LLC still owe franchise tax?
Yes, until it formally dissolves. The tax keeps accruing on an LLC that loses its authority, and dissolution requires a final $150 franchise tax report.
How much does an Arkansas LLC cost over three years?
At the minimum, $345 in state fees: $45 to form online plus two $150 franchise tax payments. With a commercial registered agent from year two at $147 a year, the total is $639.
Sources
- Arkansas Secretary of State, LLC forms and fees
- Arkansas Secretary of State, 2026 Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report
- Arkansas Secretary of State, business services FAQ
- Official Arkansas source: Certificate of good standing fee
- Official Arkansas source: Foreign LLC registration fee
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the Arkansas Secretary of State before you file.
