The LLC application in Arizona is the state's process for forming a limited liability company. An LLC is a business entity that protects its owners from having assets seized to pay for business obligations or debts. 

Naming an Arizona LLC

The name of an Arizona LLC must meet the following requirements:

  • Contain the words Limited Liability Company or an approved abbreviation (LC, L.C., LLC, or L.C.)
  • Have the words Professional Limited Liability Company or PLLC, PLC, P.L.L.C., or P.L.C. if it is a legal, medical, or otherwise professional practice
  • Does not contain restricted words such as attorney, university, or bank unless a professional in that field is involved in the LLC. Additional paperwork may be required.
  • Does not contain words that could cause confusion with a state or federal agency, such as Treasury, Secret Service, or FBI
  • Is distinguishable from the names of other registered Arizona businesses

You can check availability online at the business name database maintained by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). Once you determine that the name you want is available, you can reserve it for 120 days by filing the Application to Reserve LLC Name either online or through the mail. The filing fee is $10 for a mail filing or $45 for filing online, which is expedited.

The best name for your LLC will give you a strong trademark protection without infringing on the trademark of another business. The company's name must be memorable for your customers, provide a description of your products and services, and have an available domain name for your website. To find out if your preferred name infringes on a trademark, you can search the database maintained by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 

It can be challenging to come up with a name that is both unique and descriptive. Arbitrary marks, such as those trademarked by Xerox and Apple, receive the highest level of legal trademark protection. If you submit the Articles of Organization with a name that is not available, they will be rejected.

Choosing a Statutory Agent

Arizona LLCs must designate a registered agent, also called a statutory agent, who lives or has a business address in the state. This person or company agrees to receive legal documents on behalf of the LLC. The statutory agent must be either an adult who lives in Arizona, a domestic company or LLC formed in Arizona, or an LLC or foreign company registered to do business in Arizona. The person or company in question must have a street address, not a PO box.

The statutory agent must sign and submit the state's Statutory Agent Acceptance form.

Preparing and Filing Articles of Organization

You can prepare the LLC Articles of Organization yourself or hire an attorney. The processing time is 22 business days. The Articles of Organization include the name and address of the LLC, names and contact information for managers and members, the duration of the LLC, and the name and contact information for the statutory agent along with his or her signature.

The fastest and easiest way to form your Arizona LLC is through the state's online e-filing system, though paper forms are also available. If you file with the traditional mail system, you must also include either the manager or member structure attachment depending on whether your LLC is member or manager-managed, along with the statutory agent acceptance form.

If you don't file online, you can either hand-deliver or mail the forms to either 1300 W. Washington, 1st Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85007 or 400 W. Congress St., Tucson, AZ 85701. These offices are open from 8 a.m. from 5 p.m. Monday through Friday with the exception of holidays. 

After submitting the Articles of Organization, file a copy with your other LLC documents. If you send an extra copy, the ACC will stamp it as received and return it to you. This document can be shown when you open a bank account or register with your municipality.

Paying the Filing Fee

In Arizona, Articles of Organization are subject to a $50 filing fee payable by cash or check. You can receive expedited service within nine business days for an additional $35 fee. Your LLC will be effective on the date the articles were filed.

If you need help with your Arizona LLC application, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.