Arkansas Secretary of State Business Search: What Is It?

The Arkansas Secretary of State Business Search is a legal requirement for making sure that the LLC name a business would like to register is still available. To search for an Arkansas LLC name, the following steps need to be completed:

  • Visit the Business Entity Search Page
  • Use the drop down menu to complete the search, by selecting the corporation type
  • Enter the LLC name in the "Name" field, and don't include LLC
  • Click "Search", and find the related businesses in Arkansas.

In addition to checking this state website, business owners may want to check with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to find out if there are any conflicting rights that could prevent them from registering their desired business name.

Ignore the following fields:

  • Fictitious Name
  • Registered Agent
  • RA City
  • Filing

If you haven't found any records, you can be assured that you are free to register the LLC name for your business.

Filing Articles of Organization

You can create an LLC in the state of Arkansas by filing Articles of Organization with the Arkansas Secretary of State.  When you file articles, you will need to include the following information:

  • The name and address of the LLC
  • The registered agent
  • Whether or not the organization will be run by a manager

Secretary of State Filing Information

The cost of filing an article of organization with the Arkansas Secretary of State is $45 if you file online or $50 if you use the paper forms. If you submit your filing before 3 p.m., it will be recorded the same day, but if you send it later, it will be recorded for the next day.

You need to know that just because you filed for an entity name does not mean you automatically get the right to use it from the Arkansas Secretary of State, according to Act 1008 of 2007. Once you have completed the filing, you will receive a copy of the application via post.

If the office of the Arkansas Secretary of State has further questions or queries related to your filing, they will call you at the phone number provided.

Preparing an Operating Agreement

In the case of a sole proprietorship or general partnership, if you are planning to use a name that is other than the owner's name, you need to apply for a fictitious name, also known as “doing business as.” Once you have created this agreement,  you can register the business with the county clerk under the Assumed Name Certificate issued. Further, you will need to register your fictitious name with the Arkansas Secretary of State.

If your LLC has more than one member, it is important that you obtain an IRS employee identification number (EIN), even if your LLC doesn't have any employees. You can apply for the EIN number by completing an online application on the IRS website.

Registering for Tax in Arkansas

Once the operating agreement is in place,  you will need to apply for the licenses appropriate for your entity and industry. You will need to obtain identification numbers for the new business and sign up for taxation. There are different business taxation systems that apply to new entities:

  • Withholding tax
  • Sales and use tax
  • Unemployment insurance tax
  • Franchise tax

For more information on taxation, you should visit the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration's Tax web page, where you can find answers to your specific questions.

All LLCs need to pay a minimum of $150 tax to the Arkansas Secretary of State.

Each year you need to submit a W-4 and W-2 Form that details your withheld taxes and paid wages.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who can be a registered agent?

A registered agent can be any individual who is a full-time resident of the state of Arkansas or a business entity that is already registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State.

  • How is an LLC created in Arkansas?

An LLC can be formed by submitting an Article of Organization to the Arkansas Secretary of State.

  • How can I make sure that the selected LLC name is distinguishable?

It is important that the name of the new LLC is unique to the new organization and is different from all businesses registered in Arkansas. For further guidance, check the examples of non-distinguishable entity names.

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