Arizona Articles of Organization: Form L010, $50 Fee and How to File With the ACC
Arizona Articles of Organization: Form L010, $50 Fee and How to File With the ACC
The Arizona Articles of Organization are the filing that creates your limited liability company. You file them with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), and the regular filing fee is $50. If you need faster review, expedited processing brings the filing fee to $85 total. This guide covers what goes on the form, the name rules, the statutory agent and publication requirements, and how to file on paper or online. It also explains how the LLC articles differ from the Arizona Articles of Incorporation, since people often search for both at once.
Disclaimer: This article is informational. It is not legal or tax advice. Forms, fees, and processing times change, so confirm current numbers with the Corporation Commission before you pay. For complex ownership, professional licensing, or tax elections, talk to a qualified attorney or CPA.
What the Articles of Organization Do
The articles are the public formation document for an Arizona LLC. They establish the company's legal name, identify the statutory agent who receives official notices, and state whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed. Once the ACC accepts the filing, the LLC exists under state law. The form is Articles of Organization (Form L010), and the instructions are in Form L010i, revised 7/2021.
The person who signs as organizer does not need to be a member or manager of the company. An attorney or formation service often fills that role, but it is not required.
The Fee Schedule: $50, $85 and Accelerated Options
The ACC LLC fee schedule (Rev. 3.2026) sets the amounts below. Accelerated service tiers are separate from the filing fee, so read the fee schedule before you submit.
| Filing option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Articles of Organization | $50 | Standard review |
| Expedited review | $85 total | $35 above the regular fee |
| Next day accelerated service | $100 added to the filing fee | Must be received by 5pm |
| Same day accelerated service | $200 added to the filing fee | Must be received by 10am |
| Two hour accelerated service | $400 added to the filing fee | Available 8am to 3pm |
Accelerated service guarantees that the ACC examines your filing within the stated window. It does not guarantee approval. A filing with errors still has to be corrected and resubmitted, so complete paperwork is the best way to save time.
The Corporations Division processing times sheet, posted as of December 29, 2025, listed about 9 to 11 business days for regular processing and 2 to 4 business days for expedited processing. Check the current sheet on the day you file, because those windows change.
Name reservation is optional. It costs $10 and holds a name for 120 days while you finish your paperwork. You can request it through the Arizona Business Center.
Name Rules for an Arizona LLC
Under A.R.S. 29-3112, the LLC name must contain “limited liability company,” “limited company,” LLC, L.L.C., LC or L.C. The name may not contain “association,” “corporation,” “incorporated,” or an abbreviation of those words. It also has to be distinguishable from existing entity names, reserved names, and registered trade names on the ACC record. Search the ACC business search before you commit to a name.
Two categories need extra steps:
- Banking and trust terms. Words such as bank, banker, banking, credit union, deposit, savings association, trust, and trust company need prior written approval from the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions. Get that approval before you file.
- Professional LLCs. A professional LLC name must include “professional limited liability company,” PLLC, P.L.L.C., PLC or P.L.C. (A.R.S. 29-4106). Check with your licensing board before filing, because the board may have its own naming or ownership rules.
Member-Managed or Manager-Managed
Form L010 asks whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed. In a member-managed LLC, the members run the company. In a manager-managed LLC, the operating agreement assigns management to one or more managers, who may or may not be members. The form lists managers, and it lists members who hold 20 percent or more of the company. If your ownership group has unequal stakes or unusual roles, confirm the listing requirements in the Form L010i instructions before you sign.
The Statutory Agent and Why the Address Matters
Arizona calls the registered agent a statutory agent. The statutory agent accepts service of process and receives official notices from the ACC for the LLC. An individual agent must be a permanent, full-time Arizona resident with a permanent, full-time physical or street address in Arizona, and any mailing address must also be in Arizona. An entity can serve as agent, including a foreign corporation or LLC authorized to transact business in Arizona. An LLC cannot be its own statutory agent.
The agent must accept the appointment in writing on the Statutory Agent Acceptance form (M002). Keep a copy in your company records. The LLC must keep a statutory agent with a valid address on file at all times. If it does not, it risks administrative dissolution under A.R.S. 29-3708. Changing the statutory agent or principal address costs $5 for an LLC.
The statutory agent's street address also determines whether the publication requirement applies, as described next.
The Publication Requirement
An LLC must publish notice of its formation unless its statutory agent's county is Maricopa or Pima. If your statutory agent is located in any other county, plan for the publication step in your launch timeline. Publication cost, newspaper requirements and the deadline are not confirmed here. Confirm those details with the Corporation Commission before you budget for them.
Certificate of Disclosure and Articles of Incorporation
Many readers searching for the Arizona Articles of Incorporation also look for the Arizona Certificate of Disclosure, so here is how the two differ. For a for-profit corporation, the Articles of Incorporation are filed together with a Certificate of Disclosure, and the filing fee is $60. A for-profit corporation must file an annual report each year, with a fee of $45. The report is due in the corporation's anniversary month, on the date the Commission assigns. A corporation may request a written extension of up to six months, filed on or before the due date. Nonprofit corporations pay $10 instead of $45.
The filing information lists the Certificate of Disclosure only with the corporate Articles of Incorporation. It is not part of the Form L010 LLC filing covered in this guide. Confirm with the ACC before filing if you are unsure which documents your entity type requires.
An Arizona LLC files no annual report, and the Corporation Commission charges no LLC annual report fee. An LLC that keeps its statutory agent current has no recurring state filing cost to stay in good standing with the Commission.
Step by Step: How to File With the ACC
- Search the name. Confirm it is distinguishable on the ACC business search. Reserve it for $10 if you need time to finish.
- Secure the statutory agent. Get the agent's signed acceptance on Form M002 before you file.
- Choose the management structure. Decide between member-managed and manager-managed, and identify managers and members with 20 percent or more.
- Complete Form L010. Follow the Form L010i instructions. Enter the LLC name, statutory agent, principal address, management structure, and the organizer's information.
- Choose paper or online filing. Online filings go through the Arizona Business Center. For paper filings, confirm the mailing address on the Form L010i instructions rather than relying on an address you find elsewhere.
- Pay the fee. Pay $50 for regular review or $85 for expedited review, plus any accelerated service tier. Confirm the combined total before you submit.
- Wait for processing. Expect about 9 to 11 business days for regular processing, or 2 to 4 business days for expedited processing, based on the posted processing sheet.
- Complete post-approval tasks. Publish notice if your statutory agent's county requires it. Keep the approved Articles with your operating agreement and company records.
What Comes After the Articles
Approval of the Articles creates the LLC, but it does not complete your setup. Arizona issues no single general statewide business license. The license most businesses need is the Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license from the Arizona Department of Revenue, which costs $12 per location. It is required for retail sales and other taxable business classifications. Apply through the Department of Revenue TPT license page.
Several other layers may apply to your business:
- City licenses. Cities and towns commonly require their own business or TPT license on top of the state license. Check the city where you operate.
- Counties. Arizona counties issue no general business license.
- Contractors. The Registrar of Contractors licenses contractors, so a construction business needs that license in addition to the LLC.
- Regulated professions. Professions with separate board licensing must meet those requirements, which is why the professional naming rules matter.
- Trade names. If you operate under a name other than the LLC's registered name, you can register a trade name with the Secretary of State. Trade name registration is optional and separate from the ACC filing. See azsos.gov/business/tntm.
Tax Treatment
An LLC is generally taxed as a pass-through entity by default, so its income passes to the members. Members pay Arizona's flat 2.5 percent individual income tax on their share. An LLC that elects corporate tax treatment pays Arizona corporate income tax of 4.9 percent of net income or $50, whichever is greater. Arizona levies no LLC franchise tax. Confirm the right structure and election with a CPA.
Common Filing Mistakes
- Choosing a name that includes “corporation” or “incorporated,” which the statute prohibits.
- Using a bank, trust, or credit union word without written approval from the Department of Financial Institutions.
- Naming a statutory agent who lacks a permanent Arizona address, or naming the LLC as its own agent.
- Skipping publication when the statutory agent's county requires it.
- Paying for expedited service and then submitting a form with missing signatures or agent acceptance, which leads to a correction and a delay.
Official Sources
- Arizona Business Center (online filing and name reservation): https://arizonabusinesscenter.azcc.gov/
- Business search: https://arizonabusinesscenter.azcc.gov/businesssearch
- Corporation Commission, Corporations Division: https://azcc.gov/corporations
- Arizona Department of Revenue: https://azdor.gov/
- Secretary of State trade name registration: https://azsos.gov/business/tntm
- Arizona Small Business Development Center Network for planning help: https://www.arizonasbdc.com/
Forming an Arizona LLC is a straightforward filing once the name, agent, and management structure are settled. Verify the current fee schedule, processing times, and publication rules on the agency pages above before you file, and consult an attorney or CPA for anything beyond a standard single-owner or small-group setup.