Forming a limited liability company in the state of Arizona can be pretty simple. You just need to know what steps to take.
We’ve got an economical e-book you can purchase and download using the button below. This Arizona LLC kit costs $34.95 and it walks you through these steps for forming your LLC, getting an EIN and setting up your LLC operating agreement.
Note: The kit comes with two operating agreements you can use either “as is” or as a starting point for your customized LLC operating agreement.
However, if all you want to do is form an LLC, you possibly don’t need the kit…. Why? All you need to do to form an LLC in Arizona is follow these steps:
1. Check if the LLC name you want is available
As a first step, you may want to check if the LLC name you want to use is even available. Here’s an easy and free way to do this: You can search for a similarly-named LLC using Arizona’s online database at:
http://starpas.azcc.gov/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=wsbroker1/connect.p?app=names-report.p
A name may be reserved for 120 days for a fee of $10.00, but this is not a required step.
2. Download the articles of organization from the Arizona Corporation Commission’s web site, then print this form
The URL, or web page address, for this form is as shown below.
http://www.azcc.gov/Divisions/Corporations/forms/starpas/formsSTPS/L010-Articles-of-Organization.pdf
3. Indicate the type of LLC you’re setting up
You can use the generic Arizona articles of organization form to set up either a regular limited liability company or a professional limited liability company. Mark the limited liability company box if you’re setting up a regular, non-professional LLC. Mark the professional limited liability company box if you’re setting up a professional LLC.
Arizona law defines a professional service as a service that may be lawfully rendered only by a person licensed in Arizona to render the service, such as medicine, law, and public accounting.
Note: The do-it-yourself kit assumes you’re setting up a regular LLC. But you can usually rather easily set up a professional LLC, too, using a do-it-yourself approach.
4. Identify the name you want to use for your new LLC
Enter your business or investment name onto line B of page 1 of the form. (I used the example name, “Ka-Pow Explosives LLC.”) If you’re setting up a regular LLC, the name must include “Limited Liability Company” or one of the standard abbreviations, “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” For example, all of the following names should be acceptable:
- Ka-Pow Explosives Limited Liability Company
- Ka-Pow Explosives LLC
- Ka-Pow Explosives L.L.C.
If you are setting up a professional limited liability company, the name must include “Professional Limited Liability Company” or one of the standard abbreviations, “PLLC,” “PLC”, “P.L.C.” or “P.L.L.C.”
5. Specify the purpose of the professional limited liability company (required only for PLLCs)
If you’re setting up a professional limited liability company, use Box 4 (top of page 2 of the form) to state the professional service or services that the limited liability company is being formed to provide.
6. Provide the business address for the limited liability company
Enter the LLC’s business address into the spaces labeled Known Place of Business in Arizona.
7. Identify yourself as the statutory agent
You need to provide your name and address as the statutory agent. (The statutory agent must be someone with an Arizona address. A P.O. box is not acceptable as the only address. If you have a P.O. box, you must also give them your physical address.) You will need to both print and sign your name accepting the appointment.
8. State date of dissolution
Use box 5 to specify how long the LLC’s life should last. If you want the LLC to have an indefinite life (the usual case), mark the Limited Liability Company is Perpetual box. Alternatively, you can also use box 5 to specify that the LLC’s life end on a specified date.
9. Identify the management structure
You also use the articles of organization to identify the LLC management structure. If the management is reserved to the members, check the Reserved to Members (s) box. If the LLC management is vested in a manager or managers, check the Vested in Manager(s).
10. Name the members
You need to identify the names and addresses of each person who is a manager and each person who as a member owns more than 20% of the LLC. If you need more room than the form allows (four spaces for four members) attach additional sheets of paper with the member information.
Note: If your LLC management is vested in one or more managers, you should use the Member checkbox and Manager checkbox to indicate which members are managers and which members aren’t managers. Furthermore, if you indicate at the LLC management is vested in one or more manager-members, you must check the Manager box for at least one of the members listed.
11. Date and sign
At the bottom of the form, you will need to add your signature and the date. Adding your phone number and fax number is optional.
12. Complete the cover sheet
Each application requires a standard cover sheet found at:
http://www.azcc.gov/divisions/corporations/filings/forms/cfcvlr.pdf
This form is filled out on-line then printed and mailed with the application. On this form you indicate that you are 1) a New Entity 2) Filing “Articles of Organization for a Limited Liability Company 3) If you want regular or expedited service 4) How you want to pay 5) How you want your documents delivered and 6) a Default Delivery Address.
13. Submit the LLC application
After you complete the articles of organization, mail the document and a check for $50 to:
Arizona Corporation Commission
1300 W. Washington St
Phoenix, AZ 85007
or
Arizona Corporation Commission
400 W. Congress Ste. 221
Tucson, AZ 85701
You can also deliver your articles of organization in person.
Processing lead times vary, but in general, it takes several weeks to get your LLC certificate back from the Secretary of State’s office. You can check the wait time at:
http://www.azcc.gov/divisions/corporations/filings/forms/wstatus.pdf
You do have the option to have your articles of organization filed in an expedited manner, for a fee. At the time of this writing, you can pay an extra $35 (for a total of $85) for expedited service. Expedited service will get your articles back to you in about one week.
To track your new LLC’s records go to:
http://www.azcc.gov/Divisions/Corporations
14. Give public notice concerning the LLC’s formation
Within sixty days after filing with the Commission, there must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where you do business, three consecutive publications with your articles of organization. Within ninety days after filing, an affidavit evidencing the publication must be filed with the Commission.
The Arizona Corporation Commission maintains a list of acceptable general circulation publications at this web address (though the address appears to work on an on, off again basis):
http://www.azcc.gov/divisions/corporations/filings/forms/newspubs.pdf