Form an LLC in Arkansas with Inc Authority for Free

Over 250K businesses have benefitted from Inc Authority’s business formation services and so can you. Make LLC formation simpler and quicker with Inc Authority. You also get tons of additional benefits and services with its free plan.

Form Your LLC Today

1-Year Registered Agent Service Free

Free LLC formation, including preparation, review, and filing of the Certificate of Organization.

Free S-Corp election service, which includes filling out and submitting Form 2553 of the IRS.

Free registered agent services for one year when you form an Arkansas LLC with Inc Authority.

Things to Know Before Starting an LLC in Arkansas

While LLCs are quite popular among new business owners for the benefits they offer, you should understand the legalities of starting one in Arkansas before you form one.

Let’s discuss some of the important ones briefly.

  • Starting a foreign LLC in Arkansas is considerably more expensive ($270) than filing a domestic LLC ($45).
  • The online filing option is more convenient and economical for both types of LLCs, compared to filing via mail or in person.
  • It costs $45 and $270 for online filing and $50 and $300 for paper filing for domestic and foreign LLCs, respectively. 
  • All Arkansas LLCs must pay an annual Franchise Tax of $150, irrespective of the type of filing and the type of LLC.

Forming and running an Arkansas LLC involves several costs and ongoing compliance requirements, such as filing an annual franchise tax report. You should learn about these in detail before you go ahead and start one.

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Choose and Reserve a Business Name

Choose a name for your business that is short, memorable, and relevant. Check the state database to ensure that no other business is using your chosen name. Ensure that the name follows the Arkansas LLC naming guidelines.

Sometimes it may take some time for you to complete all the formalities. To protect your chosen business name during this period, you can reserve it with the state by paying a filing fee of $22.5 for online filing or $25 for paper filing.

Choose and Reserve a Business Name
Secure a Domain Name

Secure a Domain Name

While this is completely optional, we recommend that you reserve a domain name for your website that matches your chosen business name. The simple reason is that your website’s domain should represent your brand and this will help.

You don’t want to end up in a situation where you register your Limited Liability Company and later realize that there’s no available domain name matching your business name. That’s why it’s prudent to think about this beforehand.

Appoint an Arkansas Registered Agent

According to the new LLC laws of the state, you need to provide the information for your registered agent while filing the application to receive a Certificate of Organization. There is no separate filing fee that you need to pay for this.

A registered agent can be an individual or a company who accepts the responsibility of receiving all business correspondence on your behalf. They’re also responsible for forwarding any time-sensitive legal notices to you on priority.

Appoint an Arkansas Registered Agent
Create an LLC Operating Agreement

Create an LLC Operating Agreement

According to the modified LLC laws by the state, filing a written LLC operating agreement when registering an LLC is no longer required. The state allows LLCs to run based on oral operating agreements among the members.

Also, in the absence of any operating agreement, the default provisions of the ULLCA apply. However, we highly recommend forming one for internal use and it can simplify your operations by listing the rules of governance.

File Your Certificate of Organization

The “Articles of Organization” are called the “Certificate of Organization” in Arkansas. This is the official document that you need to file with the Arkansas Secretary of State to register your Limited Liability Company in the state.

As per new regulations, you only need to provide important information like the name and address of the business and the registered agent information when filing this. When the state accepts your application, your LLC is legally registered.

File Your Certificate of Organization
Get a Federal Employer Identification Number

Get a Federal Employer Identification Number

Even after your Arkansas LLC is registered, you need to take a few steps before you can start your business operations. Obtaining a Tax ID number or an Employer Identification Number is one such necessary step you must complete.

An EIN is your business’ identity and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses it to identify your business for tax purposes. It is also required for various business purposes, such as opening a business bank account and paying employment taxes.

Open a Separate Bank Account for Your LLC

Next on your list of things to do when starting an LLC in Arkansas is to open a business bank account. This will help you keep your business finances separate from your personal finances and also manage your accounts better.

You should do some research and find the best business accounts and banking options for your small business. Make sure you choose a bank that offers a hybrid banking model and allows you to manage your finances on the go.

Open a Separate Bank Account for Your LLC
Research and Acquire Business Licenses and Permits

Get the Required Licenses and Permits

This is another mandatory requirement for running a business in Arkansas. You must find out the requirements for any business licenses and permits you need for your specific business at Federal, state, or local levels.

As the requirements vary by type of business and the area of operation, it would be specific for your LLC in Arkansas. You may, for example, need an occupational license if you start a professional Limited Liability Company.

Choose How You Want Your LLC to be Taxed

Unlike other business entities, LLCs have the flexibility to choose how they want to be taxed. By default, a single-member LLC would be taxed like a Sole Proprietorship where the business profits and losses pass to the owner.

A multi-member LLC in Arkansas, however, can choose to be taxed as a C-Corp, an S-Corp, or a Partnership. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, so make your choice after careful consideration of each option.

Choose How You Want Your LLC to be Taxed
File for a Doing Business As (Optional)

File for a Doing Business As (Optional)

A DBA is an assumed name or fictitious name that businesses often use to conduct their day-to-day business. One of the main reasons why businesses use this is to shorten their official name to make it more memorable and catchy.

The naming conventions for LLCs, in many states, require businesses to add words like “limited” or “LLC” to their registered names. This sometimes leads to names being long. If that’s the case for you, you can file for a DBA for your business.

Why Should You Outsource LLC Formation?

The simplest reason is that it’s more convenient. If you still need convincing, here are some reasons why you should outsource.

Simple Process

Simple Process

Outsourcing to a professional simplifies the process for you, making it much more convenient. You simply need to provide all the information and they’ll do the rest.

Error-Free Filing

Error-Free Filing

It’s very easy to make mistakes when filling out long and complex forms. Outsourcing to an expect ensures there will be no costly errors that get your application rejected.

Quick Services

Quick Service

When you outsource the process to a professional firm that does this day-in and day-out, things are bound to go on more quickly and in a streamlined manner.

Form Your Arkansas LLC Today

Liability Protection

As evident from the name, Limited Liability Companies offer liability protection for the members. As they’re pass-through entities, the profits and losses pass to the LLC owners, but it’s still a separate entity, responsible for its own liabilities.

This means that the personal assets of the members can’t be seized to pay off business debts. Similarly, a lawsuit against the company does not affect the members, unless they were personally involved in a wrongful act.

Liability Protection
Ease of Formation and Management

Ease of Formation and Management

LLCs in Arkansas are easy to form and manage. The LLC formation process is comparatively much simpler than that of forming a Corporation. It also requires fewer steps and less paperwork than it takes to form a Corporation.

How an LLC is managed depends completely on the mutually-agreed-upon rules set by the members in the operating agreement. Unlike C-Corps, which have strict management guidelines, LLCs in Arkansas get a lot more management flexibility.

Affordability

Limited Liability Companies, in general, are more affordable to form and run than a more formal entity like a Corporation. The filing fees for registering an LLC and submitting annual reports are typically lower for LLCs, in most states.

LLCs also need to pay taxes that are much lower than those paid by a C-Corporation and avoid double taxation. The annual running and maintenance costs of an Arkansas LLC are also quite affordable, compared to a C-Corp.

Affordability
Ownership Flexibility

Ownership Flexibility

Some business entities like an S-Corporation have strict rules on who can and can’t be an owner. Foreign nationals, for example, can’t own an S-Corporation. LLCs, on the other hand, offer a lot more flexibility on who their members can be.

Both individuals (domestic or foreign nationals) and organizations can be members of an LLC. In fact, an LLC can even have a single owner. Moreover, there’s no upper limit on how many members an LLC can have, unlike S-Corporations.

Free

Here are the features you’ll get with this plan:

  • Business name search: It offers a free tool that you can use to search for the availability of your chosen business name within your state.
  • Registered agent services (1 year): You get one year’s worth of complimentary registered agent services with both the free and paid plans.
  • Digital document storage: When you sign up for any plan, you will get your own account that you can use to store your business documents online.
  • Brief tax consultation: You will get access to a tax expert to whom you can ask questions and get guidance on how to get the most tax savings.
  • LLC formation: Inc Authority’s team of experts will review and file all Arkansas LLC paperwork to help you start your new business.
  • S-Corp election: If you want to get the special S-Corp tax status for your LLC, Inc Authority will also help you fill out and submit Form 2553 of the IRS.
  • Business funding analysis: Every business needs funding to grow and Inc Authority will analyze your LLC’s short-term funding requirements.

The free plan is perfect for new entrepreneurs on a shoestring budget, who just want basic services to form an LLC. If you need more services, you should check out the two paid business starter bundles that it offers.

Price: Free

Starter

Here are the additional services you’ll get with the Starter plan, in addition to what you get with the free plan:

  • LLC operating agreement: Though not necessary, it’s recommended to draft a written operating agreement and Inc Authority can help you with that.
  • Employer Identification Number: Every business needs an EIN for various purposes and Inc Authority can help you get one with this plan.
  • Corporate forms and documents package: With the Starter plan, you will get a whole set of templates to help you prepare various business documents.
  • Annual compliance notifications: Inc Authority’s team will notify you of all upcoming compliance deadlines and ensur you don’t miss anything.
  • Detailed tax consultation: This will be a more detailed tax consultation than the one offered with the free plan, to help you get more tax savings.

Price: Custom

Fasttrack

Here are the additional services you’ll get with this plan:

  • Dedicated customer success advisor: With the Fasttrack plan, you will get a dedicated advisor who will help you through the business formation process. They’ll be your point of contact for everything you may need to start your new business and leverage Inc Authority’s various services.
  • A private banking specialist: You’ll also get access to a private banking expert who will help you understand your business’s banking needs. They’ll also provide you with the best business banking options and help you choose the right checking and savings accounts for your new business.
  • Personalized business advisory services: Inc Authority will act as your partner to help you grow your business, not just register it with the state. You’ll have access to experts in various fields to guide you on how to expand your business and answer all your business-related questions.
  • Expedited application filing: One of the biggest advantages of going with the highest-tier plan is that you get priority service. Your application will move to the top of the pile and will be filed within the same day. This will ensure that your business gets registered quickly and you start operations ASAP.

You will also get more personalized and high-touch services overall, with this plan. As such, if you want a premium service experience and are willing to pay for it, this is the plan for you. But if you want basic services, the free plan is more than enough.

Why Choose Inc Authority to Form an LLC in Arkansas

Inc Authority is a trusted LLC formation service provider in the US. Here are some things that make it stand out among competitors.

Free Service

Free Service

Some companies charge hundreds of dollars for the same service the Inc Authority provides for free.

Expert Guidance

Expert Guidance

With Inc Authority, you get access to experts in various fields to help you start and grow your new business.

Convenience

Convenience

Filing government documents is boring and tedious, but Inc Authority makes it easy for you.

Form an LLC with Inc Authority

FAQ

Here is the step-by-step process you can follow: to start an Arkansas LLC:

  1. Choose and reserve an LLC name
  2. Secure a domain name
  3. Appoint an Arkansas registered agent
  4. Create an LLC operating agreement
  5. File your Certificate of Organization
  6. Get an Employer Identification Number
  7. Open a separate bank account for your LLC
  8. Get the required licenses and permits
  9. Choose how you want your LLC to be taxed
  10. File for a Doing Business As (optional)

If you file online, it is likely that your application will be approved within 3-7 business days. For paper filings, it may take 7-10 business days to get the approval.

Here are some of the key benefits of an LLC:

  • Members of the LLC have no personal liability to pay off business debts.
  • Limited Liability Companies are easier to form and manage than more formal structures, such as a Corporation.
  • LLCs are also comparatively cheaper to form and run than a Corporation.
  • LLCs have more flexibility on who can be its members and don’t have restrictions like those placed on S-Corps.

Absolutely! LLCs are the perfect business structure for small businesses that want liability protection along with more management flexibility.

Starting an LLC in Arkansas only involves the state filing fee and is free otherwise. This is if you choose to do it yourself or get Inc Authority’s free services. If you go for a paid service provider, it may cost you a few hundred dollars.