Short answer
Forming an LLC in Arkansas costs $45 in state fees[2]. After that the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report costs $150 every year[3].
To have it handled in Arkansas, Mainstay Filing charges $199 a year plus the $45 state fee at cost[1].
- Formation fee
- $45
- Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report
- $150, every year
- Ongoing, per year (avg.)
- $150
- Late fee
- $25
- Change of agent
- $0
- Other states, ongoing fees
- 43 lower, 6 higher
Updated October 29, 2026. Fees from official sources; prices from providers' own pages.
Arkansas fees at a glance
| Filing | Fee | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation (Form LL-01) | $45 | Once | [2] arkleg.state.ar.us, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report | $150 | Every year | [3] sos.arkansas.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Late filing penalty | $25 | If late | [4] sos.arkansas.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Change of registered agent | $0 | When filed | [5] sos.arkansas.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
Fees paid to Arkansas agencies only; card and portal charges and expedite options are not included.
In the formation year the state bill is $45. Each later year adds $150.
How Arkansas compares
Averaged per year, Arkansas's ongoing state cost is $150. Against a 50-state median of $30, 43 states charge less and 6 charge more. Next door, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas cost less per year.
| State | Formation | Report | Per year (avg.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $45 | $150 / yr | $150 |
| Louisiana | $125 | $35 / yr | $35 |
| Mississippi | $50 | $0 / yr | $0 |
| Missouri | $50 | None | $0 |
| Oklahoma | $100 | $25 / yr | $25 |
| Tennessee | $300 | $300 / yr | $300 |
| Texas | $300 | $0 / yr | $0 |
Filing-office fees only, per each state's own fee schedule as of August 12, 2026; biennial fees are shown halved in the last column.
Registered Agent and filing service costs
The state does not charge for naming a registered agent, but a commercial agent charges every year. An owner who lives in Arkansas can serve personally, as an individual, if the address and hours rules are met. The company itself cannot be its own registered agent.
Mainstay Filing charges $149 a year for Arkansas registered agent service[1]. For $199 a year it also forms the company, applies for the EIN and files the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report when due. State fees are passed through at cost.
We also read 5 other services' Arkansas prices on October 20, 2026. They started at $99 and went up to $249 for year one, with renewals of $125 to $249.
The Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report
The Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division handles the Arkansas Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report. Its timing, method and cost:
- Filing: Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report
- Filed with: Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division
- Fee: $150, every year[3]
- Deadline: May 1[4]
- How to file: online or on paper
- Late fee: $25
Filing after the deadline adds $25. Skip it long enough and the Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division can dissolve the company[4].
Who pays these fees
Arkansas had 53,111 employer firms and 241,619 nonemployer businesses in the Census Bureau's 2022 counts. Of the business locations that opened in Arkansas between April 2019 and March 2020, 48% were still open in March 2025.
Questions
How much is the Arkansas LLC Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report?
$150, every year[3]. It is due may 1.
What happens if an Arkansas LLC misses the deadline?
Arkansas charges a $25 late fee. The LLC loses good standing with the Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division, and continued non-filing can end in administrative dissolution or revocation.
Can a service handle these Arkansas filings?
Yes. For $199 a year, Mainstay Filing files the formation with the Arkansas Secretary of State, serves as registered agent and applies for the EIN[1]. The $150 Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report fee is passed through when it is filed.
Is Arkansas an expensive state for an LLC?
On the $45 it charges to form an LLC, 2 states charge less and 47 charge more. For ongoing fees ($150 a year on average), 43 states charge less and 6 charge more.
Sources
- Mainstay Filing pricing, registered agent and FAQ pages. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Ark. Code Ann. § 4-38-201 (Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, enacted by Act 1041 of 2021). arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2021R%2FPublic%2FACT1041.pdf. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division: Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report rules and fee. www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/bcs/LLC1_FT_2026.pdf. Updated October 29, 2026.
- A.C.A. § 26-54-104; A.C.A. § 26-54-107; A.C.A. § 26-54-114. www.sos.arkansas.gov/business-commercial-services-bcs/. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Notice of Change of Registered Agent Information fee. www.sos.arkansas.gov/business-commercial-services-bcs/forms-fees/llc. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022 and Nonemployer Statistics 2022. www.census.gov/programs-surveys/susb.html. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment Dynamics, Establishment Age and Survival, Table 7 (data through March 2025). www.bls.gov/bdm/bdmage.htm. Updated October 29, 2026.