Arizona LLC Articles of Organization Filing

One of the most important Arizona corporation commission forms is the Articles of Organization, which is required to form an LLC. You can file your company's Articles of Organization by mail or online. Whether you file online or by mail, there is a $50 filing fee, and it will take 22 business days to process. If you need faster processing, you can pay a $35 fee to expedite, which is in addition to the $50 filing fee. When you pay the expediting fee, the approval will take nine business days. It is easier and quicker to file your company's Articles of Organization through the website. 

In order to form an LLC in the state of Arizona, you must file the Articles of Organization with the Corporation Commission. Before you file your Articles of Organization, the first step is deciding whether the LLC will be managed by members or a manager.

In addition to the Articles of Organization, when registering by mail, you must also file:

  • A cover sheet
  • A membership attachment, which details whether the LLC will be managed by members or a manager
  • A statutory agent acceptance form

When filing through the mail, you may pay with a money order or check made out to the Arizona Corporation Commission.

You must pay the filing fee, plus the expediting fee if applicable, with the necessary documents to:

Arizona Corporation Commission
1300 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

When you file online, you will need to provide the statutory agent acknowledgment information. If someone other than the statutory agent is filing the forms, the acknowledgment should include a signed consent form and must be included as part of the online filing process. When a company hires a registered agent from Northwest or another commercial organization, the agent must complete and sign the statutory agent form. This form must be included in the online filing.

During the online filing process, you may need to provide:

  • The name and address of the statutory agent
  • The type of entity (limited liability corporation)
  • Name of the LLC, or trade name
  • Business address (must be in the state of Arizona)

You must choose either “member-managed” or “manager-managed” and include the names and addresses of all managers or members on the online form. Another step in the online filing process is deciding whether you want the approval sent by email or mail, or if you prefer to pick it up in person. When you file online, you can complete the entire process, including naming your LLC's statutory agent and establishing the structure for management.

LLC Approval

When the state business entity reviews and approves your LLC, you will receive a letter of approval, which will include directions on requirements for publication and the notice of publication. With the notice of publication, you need to complete the blank sections and send it to local newspapers for publishing. You will receive approval in about one month, unless you paid the additional fee for expedited processing. You won't receive your Articles of Organization back from the state, but you can download the approved copy from the website.

Arizona state law requires that you publish the notice of publication within 60 days of receiving approval of your Corporations/forms/formsindex.asp" rel="nofollow">Articles of Organization. The notice must be included in a general circulation newspaper in the county where the LLC will operate for three publications in a row. If you don't publish the required notice, your LLC could be dissolved. However, you don't have to file an affidavit that shows the publication.

Choosing a Name for the LLC

Another law in the state of Arizona requires all limited liability companies to include those words, or one of its abbreviations (LLC, L.L.C., LC, or L.C.) in their names. For professional LLCs, the name must include “PLLC,” “P.L.C.,” “P.L.L.C.,” “PLC,” or “professional limited liability company.” The state also requires that any LLC name be different or distinguishable from any other company that has already filed with the Corporations Commission in Arizona. You can check existing names on the Arizona Corporation Commission online database of business names.

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