How to File Articles of Organization for LLC in Arizona: Guide

With an attractive business climate, Arizona is undoubtedly one of the fastest-growing states in the United States. Not only does it boast an unemployment rate of about 4.7%, but it also possessed the 4^th best gross domestic product growth rate in the country in 2018. What makes Arizona particularly inviting for business owners includes low tax rates, limited regulations, business credits, low cost of living, etc.

The main drawback of forming an LLC in Arizona includes the great hassles involved in accessing start-up and growth capital and the low personal income per capita of the state. However, neither of these drawbacks has been enough to discourage entrepreneurs from looking to take advantage of the numerous benefits of owning a business in the State of Arizona.

What is an Article of Formation?

Also commonly referred to as a Charter or Certification of Formation, Articles of Formation are a type of legal document that must be filed with a government body to legalize the registration of a new business. An Article of Formation contains a wide range of details about the new venture such as the name of the founder(s), the name of the business, the location of the business, and lots more.

More often than not, Articles of Formation are commonly mistaken for bylaws. Bylaws provide the rules and regulations, which govern the company and lay out the duties and responsibilities of the company’s directors. Together with an Operating Agreement, a Certificate forms the legal support system of the business.

How to File Articles of Organization in Arizona

When it comes to forming a business or non-profit corporation, the first step that will be taken is the preparation and filing of the Articles of Organization. Once this legal document has been approved, your company name has been made totally secure and your business has become a legal entity. Upon approval, you can then apply for tax IDs, sign contracts, acquire business licenses, and lots more.

Benefits of filing a Certificate include satisfying statutory requirements of registering your business’s name, and limiting directors’ and shareholders’ liability while also making the governance of the business more credible. The Arizona Articles of Organization should include a cover sheet, articles of incorporation, director and incorporator attachment, certificate of disclosure, and payment.

Step 1: Get Your Articles of Organization Forms

There are two primary options you can choose from to obtain your Articles of Organization in Arizona. You can file online with the Arizona Corporation Commission or download the Arizona Articles of Organization PDF, which will have to be mailed or submitted to the Arizona Corporation Commission division.

To file online with the Arizona Corporation Commission, you’d have to register or create an account. Once done, log in and from the top toolbar, click on the “Online Services” option. This will bring out a number of options, select the “Start a New Business” option and you’re good to go.

Step 2: Fill Out the Articles of Organization and Transmittal Informational Form

This is the stage where the Arizona Articles of Organization are completed. In order to do this, there’s a need to have knowledge about the entity name, statutory agent name, and principal address as well as the governing authority type.

Name of the entity

Choosing a name for your entity is one of the exciting parts when it comes to registering a new business. However, many entrepreneurs tend to focus more on finding a name that’s creative and attractive while neglecting the need for it to also be legally correct.

When choosing a business name, you should ensure that it meets the naming guidelines in Arizona and should not be in use by another Arizona business. Below are the naming guidelines in Arizona:

• The business name must include words and abbreviations such as limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., L.C., LC, or LLC;
• The business name must not include words or abbreviations of the words such as “corporation”, “incorporated” and “association”;
• The business name must not contain words that make your company be mistaken with a government agent like Treasury, FBI, etc.;
• The name must be unique and distinguishable from any other existing Arizona business names.

Determine the availability of your preferred business name by conducting a name search on the Arizona Corporation Commission website. Once done and your preferred business name is available, you can then proceed to register your domain name.

Statutory Agent and Principal Office Address

The statutory agent is one in charge of sending and receiving legal documents on the behalf of your new Arizona business. One of the many requirements associated with having your LLC registered in Arizona is to list both your statutory agent and principal office address.

The state also mandates all new businesses in the region to file the Registered Agent Acceptance Form alongside their Articles of Organization. Your LLC’s statutory agent must be 18 years or older and should always be present during work hours at the principal office.

Governing Authority

Does your LLC have managers? If yes, this must be stated and each of the initial managers must also be listed. In the event whereby your new company is to be managed by its members, at least one of the members must be listed.

In other words, along with your Articles of Organization, you’re also mandated to file either a Manager Structure Attachment Form or a Member Structure Attachment Form.

Step 3: File the Articles of Organization

There are two ways through which you can file your Articles of Organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission. These includes:

• Filling of the online form;
• Submission of a hard copy via mail or in person.

To file online, you’ll have to create an account with the Arizona Corporation Commission, log into your account, complete the required fields and submit. For the second option, simply download and mail the Articles of Organization to the Arizona Corporation Commission or submit the documents in person.

Want to know the requirements for articles of organization in other states? Select state:

How to Register Articles of Organization in Arizona Online

Filing for the Certificate of Formation of your Arizona limited liability company with the Arizona Secretary of State is a crucial step if you wish to start an LLC in the state. This can be done in two major ways: online and through the mail. Filing online expedites the entire process especially when you need it done as soon as possible. So how do you go about this? Let’s take a look!

• Visit the website. The first step is to go to the Arizona Corporation Commission’s official website. On the website, you’ll be guided on how you can go about the filing of your Articles of Organization online;
• Log into your account. Upon getting to the website, the first page will request your login credentials for the account. If you already possess an eCorp Account, simply type in the login details and submit to proceed;
• Create your account. In the event whereby you do not have an eCorp account, simply select ‘Register’ as seen on the page. Once done, you’ll be presented with the Register page where you’d have to put in your details like name, email address, and more to create an account;
• Continue with the registration. Upon the creation of your eCorp account, the next course of action would be to log in using your credentials (both username and password). Once done, simply identify the “Online Services” option and click. After this, click on the following option “Start a New Business” and continue with the filing of your documents to apply for your Articles of Organization in Arizona.

Contact Information for the Secretary of State

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