Form an LLC in Arizona with Inc Authority for Free

Start the LLC formation process by finalizing a name for your company. This should be unique, memorable, and relevant to your business. It should also follow the state’s naming conventions, such as using the term LLC or its variations in the name.

To ensure your chosen business name is unique, you need to check the state database and see if any other business is using the same name. If not, you can use the name and if you find a match you’ll need to choose a different name for your LLC in Arizona.

If you find that your chosen business name is available for use in Arizona, but you’re not yet ready to start the LLC formation process, you can consider reserving your name. This will ensure that no one else can register that name for a period of 120 days.

You need to file your application and pay a filing fee of $10 to reserve your business name. The state of Arizona provides expedited, same-day, next-day, and 2-hour processing options to choose from that can cost you $35 to $400 extra.

Every business needs a registered agent who is available during business hours at the registered address to receive all business correspondence and legal notices. The agent must have a local address in the state and can be an individual or a company.

While you can be your own registered agent, but that is not recommended as it will limit you to your office premises during weekdays. It’s better to hire a professional who can receive documents on your behalf and inform you of any upcoming deadlines.

If you intend to do business in Arizona and don’t have an established business in other states, you’ll likely need to form a domestic LLC. If, however, you want to expand your existing business to Arizona, you’ll need to form a foreign LLC in Arizona.

You will also need to decide whether your want to form a single-member LLC or a multi-member LLC in Arizona. Next, you need to decide whether you want a member-managed LLC or manager-managed LLC, depending on your requirements.

Every business needs rules for how the company is to be managed and run, and an LLC operating agreement lays down those rules. It covers everything from how day-to-day decisions are to be taken to the ground rules for succession planning.

The operating agreement also details the roles and responsibilities of members and their respective shares of ownership. Make sure that your LLC operating agreement is as comprehensive as possible and covers all the governance guidelines.

This is the most important step in the process as this is where you officially register your business with the state. For that, you need to file your Articles of Organization with the Arizona Secretary of State and pay the required regular filing fee of $50.

You can submit your application online, via mail, via fax, or in person. If you want expedited processing, then those options are available at an extra cost. You need to pay a total of $85 to the Secretary of State’s office if you want expedited processing.

An Employer Identification Number or EIN is a business’ identity, just like a Social Security Number is for individuals. This is what the government and the internal revenue service (IRS) use to identify and track a business for tax purposes.

EIN is required for several other business purposes as well. You will, for example, need an EIN to start a business bank account, get business funding from investors and banks, and hire employees and pay employer taxes, among other things.

When you run a business, it’s very important to keep your business and personal finances separate. This ensures that your personal assets are protected from business debts and liabilities. It also helps you manage your business finances.

Opening a business bank account that is separate from your personal bank account is a great way to achieve this. Also, having a banking history with a bank helps build your credibility, which makes it easier for you to secure business loans and funding.

Even after you officially register your business by filing your Arizona Articles of Organization, you can’t start operations until you meet some other requirements. This entails obtaining all necessary permits and licenses as required by the state.

The licenses and permits you’ll need will depend on your type of business and varies from state to state. You’ll need to obtain federal, state, and county licenses and permits. So, check the requirements for your business before you start your LLC.

The best part about forming an LLC in Arizona is that you can choose how you want your business to be taxed. It can be taxed as a Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, S-Corp, or C-Corporation, offering a lot of flexibility when it comes to business taxation.

By default, an LLC is considered a disregarded entity and the business profits pass to the LLC owners, who are then taxed on their personal incomes. Only LLCs that choose to be considered a Corporation for tax purposes, need to pay corporate income taxes.

Limited Liability Companies need to follow certain naming conventions when registering a business name. This often leads to long and complicated names, which include terms like “LLC”, “limited company”, “limited”, “limited liability company”, etc.

If you want a short and memorable name for conducting your day-to-day business, you can file a DBA (doing business as). This allows you to register a fictitious name that is good for branding purposes and easy for your customers to remember.

A trademark is a great way of protecting your business name, logo, and other brand elements from being copied or used by other businesses in the state. If you have a slogan or brand tagline, you get get a trademark to protect those elements as well.

You can apply for trademarks on both federal and state levels, depending on your requirements. A federal trademark will prohibit businesses across the states to use your logo, slogan, name, or anything else that you have got a trademark for.

Every business must have a website in this digital age. Your website is not only the most credible source of information for your business but also a way of generating leads for your business. So, make sure that you invest in an SEO-friendly website.

Start by securing a domain name that matches your business name or assumed name. You can use our partner GoDaddy’s web design and marketing services for registering a domain name, getting a hosting solution, and building a website.

While the process of forming an LLC in Arizona ends here, maintaining that status is an ongoing process. You need to follow the rules and regulations set forth by the state of Arizona for LLCs and stay in compliance to keep your LLC status.

Some important compliance requirements include paying taxes on time and filing annual reports, if your LLC is taxed as a Corporation. You also need to renew your permits on time and meet all other compliance requirements for Arizona LLCs.

Here are the features you’ll get with the free LLC formation plan:

• Business name search: Easily search the state database to see if your chosen business name is available for use or if it’s already being used.

• 1-year registered agent services: Get a professional Arizona registered agent to receive legal notices on your behalf for one year, completely free of charge.

• Digital document management: Store, organize, and access your documents digitally, using the Inc Authority platform, which offers digital storage facilities.

• Tax planning consultation: Ask a tax professional your questions related to tax savings. Get a free consultation on how to plan and file your taxes.

• LLC formation: Let the experts at Inc Authority prepare, review, and file your Articles of Organization with the relevant Arizona department.

• S-Corp election and filing: Get the federal S-Corp tax status by letting the team at Inc Authority prepare and file your application.

• Business funding analysis: Get multiple sources of funding for managing your business expenses with help from experts at Inc Authority.

Price: Free

Here are the additional services you’ll get, apart from what you get with the Free plan:

• LLC operating agreement: Take help from the experts at Inc Authority to prepare a comprehensive LLC operating agreement.

• Tax ID Application: Quickly and easily obtain an Employer Identification Number for your Arizona LLC with help from Inc Authority’s team.

• Business forms and documents package: Get ready-to-use templates for a variety of business documents and legal forms that you’ll need for your business.

• Compliance notifications: Receive annual compliance notifications about upcoming deadlines from the team at Inc Authority.

• Detailed tax planning consultation: Get a detailed consultation with a tax planning expert and get answers to all your tax-related questions.

• Web domain + 5 business email addresses: Secure a domain name matching your business name and get 5 official email addresses for your business.

Price: Custom

Here are the additional services you’ll get, apart from what you get with the Starter plan:

• Customer success advisor: Get a dedicated customer success manager who will be your point of contact for any queries or clarifications. You will get priority support and a quick response from your success advisor.

• Private banking expert: Get access to a private banking expert who will help you choose the right banking partner and business bank account. They will also provide you with multiple options to choose from.

• Personalized business advisory services: Ask all your business-related questions to a business advisor who can help you throughout your business formation process and after.

• Expedited preparation & filing: Quickly start an LLC in Arizona by getting expedited application filing. The team at Inc Authority will review, prepare, and file your Articles of Organization within one business day.

Price: Custom